Buccaneers are a broken team, and there’s no quick fix

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a mess, and although Tom Brady is under center, there doesn’t appear to be an easy solution.

Tom Brady didn’t want to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this season.

Through seven games, you’re getting a good look at both why, and how Brady’s indifference seems to be playing out.

Brady is one of the fiercest competitors in NFL history. Yet outside of a singular outburst towards his offensive line during last week’s 20-18 embarrassment against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Brady doesn’t seem angry.

During Sunday’s 21-3 humbling to the Carolina Panthers, Brady seemed resigned. He seemed despondent.

In the season’s early weeks, it was easy to explain away Tampa Bay’s offensive struggles. The Bucs were missing receivers Chris Godwin, Julio Jones and Mike Evans at varying points. In Week 3 against the Green Bay Packers, all three sat out.

Then there’s the offensive line, which has been a hodgepodge of injuries and underwhelming performances, particularly on the interior. Under offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich — now with play-calling responsibilities following the role change for former head coach Bruce Arians — the offense is run-heavy in early downs. But the front’s inability to get push has led to long down-and-distances, which has meant harassment for Brady.

Tom Brady can’t save the Buccaneers from being broken

The temptation is to say Brady is the greatest player in league history, and he’ll figure it out. But this isn’t a Brady problem. Despite being 45 years old, his arm remains live, his mind sharper than ever. Nobody has played more snaps, seen more defenses, or made more adjustments. He’s still playing at a high level. The problem is the rest of the unit around him, coaching included.

Defensively, Tampa Bay is talented but beginning to bend. The Bucs’ are holding teams around 20 points or fewer on a weekly basis, save the Kansas City Chiefs. The defense is giving Brady and Co. every opportunity to win, and considering how bad the NFC South is, that’ll likely be enough to eventually walk away with a divisional crown and a home playoff game.

But for Tampa Bay, the goal this season wasn’t to make the playoffs. This is almost certainly Brady’s final year with the Buccaneers if not in the NFL. The odds of him returning in 2023 were slim before the season began, and after watching this fiasco, have perhaps slid toward none. Success was only going to be a second ring in three years, and as we approach Halloween, that seems more fantasy than reality.

If the Buccaneers have any hope, it’s Brady continuing to play well while the offensive line gets the  expected return of All-Pro center Ryan Jensen in November. This, coupled with the defense continuing to play like an elite unit, gives Tampa Bay a chance to emerge from the lackluster NFC.

But if things don’t change, if Jensen coming back doesn’t drastically alter the offense, then there’s little reason to believe in the Buccaneers, even with Brady.

At some point, this begins to take the form of the 2019 New England Patriots. That year, Brady made his final run with the Patriots, who won a weak AFC East on the back of an incredible defense. However, New England was bounced in the Wild Card round by the underdog Tennessee Titans, largely because the Patriots had one of the league’s worst offenses.

Brady tried to force his way to the Miami Dolphins this offseason, but it never came to be.

Months later, it’s become obvious why Brady wanted out, and why despite his presence, the Bucs are limited in their pursuit of greatness.