TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
2024 Record - 10-7-0
Head Coach - Todd Bowles
2024 Offensive Rank - (3rd overall) - 400 YPG; Passing - 251 YPG (3rd), Rushing - 149 YPG (4th); SCORING - 29.5 PPG (4th)
2024 Defensive Rank - (18th overall) - 342 YPG; Passing - 244 YPG (29th), Rushing - 98 YPG (4th); SCORING - 22.6 PPG (16th)
Key Additions for 2025 - Haason Reddick (LB), Anthony Walker, Jr. (LB), Emeka Egbuka (rookie - Ohio State), Kindle Vildor (DB), Charlie Heck (OL)
Key Losses for 2025 - Robert Hainsey (OL), K.J. Britt (LB), Shaq Barrett (LB), William Gholston (DL), Jordan Whitehead (DB), Joe Tyron-Shoyinka (LB)
OFFENSE - Quarterback Baker Mayfield had his best season in the NFL a year ago, passing for 4,500 yards with 41 touchdowns and 16 interceptions and also rushed for 378 yards (6.3 YPC) and three touchdowns. The top two targets for Mayfield in the passing game are receivers Mike Evans (74 receptions, 1,004 yards and 11 TD) and Chris Godwin, who missed several games a year ago (with a severe ankle injury), but still caught 50 passes for 576 yards and five touchdowns. Jalen McMillan is another wideout who had eight touchdowns on just 37 receptions for 461 yards and rookie WR Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State) was their top draft pick for this upcoming season. The tight end is Cade Otton and he had 59 receptions for 600 yards and four scores. The running tandem of Bucky Irving (1,122 yards, 5.4 YPC, eight TD) and Rachaad White (613, 4.3 YPC and three TD) were formidable and the Bucs finished fourth in the NFL in rushing last season.
DEFENSE - Tampa Bay took a step back in this area compared to years past even with 46 quarterback sacks with defensive linemen Calijah Kancey (7 1/2 sacks), Vita Vea (seven sacks) and Logan Hall (5 1/2 sacks) leading the way. Linebacker Lavonte David had 5 1/2 sacks and led the team with 121 tackles and teams with Haason Reddick (with N.Y. Jets last season) and Yaya Diaby in that area. The defensive backs are corners Zyon McCollum (82 tackles and two interceptions) and rookie Benjamin Morrison (Notre Dame) as well as Bryce Hall, who is coming back from injuries last year. The safeties include Tykee Smith (two picks) and Antoine Winfield, Jr. and also Josh Hall.
OUTLOOK - Head Coach Todd Bowles saw the team make the playoffs once again last season before falling to Washington (23-20) in the wild card round. The Buccaneers are favored to win the NFC South division again this year and as along as Mayfield and the offense can duplicate what they did last year, they should be in fine shape. Turnovers were a problem at times as the Bucs were a minus-5 in that category.
On defense, newcomer Haason Reddick will look to fortify the linebackers and continue to pressure opposing quarterbacks. The Bucs had a solid run defense last year, but gave up too many chunk yardage plays against the pass and were in the middle of the pack in points allowed, so better red zone defense would help them to step up in 2025. The secondary also needs to force more turnovers as they only had seven interceptions a year ago, which allowed opponents to torch the Buccaneers defense. As long as injuries don't take a toll on key players, the Bucs should be able to make the playoffs for a sixth consecutive season. How far they can go from there will depend on the defense playing tough, especially in the red zone and the offense maintaining the regular season pace they showed last year.
2025 SCHEDULE
Week One - at Atlanta
Week Two - at Houston
Week Three - vs. N.Y. Jets
Week Four - vs. Philadelphia
Week Five - at Seattle
Week Six - vs. San Francisco
Week Seven - at Detroit
Week Eight - at New Orleans
Week Nine - BYE
Week Ten - vs. New England
Week Eleven - at Buffalo
Week Twelve - at L.A. Rams
Week Thirteen - vs. Arizona
Week Fourteen - vs. New Orleans
Week Fifteen - vs. Atlanta
Week Sixteen - at Carolina
Week Seventeen - at Miami
Week Eighteen - vs. Carolina
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