Before 2020, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (or the Bucs) hadn’t made the playoffs since 2007, they hadn’t won their division since 2005, and they hadn’t won the Super Bowl since 2002.
That all changed last season when the team went on to do all three in one season. Thanks to their somewhat of a surprise Super Bowl victory, everyone has had high hopes for the Bucs this season. And on the whole, they have delivered.
Today, we are going to look at their 2021 season, their key players, and their likelihood to make it to two Super Bowls in a row.
The 2020 victory
6 time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady left his team of 15+ years (the New England Patriots) to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the start of the 2020 season. He told everyone that he had plans to win his 7th Super Bowl title with the Bucs.
This had quite a few of the sports commentators giggling to themselves. Not only had the Bucs not won anything since 2007, but they were also hosting the Super Bowl. In the history of the Super Bowl, no team had ever played at a home Super Bowl, let alone won it.
However, Brady proved everyone wrong.
The Bucs ended their season on 12-5 and made it into the playoffs through the Wild Card round. They went on to put in an amazing playoff performance and won their conference, becoming the first team ever to play in a home Super Bowl.
The Bucs went on to destroy former champions Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 at the Super Bowl. Brady won his 7th championship and the Bucs won their second-ever Super Bowl trophy.
The 2021 Season
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are currently sitting on a 9-3 record for the season. This comfortably puts them at the top of their division (NFC South). Every other team in the division is sitting on 5-7 for the season. They are currently on a three-win streak. With 5 games left to play this season.
Unless the Bucs lose the rest of their games this season and one of the other teams in their division wins every single one of their matches, then the Bucs will be going through to the playoffs as division champions.
At the start of the 2021 season, the Bucs re-signed all 22 of their 2020 season starters. They were the first team to do this since 1994 and only the 4th team ever to do this. Many saw this as a sign that the team had a cohesive vision that all the players believed in.
They have certainly played this way throughout the 2021 season, they currently have the 2nd best scorecard in the league.
Best 2021 players
To win the Super Bowl, you need more than a good quarterback, here are the four players making the biggest difference in the Bucs squad this season:
Tristan Wirfs –
Wirfs plays like a man with 10 years of NFL experience when this is only his second season. He is a defensive wizard and when paired with Shaquil Barrett, Brady couldn’t ask for a better guard.
Devin White –
White is another player in his second season who plays like a veteran. White hasn’t had a perfect last two seasons, but he is a real asset to the Bucs. He is one of the fastest linebackers in the league and one of the most talented midfielders in the game.
Shaquil Barrett –
Barrett has racked up an impressive 27.5 sacks over the last two seasons (plus another 4 in the 2020 postseason). He is also the king of pressuring quarterbacks. With him on the field, Brady has enough space and time to work his magic.
Tom Brady –
You all know who Tom Brady is. If you have watched the NFL in the last 20 years then you won’t have been able to escape him. Brady is the highest scoring, most decorated, and most successful football player of all time. He is the starting quarterback for the Bucs and has changed their luck in the last year.
Super Bowl chances
The Bucs are currently the bookies’ favorites to win the Super Bowl.
They are top of their division and their starting quarterback, Tom Brady is in good form. The team as a whole has been working incredibly well together this season.
You can find the odds for a Tampa Bay Buccaneers win here.
We think they will definitely make it to their conference finals.
