The regular season is over, and Buccaneers fans are gearing themselves up for another shot at Super Bowl glory. It was nearly four years ago that a Tom Brady-inspired Buccaneers waltzed their way to the Super Bowl title, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 in Tampa. Since adding their second Super Bowl trophy to go with the one in 2003, Tampa have consistently made the Play-Offs, without really threatening to repeat the feat of 2021.
In the 2022 season, Tampa became only the fourth team in the history of the NFL to make the Play-Offs despite registering a losing record in the regular season. That Wild Card Play-Off defeat to the Dallas Cowboys (14-31) was followed up in the 2023 season by further progression into the Divisional Play-Offs. However, a narrow 23-31 loss to the Detroit Lions extinguished the hopes of Super Bowl glory for another season.
The 9-8 regular season record was a minor improvement on the 2022 campaign, which has been built upon this season. Going into this weekend’s match against the Washington Commanders, ten wins and seven defeats might make for okay reading on the surface level. However, Bucs fans will be inspired by the recent form shown by Todd Bowles’ charges and in particular, by the form shown by quarterback Baker Mayfield in recent weeks.
Going into the Play-Offs with positive momentum can only be an advantage and football betting online suggest the Bucs have enough to be taken seriously in the NFC side of the draw. With potential matchups against the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles to come, Mayfield and co. will need to bring their A-game and more to replicate the glory of 2021.
Baker taking his game to the next level
Stepping in to fill the boots of seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady is a monumental task, and one presented to Baker Mayfield when the Oklahoma graduate was picked up as a free agent in March 2023. Mayfield has bounced around the NFL, turning out for the Cleveland Browns, before short spells with the Carolina Panthers and the Los Angeles Rams. But despite taking on the responsibility of being Brady’s successor, Mayfield has established himself in the Buccaneers team and his statistics prove he is going from strength to strength.
Finishing the 2024 regular season with just under 500 more passing yards compared to the previous season is testament to the work put in on the training field with star wide receiver Mike Evans and rushing back Bucky Irving. Throwing for 4500 yards exactly, resulting in 41 touchdowns, is also a vast improvement on the 28 thrown last season. Statistics do not tend to lie, and Mayfield is certainly trending in a positive direction, which bodes well for the Bucs’ Play-Off chances.
Hitting form at exactly the right time
Mayfield has also picked exactly the right time to show his finest form, which has coincided with six wins in the last seven matches for Tampa. Even the one defeat was an extremely narrow loss to the Dallas Cowboys (24-26) in a match where Mayfield threw two touchdown passes and rushed for the second highest number of yards in a single match this season (42).
While it might hold less relevance than yards thrown, Mayfield has also rushed into the end zone three times this season, two times more than last. While Mayfield might not be as fleet-footed as Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson, the 29-year-old has over doubled the number of yards rushed (378-163). This could prove a particularly useful weapon and create an element of unpredictability to Mayfield’s game, to be either utilized in the Play-Offs or in seasons to come.
Regardless, the chemistry with the regular sought-after Evans, Irving, Rachaad White, Cade Otton, Jalen McMillan, and a potentially fit again Chris Godwin will be crucial if the Bucs are to build on the momentum picked up towards the back end of the regular season. The Bucs go into the tie against the Commanders as slight favorites, given their recent form and home advantage. However, some more Mayfield magic would not do any harm as the Bucs attempt to advance to the Divisional round and beyond.
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Playoff rhetoric is fine but the Bucs have to completely concentrate on winning the game Sunday based on up to date statistics and present day circumstances. What happened last year or several years ago or who was or wasn’t the quarterback is irrelevant. The Bucs should not let anyone confuse the issues and make them relevant. Bucs have the talent to win. Bucs need to run, pass and tackle better than the Commanders on Sunday.
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