Fansided

6 teams poised to finally return to the NFL playoffs in 2020

By Andrew Kulp

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 23: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys looks to pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first quarter at AT&T Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 23: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys looks to pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first quarter at AT&T Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
Can Tom Brady change the Tampa Bay Buccaneers into Super Bowl contenders, much less take them to the NFL playoffs?
TAMPA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 13: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers works out during training camp at AdventHealth Training Center on August 13, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Whether you believe Tom Brady is in decline — he is — the Bucs don’t need a quarterback who transcends the talent around him. They just need somebody who doesn’t turn the ball over constantly. With a star-studded cast including Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Rob Gronkowski, Brady’s receivers should make him look good rather than the other way around.

But where the change under center could have the biggest difference is actually on the other side of the ball. Wait, what?

Don’t let the numbers deceive you. Tampa Bay’s defense ranked 29th in points allowed in 2019, but that was in large part due to Jameis Winston’s 35 giveaways — 30 interceptions and 5 fumbles lost.

Winston’s miscues gifted opponents extra possessions, short fields and 7 pick-sixes. To put those numbers in perspective, Brady was responsible for 9 giveaways in 2019.

With any kind of reasonable level of ball security by the offense, defensive scoring should go down. After all, the Bucs ranked 15th in yards allowed. And if the unit can improve its one glaring weakness, a 30th-ranked pass defense, to merely league average, the leads Brady and company build could wind up being insurmountable.

Home/NFL