NFL Power Rankings: Buccaneers 'Fueled By' Quarterback Baker Mayfield
Not many expected the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to make the playoffs, win the NFC South Division, or beat the defending NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles, but they did all three.
Thanks to the combination of Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield and offensive coordinator Dave Canales connecting quicker than most they not only surprised the entire NFL, they may have changed the perceived course of the franchise altogether.
In the process, Tampa Bay was impressed enough to finish 13th overall in the final NFL Power Rankings of the year.
"The Buccaneers overachieved in 2023, fueled by a bounce-back season from Baker Mayfield, an opportunistic defense and, let's be honest, their presence in a less-than-tough division," Eric Edholm writes in his final rankings of the year. "I don't mean to negate what they did -- Tampa almost knocked off the Lions at Detroit in the Divisional Round. But the Bucs scraped just to get in the postseason. And now they have to restart a bit, with OC Dave Canales off to Carolina, and his replacement, Liam Coen, lying in wait until the Mayfield decision is figured out. Mayfield is set to be a free agent, and though it would be hard to imagine any other team wanting him more than Tampa Bay, the two sides must figure out the money part and leave enough left over for Mike Evans and others. The NFC South remains in flux, we suspect, but the Bucs once again could have to be a team that grinds its gears hard to find success."
Less-than-flattering summary of the Bucs' season aside finishing top 15 is a far cry from the 28th spot they were in before the year began.
As a reference, that spot was three down from the Carolina Panthers and last in the NFC South.
With the year now over for all 32 NFL teams the Buccaneers are the best in the division for a third-straight season while the New Orleans Saints finished 15th, the Panthers finished No. 32, and the Atlanta Falcons 27th.
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