The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 3-0 and once again flying under the radar as the NFL’s most underrated team. They’ll face the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles next week. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are once again flying under the radar as the NFL’s most underrated team.
The Buccaneers are 3-0 for the first time since the 2005 season on a day they honored former head coach Jon Gruden and several greats from that team for their 50th anniversary home opener.
While everyone is zoned in on the Philadelphia Eagles as the defending Super Bowl champions, here comes the team that’s defeated them in each of the past two seasons by a combined score of 65-25. That includes the Buccaneers defeating the Eagles in the playoffs at the conclusion of the 2023 season with Philly as the defending NFC champs.
It sets up a huge matchup in Tampa Bay against the Eagles in Week 4, with Philadelphia remaining unbeaten after winning on a last-second field goal block against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3.
“It’s hard to win in this league, period,” said head coach Todd Bowles. “Us shooting ourselves doesn’t help it much, but the resiliency they had to come back and win those games [is big]. We’re stacking them early this year. We’ve been 2-0 the past three or four years but we haven’t won the third game, so that’s a plus, winning the third game.”
Many people won’t be talking about the Buccaneers given they narrowly defeated a winless New York Jets squad while starting their backup quarterback, Tyrod Taylor. Furthermore, they nearly blew a 26-13 lead with a little over six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
While it wasn’t the most impressive of wins, what was impressive was the fact that the Buccaneers pulled off their third consecutive win on their last offensive. They also did it during the first two weeks of the season, with Baker Mayfield leading game-winning touchdown drives with under a minute remaining.
“One thousand percent (confidence in Mayfield),” said Bowles after the game. “It’s been like that since he got here.”
What it does show is that the Buccaneers have the moxie and ability to execute in the clutch to win games. It also continues to illustrate that Tampa Bay is one of the most consistent winning organizations in the NFL, with the longest playoff streak in the NFC at five seasons.
“It is much of the same, resilient group, we stick together,” said Mayfield after the game. “The whole team, when one part of it, one phase of it is a little bit down, others (have) to pick it up and be there for you. That’s what this team is all about, we support each other no matter what. It is a resilient, mentally tough group.”
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Come Through In The Clutch Again
With the way that they’re playing under one of the best quarterbacks in the league in Mayfield, it looks like the Buccaneers will be going to the playoffs for a sixth consecutive season. Needless to say, they’re one of the Eagles’ biggest road blocks towards repeating as Super Bowl champs and they’ll get the chance to prove that at home in Week 4.
On a day where they committed 14 penalties – it’s something they’ll obviously need to clean up moving forward – the Buccaneers were able to overcome that combined with McLaughlin’s blocked field goal attempt with under two minutes remaining to remain undefeated.
Mayfield – who has been to the Pro Bowl in each of the past two years – is playing the best football of his career with five touchdowns and zero turnovers through the first three games of the year. He’s doing this without Chris Godwin – who could possibly return in Week 5 – which should only add to the Bucs’ loaded receiving core with the likes of Mike Evans and rookie standout Emeka Egbuka.
“Nothing I didn’t already know,” said Ekbuka about what he’s learned from Mayfield through the first few weeks of the season. “We see it every single day in practice. He’s a natural born leader – someone who is willing to die on the field before giving up or shutting down. I think it’s pretty special to have someone like that at the helm of your offense and at the helm of your team, so we’re in good hands.”
Buccaneers Have Chance To Prove They’re Elite In Week 4 Versus Eagles
In each of the past two seasons under Mayfield, the Buccaneers have been within striking distance of advancing in the playoffs, losing on a last-second field goal to the Washington Commanders and falling a possession short of beating the Detroit Lions a couple seasons prior.
They’ve proven they can defeat the elite teams of the NFC, beating both the Lions and Commanders last year during the regular season. Their upcoming four-game slate includes matchups against the Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers and Lions.
In other words, this is the Buccaneers’ chance to capture the attention of observers, the majority of which have been sleeping on this team since the retirement of Tom Brady. If they win against the Eagles – as the defending Super Bowl champs – people won’t be sleeping on them any longer.