TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
2020 Record - 11-5-0
Head Coach - Bruce Arians
Key Additions - Gio Bernard (RB), Joseph Jones (LB), Raven Greene (DB)
OFFENSE - Tom Brady continues on at age 44 and will be the starting quarterback again after passing for 4,633 yards, 40 touchdowns and twelve interceptions last year. Ronald Jones led the Buccaneers in rushing with 978 yards (5.1 ypc average) and seven touchdowns. Leonard Fournette (367 yards, 3.8 ypc and six TD) and Gio Bernard (416, 3.4 ypc, three TD and 47 receptions for 355 yards and three TD with Cincinnati) are the backup running backs to help form a solid looking tandem.
The wide receivers include Mike Evans, who led the Bucs with 70 receptions for 1,006 yards and 13 touchdowns. Chris Godwin (65, 840, seven TD), Antonio Brown (45, 483, four TD) and Scotty Miller (33, 501, three TD) round out the squad. The tight ends are Rob Gronkowski (45, 623, seven TD), Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard, who is coming back from an Achilles injury. The Bucs averaged 384 yards per game a year ago, which ranked seventh in the NFL. They scored 30.8 points per game, which was third overall. The passing game averaged 289 YPG (2nd in NFL) and the running game was 28th overall, averaging 95 yards per game.
DEFENSE - The Tampa Bay defense has the trio of Ndamukong Suh, William Gholston and Vita Vea up front while Devin White (nine QB sacks) , Lavonte David, Shaquil Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul (9 1/2 QB sacks) are the linebackers. Providing depth up front are Jeremiah Ledbetter, Steve McLendon and Rakeem Nunez-Roches. Kevin Minter, rookie Joe Tryon (Washington), Cam Gil, Joseph Jones and Anthony Nilson will spell the linebackers.
The secondary has safeties Antoine Winfield, Jr. and Jordan Whitehead and cornerbacks Sean Murphy-Bunting and Carlton Davis III, who led the team with four interceptions last season. Jamel Dean, Ross Cockrell, Mike Edwards and Raven Greene are the backups. Tampa Bay allowed 22.2 points per game in 2020 and was sixth in the NFL in total defense a year ago, allowing 327 yards per game, which included the top run defense in the league, giving up just 81 yards per game. The pass defense allowed 246 YPG (21st in NFL) while intercepting 15 passes. Tampa Bay had 48 quarterback sacks last year along with a plus-8 turnover ratio.
2021 SEASON OUTLOOK - It took some adjustments and getting used to each other, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won it all last season with Brady and Head Coach Bruce Arians being the central figures.
For a repeat effort, everything will need to go just right and fall into place once again this season. Repeating as Super Bowl champions is NEVER easy and the Bucs are going to experience that this year. But Brady has been there and done that and in fact, he was the last quarterback to lead a team (the 2004 New England Patriots) to a second consecutive Super Bowl title. Can they do it?
If the defense plays like it did down the stretch last season and during the playoff run and Super Bowl, then why not. Granted, the Buccaneers did beat up on some weaker teams in those last four games when it all came together and they combined to outscore the opposition by a 148-75 count and then scored 30-plus points throughout the post-season, including the 31-9 rout of the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.
Expect a 13-4 finish this season and a long run in the playoffs as well. If all goes well for the ageless wonder known as Tom Brady, the Buccaneers just might repeat as Super Bowl champions.
2021 SCHEDULE
Week 1 - vs. Dallas
Week 2 - vs. Atlanta
Week 3 - at L.A. Rams
Week 4 - at New England
Week 5 - vs. Miami
Week 6 - at Philadelphia
Week 7 - vs. Chicago
Week 8 - at New Orleans
Week 9 - BYE
Week 10 - at Washington
Week 11 - vs. N.Y. Giants
Week 12 - at Indianapolis
Week 13 - at Atlanta
Week 14 - vs. Buffalo
Week 15 - vs. New Orleans
Week 16 - at Carolina
Week 17 - at N.Y. Jets
Week 18 - vs. Carolina
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