Despite injuries to their key players, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers enjoyed a modestly successful start to the 2022 NFL season.
However, they are expected to become a dominating unit once all of their athletes are back in full health. The second favorite team in the league to win the Super Bowl, if preseason NFL betting odds are anything to go by, the Buccaneers will more than likely make it to the postseason for the third consecutive season.
Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl winner with the Buccaneers and the New England Patriots, is the straw that stirs the drink. He leads a talented offense featuring Leonard Fournette as running back and Cameron Brate at tight end. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers have one of the best receiving corps in the league with Mike Evans, Julio Jones, Russell Gage, and Chris Godwin.
On defense, the Buccaneers are succeeding in the line of scrimmage thanks to nose tackle Vita Vea and defensive end William Gholston. They also have a solid linebacker unit with Devin White, Lavonte David, and Shaquil Barrett. Finally, they have playmakers in the secondary, like Jamel Dean and Antoine Winfield Jr. Meanwhile, Ryan Succop is their placekicker, and Jake Camarda is their punter.
Call it the Tom Brady effect. Before he joined the Buccaneers during the 2020 offseason, the team had a playoff drought from 2008 to 2019. Since his arrival, Tampa Bay have added their second Super Bowl victory after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV.
They’ve also participated in the 2021 postseason but were eliminated by eventual Super Bowl LVI champions Los Angeles Rams.
Before that lengthy playoff drought, the Buccaneers won XXXVII against the Oakland Raiders to end the 2002 season. They’ve only had two more postseason appearances between their Super Bowl wins. Starting this year, the Buccaneers won three of their first five games in 2022.
The Buccaneers franchise was established in 1974 and played its first season two years later. Initially, they were the laughingstock of the NFL after losing their first 26 games, and only had one playoff victory throughout their first two decades.
However, things started to pick up during the Tony Dungy and Jon Gruden eras. Dungy led Tampa Bay to four playoff appearances, while Gruden won a Super Bowl.
The Buccaneers and the Baltimore Ravens are the only undefeated teams in multiple Super Bowl appearances. They have also achieved seven division titles and 12 playoff appearances. Meanwhile, the team is owned by the Glazer family and has a valuation of $3.6 billion.
The Buccaneers play their home games at Raymond James Stadium which opened in 1998 and can accommodate up to 69,218 fans. It has hosted three Super Bowls, with the Buccaneers becoming the first NFL franchise to host and win the Super Bowl in the same season. While Florida weather is often good for football, the intense heat can drive fans mad, especially for early afternoon games. Still, the fans support their team and cheer them to score because they will hear the cannons from the replica pirate ship being fired.
The Buccaneers have rivalries with their fellow NFC South teams, particularly the Carolina Panthers and the New Orleans Saints. The Panthers have a 24-19 lead in their all-time series, but the Buccaneers have won their last four meetings. Meanwhile, the Saints lead their all-time series, 39-22. However, the Buccaneers won their first playoff encounter with New Orleans during their 2020 Divisional Round in what turned out to be Drew Brees’ final game.
