The NFL playoffs start this weekend and they will feature the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After beating the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, the Bucs locked up the three seed in the NFC. This means they will host at least one playoff game as they take their first step towards the Super Bowl.
Those words are not hyperbowl; the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could win the Super Bowl this year. Sure, they are tied for the worst record in the entire playoff field with just 10 wins, but don’t let that fool you. This Bucs team is very real and very dangerous.
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That’s not to say they should be the favorites to go all the way. Keep in mind, there are multiple 15 and 14 win teams in the playoff field. But that doesn’t matter in the postseason, all that matters is what you do next. So I ask the very simple question; why not the Buccaneers?
The Bucs have one of the most dynamic offenses in the NFL. This starts up front and with their relentless running game. They are one of the five best rushing offenses in football, with the other four being in the playoffs as well (Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington and Green Bay).
It’s also worth highlighting the depth of this running back room. Bucky Irving has been one of the most elusive and electric running backs in the NFL this year and has scooted for 1,122 yards and 8 rushing touchdowns. Rachaad White also chipped in with 603 rushing yards and 3 rushing touchdowns, but he really makes his mark as being one of the best pass catching running backs in the NFL. And let us not forget the explosiveness of Sean Tucker which we saw when he was the NFC offensive player of the week earlier this year.
In the frigid month of January where snow and cold are a legitimate factor, the Bucs finally have a legitimate running game to lean on. They can get down in the mud and win in the trenches with one of the most physical and athletic groups of big uglies in the game. If the old adage of “Throw to score, run to win” is true, then expect the Bucs to be able to win games in the postseason.
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With all that said, this Buccaneers team is built to throw the ball. They rank 3rd in the NFL in passing yards and are tied for 2nd in the NFL in passing touchdowns. As I said before, you throw to score and that has helped lead the Bucs to being one of the top five scoring offenses in the NFL this year.
At the center of that is the reborn rebel Baker Mayfield. While he still lives a bit dangerously at times (tied for the most interceptions in the NFL with 16 this season), the reward is certainly worth the risks he takes. His 44 total touchdowns and nearly 4,900 total yards have put him in rare air and has been mentioned (not as much as he should be) in some MVP conversations.
The man that has helped Mayfield revive his career is future Hall of Fame wide receiver Mike Evans. What more can we say about Evans? 9th all time in receiving touchdowns. Eleven consecutive years of 1,000 yards. He has perhaps already established himself as a top 10 wide receiver in NFL history and he hasn’t lost a step.
Beyond the super star pass catcher, the Bucs also have a nice supporting cast behind him. Rookie Jalen McMillan has really come on over the last month. He now has 8 touchdowns this year and has a natural ability to create separation. Cade Otton looked good when featured when the Buccaneers outside weapons were injured earlier this year. Add in what Rachaad White brings out of the backfield and this supporting cast is plenty talented enough to put up points against anyone.
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On the other side of the ball, it all starts with the head coach. Todd Bowles is one of the great defensive minds in the game. He is a master of generating pressure and it is a direct result of the Bucs having the 6th most sacks in the NFL this year. On top of that, his second half adjustments have been excellent. Since their bye week, the Bucs have allowed a total of 23 second half points over the last seven games.
Of course, the Bucs need great players to get these types of results. Two of the Bucs best players on the defensive side of the ball just so happen to play the same position. That would be star defensive tackles Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey.
These two compliment each other so well and make up what I believe is the best defensive tackle duo in the NFL. Vea brings overwhelming power to shut down the running game and cause havoc in the backfield. Kancey brings incredible athleticism to rush the passer and make splash plays. These two have combined for 14.5 sacks this season and are the foundation of the Bucs run defense that is ranked 4th in yards allowed per game.
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It’s also worth noting that the Bucs could be getting their biggest star on defense back soon. Safety Antione Winfield Jr has missed a large part of the season after suffering an injury in the first game of the year. Even when he came back, he didn’t look like himself and eventually got injured again. Now we have finally seen him return to practice and could be on the field this week for the playoffs.
Winfield would be a huge support to a group of cornerbacks who have been very solid this year. Although Zyon McCullom and Jamel Dean have had their share of ups and downs, both are solid to above average corners in the league. Add in Tykee Smith who has been mostly impressive as a rookie nickel defender and the secondary all of sudden looks pretty strong with the addition of Winfield.
Overall, if the Bucs are going to make a Super Bowl run, they will be driven by their offense. It has been one of the best in the league all season long and they can beat you in so many ways. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen deserves a lot of credit for taking this offense to the next level this season.
And although the defense has been up and down and relatively average, they do have a few things working in their favor. You can count on a good gameplan from the head coach with excellent halftime adjustment. You know the run defense is going to be stout and that pressure is going to be dialed up, specifically from the interior. If Winfield can be the reinforcements that this team needs and solidify the back end, then all of a sudden this group looks to be formidable.
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The Buccaneers have the coaching staff in play. They can throw the ball all over the field and run it right down a defense’s throat. They rush the passer and they shut down the running game. So why can’t the Buccaneers win the Super Bowl? I can’t give you a single reason why not.
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