Could the Tampa Bay Buccaneers be a Super Bowl contender?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers seem to be underrated and undervalued every single year.
Once again, almost no one has the Bucs classed in the top 10 or even top 15 favourites for the Super Bowl, except Sports Illustrated.
Tampa Bay fans are used to this. Even in the Super Bowl-winning season a few years ago, no one believed in the super team that had been assembled.
This year is no different from the rest. Despite winning the NFC South for the past four years and being the only NFC South team to make the playoffs since 2020, people will always seem to overlook this team.
Despite this, I still believe the other NFC South teams will not be able to dethrone the Bucs. They should become the first team in history to win the division five years in a row.
Not only do I believe the Bucs will win the NFC South, but I believe they can also make a deep playoff run, and why not go to the Super Bowl.
Last season, the Bucs were one silly fumble away from beating the Washington Commanders to go to the Divisional round, and I believe they can do much better this year.
Adding new players to the roster
Not only have the Bucs retained key pieces such as quarterback Baker Mayfield, as well as wide receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, but they have also reinforced an already competitive team.
The team’s main issue last season was on the defensive side of the ball, having put up consistently high offensive numbers and consistently poor defensive numbers.
To combat this, General Manager Jason Licht has signed some key defensive pieces such as cornerbacks Bryce Hall and Kendall Vildor. He has also made exciting additions such as linebacker Haason Reddick and safety Shilo Sanders.
Having bolstered and addressed the defensive side of the ball significantly, while retaining their offensive pieces, there is no reason why Head Coach Todd Bowles should not have this side competing next season.
The NFC is currently the weakest of the two conferences, in my opinion having no clear cut favourite, except maybe the Philadelphia Eagles.
The race in the NFC title is wide open, and with the Bucs seemingly being the Eagles’ bogey team, the stats are on Tampa Bay’s side.
Mayfield also has a lot to prove still. Despite reviving his career in Tampa Bay, the former number one overall pick has still not fully lived up to his pre-draft expectations.
Guided by his determination, grit and pure will to win, I believe he can lead the Bucs on a deep playoff run, and maybe even to a Super Bowl this upcoming season.
Only time will tell.
