The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have never gone to the playoffs in five consecutive seasons. According to the Associated Press, that will change in 2024, and the team won’t need Tom Brady to do it.
With Baker Mayfield at the helm, Tampa Bay will finish ahead of Atlanta and capture another NFC South title, per AP senior NFL writer Rob Maaddi.
“The Bucs re-signed several key players and remain the team to beat in a division that has improved,” Maaddi wrote.
Atlanta led the division in improvement, adding quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix, safeties Justin Simmons and Jessie Bates and edge rusher Matthew Judon. As a result, the Falcons are the chic favorites in their division.
But before Brady and after Brady, Tampa Bay has consistently clawed its way to the top. Last season, the Bucs parlayed their division title into a Wild Card playoff win over Philadelphia, then turned in an impressive effort in the NFC Divisional Round at Detroit. Tampa Bay’s spark in that run was a gritty 29-25 win in Week 13 at Atlanta.
If Tampa Bay makes the playoffs, the Bucs will have a franchise-record five straight postseason berths. They also went to four consecutive postseasons from 1999-2002, punctuating that stretch with a Super Bowl win over the Oakland Raiders.
Maaddi sees the Philadelphia Eagles over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Feb. 9.
The Bucs host Jayden Daniels in his first NFL start when Washington visits Raymond James Stadium on Sept. 8.