The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a quarterback at a crossroads, and a new coach who is trying to get the most out of him. Jameis Winston is a former No. 1 overall pick with a lot of talent but he has yet to put it all together in the NFL. Bruce Arians takes over as coach and his vertical offense should give Winston plenty of opportunities to put up big numbers. The Buccaneers need their passing game to excel because there is not a ton of talent on the roster elsewhere. Tampa Bay is a heavy underdog in the current NFL odds to make it to the postseason in 2019.
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Buccaneers odds to make the playoffs
Yes +600
No -800
Buccaneers Playoff Odds Analysis
The Buccaneers aren’t super talented and they are hurt by playing in a really stout division. Tampa Bay will have to face off against the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers twice apiece this season. They also have games outside the division against the San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants, Los Angeles Rams, Tennessee Titans, Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts, Detroit Lions and Houston Texans.
It is a longshot that Tampa Bay beats out the other three for the NFC South crown, so a wild card berth into the playoffs seems the only route. Even so, it is quite improbable the Buccaneers navigate their schedule well enough to get into the postseason.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Odds
The Buccaneers finished last season with a record of 5-11 and coach Dirk Koetter was fired after the season. The passing game showed promise at times, but both Winston and fellow quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick threw way too many interceptions. The hope is that Tampa Bay can bring down the turnovers while still stretching the field vertically. Mike Evans returns as the main offensive weapon, as he is one of the NFL’s elite receivers. O.J. Howard is primed to break out as a game-changing tight end, while Chris Godwin could also get his share of targets. The issue is that the Tampa Bay offensive line is subpar and its running game could struggle without an average starter among the options at tailback. There is going to be a ton of weight put on Winston’s shoulders, and he will need to have the best season of his career to keep this team afloat.
The Tampa Bay defense has plenty of question marks. The team released star defensive tackle Gerald McCoy this offseason and is hoping Ndamukong Suh can adequately replace him. Vita Vea is another important piece on the line. Kwon Alexander left in free agency leaving Lavonte David as the most proven linebacker on the team. Vernon Hargreaves is a talented cornerback but will need some help in the secondary.
The Buccaneers went defense-heavy in the draft, as their first five selections were on that side of the ball. Tampa Bay took linebacker Devin White with the No. 5 overall pick and followed that up with cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting, cornerback Jamel Dean, safety Mike Edwards and defensive end Anthony Nelson. If a few of them can contribute, it will help a defense badly in need of playmakers.
Key Stats or Trends
The Buccaneers have a proven coach, and Arians was able to work some magic with the Cardinals in his previous stint leading a team. There are some nice pass-catching options for his preferred offensive style, and there is no doubt Winston has talent. If the Bucs can consistently move the ball through the air, they could stay in most games, but it’s tough with a lot of holes in other areas. Former Jets coach Todd Bowles is the team’s new defensive coordinator, and he is a bright mind, so he may be able to coax improvement out of the group.
The Bucs have a path toward respectability if Winston plays well this season, but the playoffs are going to be tough to reach based on the overall lack of talent on the roster.
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