Why Are Critics Overlooking the Bucs’ True Potential Behind This Controversial Line?

The Buccaneers are the lone one-loss team in the National Football Conference. Is that remarkable? Probably only because I don’t think most would’ve expected that to be the case. And, sure, before you come at me, the Packers are also a one-loss team, but they do have that stink mark of a tie on their record. I’ll be the first to claim that Tampa has been more lucky than great, though. They looked good against the Jets, but easily could’ve lost that game. They looked good against the Falcons, but also could’ve choked it away. They needed a comeback against the Texans. They needed a comeback against the Seahawks. The Eagles game saw them have a comeback, but ultimately fall short. This isn’t a team with a ton of room for error and right now, they are making it all work. Perhaps, to their credit, we should also look at how successful they have been given their key injuries. Bucky Irving, dynamic and starting running back, has miss multiple games. Mike Evans, a hall of fame talent and Baker Mayfield’s usual favorite target, has missed multiple games. Chris Godwin, missed multiple games. Now, their right guard Luke Haggard is out, Evans and Emeka Egbuka are questionable. Irving and Godwin remain out. Eventually, these injuries pile up, and the Buccaneers have struggled against bad teams, how will they do on the road against a good one?