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NFL power rankings: 2021 edition: Buccaneers dethrone the Chiefs

By Russell S. Baxter

TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 07: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signals during the fourth quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium on February 07, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 07: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signals during the fourth quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium on February 07, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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FOXBOROUGH, MA – JANUARY 03: Cam Newton #1 of the New England Patriots has a long run against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on January 3, 2021 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA – JANUARY 03: Cam Newton #1 of the New England Patriots has a long run against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on January 3, 2021 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images) /

Previous: . San Francisco 49ers. 21. team. 42. . 6-10

The season began with a home loss to the Cardinals and seven days later, the Niners lost defensive linemen Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo had his ups and downs and was once again bitten by the injury bug. But regardless of who lined up behind center, the team had its issues with ball security as only the Broncos (32) turned over the ball more than Kyle Shanahan’s club (31). It added up to last-place finish in 2020.

. 6-10. Previous: . Dallas Cowboys. 20. team. 123

Veteran head coach Mike McCarthy’s debut season in Arlington was somewhat forgettable, although the Cowboys made a run at the NFC East title in December. Regardless, the Dallas defense was a season-long disaster and even when healthy, quarterback Dak Prescott could not consistently rescue Mike Nolan’s unit. McCarthy’s team piled up a lot of passing yards regardless of the quarterback but the lack of a consistent ground attack didn’t help the club.

47. . 7-9. Previous: . New England Patriots. 19. team

Life without Tom Brady on the roster made for a long year in Foxborough as the club posted its first losing season since 2000 and missed the playoffs for the first time since ’08. Cam Newton got off to a decent start, missed some time due to COVID-19 and struggled to regain any kind of consistency. But the bigger issue may have been the once-proud New England defense, which finished 26th in the league against the run and wilted late in the year.

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