A sloppy effort against Cincinnati in Week 1 has confidence in the Buccaneers sinking even lower. See where they fell in the latest set of NFL power rankings.
Despite having what should be the best team in the NFC South, faith and confidence in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers remained low throughout the offseason.
Even analysts who picked the Bucs to win the division this season still generally believed them to be a bottom-half team in the NFL, but somebody has to win it.
On paper, Tampa looks like a talented team with good players all over the roster. The team is led by a standout offensive line expected to be among the league's best. Baker Mayfield is a franchise quarterback who finally got paid like one right before the season began.
The defense was also thought to be much improved, with free agents like Alex Anzalone, A'Shawn Robinson, and Al-Quadin Muhammad expected to give the unit an edge it had been missing. Rookie Rueben Bain Jr. has looked like a superstar in practices, and second-round pick Josiah Trotter also impressed in camp leading up to Sunday's opener.
Then the game happened, and Tampa played a sloppy, frustrating game. The Bucs lost four fumbles, three by Mayfield, and the new-look defensive line, including Bain, couldn't generate any pressure on Cincy QB Joe Burrow.
The Bucs lost 33-27, a score that makes the game appear closer than it really was,
Now, the concerns about the Bucs are growing. Talk about them falling short of expectations again will grow louder. Until Tampa proves it can play to its talent level, it is going to be very hard to have much confidence that this season will be any better than the last.
ESPN dropped the Bucs two spots in its latest set of NFL power rankings. Now Tampa sits at 20th.
Still Highest In Division
Luckily for the Bucs, all three other NFC South teams also lost on Sunday. Even at 20th, Tampa is still the highest-ranked team in the division. The New Orleans Saints are 25th. The Carolina Panthers are 26th, and the Atlanta Falcons dropped all the way down to 29th.
Tampa's loss cost the team an early opportunity to jump out in front of all three division rivals.
As for ESPN's rankings, instead of offering any team analysis, the performance of one "non-QB newcomer" was highlighted for each of the NFL's 32 clubs.
For the Bucs, who else could it be but Trotter?
"The son of Eagles legend Jeremiah Trotter became the first rookie to record a pick-six and a sack in his NFL debut since sacks became an official stat in 1982, according to Elias Sports Bureau. His pick-six helped turn a four-turnover performance into a one-score game. He also amassed 10 tackles, including two tackles for a loss. -- Jenna Laine"
Trotter was outstanding. He was Tampa's best player all afternoon. Without his effort, who knows how lopsided the final score could have been?
Final Thoughts
The Bucs have too much talent to be ranked this low. Until proven otherwise, they will continue to be viewed as underachievers.
Tampa is fortunate to play in such a weak division. The NFC has too many good teams for the Bucs to make the playoffs as a wild card. 10 wins may not be enough to get in without winning the division.
It may not take 10 wins to top the NFC South this season. Or even nine. Tampa's best, and probably only, chance is to finish atop the division.
The Bucs get the Cleveland Browns at home in Week 2. If Sunday was any indication, the Browns should provide an excellent chance for Tampa to get into the win column and right the ship after a very frustrating loss to start the season.
