It’s not easy to win in the NFL, it never has been. To some, this is what makes the sport great. To others, it can cause hardship and heartbreak. Thanks to the addition of some very talented players last year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers went from the bottom of the league to the top in a matter of months. They finished 2020 as world champions, but now the question has become whether or not a repeat is possible.
From what history has shown, the chances are slim to none. Teams have made an appearance in consecutive Super Bowls, but seldom go undefeated doing so. However, the Buccaneers are fortunate to have the greatest quarterback of all time in Tom Brady. Some may even consider him to be the greatest athlete of all time, but that’s not for us to decide. The bottom line is that Brady can win, and the talent around him isn’t as big of a factor as it is for other quarterbacks.
Even if Brady doesn’t need too much help, Tampa Bay has given it to him anyway. Wideouts Chris Godwin and Mike Evans are arguably one of the best pass-catching duos in the NFL, and running back Leonard Fournette has also become a factor in the receiving game. Antonio Brown’s status is still up in the air, but Breshad Perriman has shown flashes of greatness, catching a walk-off OT touchdown against the Bills last week.
The Buccaneers’ defense has been up-and-down all year, mostly due to injuries. Even with some setbacks, though, they’re still among the top of the league in all statistical categories. Vita Vea has proven to be worth a first-round pick, and contributes greatly to stopping the run. Vea is an anchor of sorts, but the rest of the defensive line has also been a strongpoint.
With all of this in mind, can Tampa Bay win it all for the second straight year? Currently, they have a 10-3 record, and are in the race to be the top seed in the NFC. It doesn’t seem like much can stop them right now, but anything is possible as the season winds down. If they do end up taking the Lombardi home, it will only add on to one of the greatest franchise turnarounds in recent history.
