What a difference a year makes
Last year at this time the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were coming off a 7-9 season. They had not made the playoffs in a decade. They were in flux. There had been no OTA’s. No preseason games to check out personnel. GM Jason Licht and his scouting team were under criticism. The players they had drafted had not performed up to expectations. The coaching staff was under scrutiny. The previous season had cast doubt on their abilities. There was a new QB who had arrived amid much speculation. Was he too old? Could he produce in the Buccaneers system? There were a lot of questions that could not be answered. No one knew what could or would happen, Negativity was thick in the local media and among fans.
The Bucs began the season with a loss to the New Orleans Saints. Then beat Carolina, Denver, and L.A. Chargers before losing to Chicago. They would travel to Green Bay and defeat them. Then win against Las Vegas and the N.Y Giants before getting blown out by the Saints again. Up and down, up and down. Still a lot of questions and no answers. It didn’t look good. At this rate, they probably were not going to make the p[layoffs. Same old Bucs. Nothing had changed. Probably a good time to pack it in for a high draft pick for next season.
But we all know what happened. After their bye week, the team caught stride and ran roughshod over their remaining opponents. They made it into the playoffs as a wild card team. Traveled on the road and beat Washington, New Orleans, and Green Bay to go to the Super Bowl. At home, in Raymond James Stadium. They defeated the Kansas City Chiefs and became the Champions of the NFL.
This year’s expectations are high. Now, with basically the same players they started last season with. The team is loaded. They are expected to make the playoffs. Even the Super Bowl and there is talk of going undefeated. Unbelievable. But true. What a difference a year makes.
Lets Go Bucs