TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
2022 Record - 8-9
Head Coach - Todd Bowles
Offensive Rank - 15th (347 YPG); Scoring - 25th (18.4 PPG)
Defensive Rank - 9th (324 YPG); Scoring - 15th (21.1 PPG)
The 2023 season will be a year of transition for the Buccaneers as quarterback Tom Brady retired and it appears that Baker Mayfield could be the guy for the job. Mayfield passed for 2,163 yards last season with ten touchdowns and eight interceptions while playing with the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams. Also in camp are Kyle Trask and John Wolford. The running game will have different faces as Rachaad White (481 yards, 3.7 YPC average and one TD along with 50 receptions for 290 yards and two TD), Ke'Shawn Vaughn and Chase Edmonds will look to lead the way. The wide receivers are Chris Godwin (104 receptions for 1,023 yards and three TD) and Mike Evans, who had 77 grabs for 1,124 yards and six touchdowns. Russell Gage, Jr. was injured last year and has been limited in camp with injuries again, so rookies Rakim Jarrett (Maryland) and Trey Palmer (Nebraska) will get a look as well. The tight end is Cade Otton and he had 42 receptions for 391 yards and two scores last year.
Nose tackle Vita Vea (6 1/2 QB sacks) and defensive ends Logan Hall and top rookie draft pick Calijah Kancey (Pittsburgh) lead the way on the defensive line and linebackers Shaquil Barrett, Devin White (124 tackles, including 5 1/2 sacks) Anthony Nelson (5 1/2 sacks) and Lavonte David (124 tackles) round out the front seven. The defensive backs are safeties Ryan Neal and Antoine Winfield, Jr. and the corners are Jamel Dean (two interceptions) and Carlton Davis III.
OUTLOOK FOR 2023 - The Buccaneers will be looking to win a third straight NFC South crown this year, but it won't be at all easy as Mayfield (or perhaps Trask) will be leading the offense, which only averaged 18.4 points per game last year. Head Coach Todd Bowles would like to see more balance in the offense this season as the running game averaged a paltry 77 yards per game a year ago, which ranked last in the NFL.
As long as the defense continues to do well and gets after opposing quarterbacks (45 sacks in 2022), the Buccaneers should be in contention in what looks to be a very competitive and balanced division. The Bucs defense was in the top ten against the pass and in the middle of the pack stopping the run. The offense needs to step up this season and it will be interesting to see how Mayfield does and when problems arise, will the team stick with him or go to the backup? There are solid players at wide receiver with Godwin and Evans around, which will help.
There are many questions regarding this team and for good reasons, especially with the offense. Can the running game improve after leading rusher (Leonard Fournette) wasn't retained for this season? The overall key for the team will be winning the divisional games. They went 4-2 against NFC South foes last year and would do well to repeat that effort. The schedule is tough so getting off to a good start would help. Tampa Bay could be a playoff team again, but it will come down to how well the offense can do and avoiding injuries to key players.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - at Minnesota
Week Two - vs. Chicago
Week Three - vs. Philadelphia
Week Four - at New Orleans
Week Five - BYE
Week Six - vs. Detroit
Week Seven - vs. Atlanta
Week Eight - at Buffalo
Week Nine - at Houston
Week Ten - vs. Tennessee
Week Eleven - at San Francisco
Week Twelve - at Indianapolis
Week Thirteen - vs. Carolina
Week Fourteen - at Atlanta
Week Fifteen - at Green Bay
Week Sixteen - vs. Jacksonville
Week Seventeen - vs. New Orleans
Week Eighteen - at Carolina
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