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Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5 Reasons Bucs can win the NFC South

By Danny Jaillet

Jan 1, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) high fives fans as he runs out of the tunnel before the game against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) high fives fans as he runs out of the tunnel before the game against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers just missed the playoffs in 2016, but they have a great shot at winning the NFC South in 2017.

The NFC South is wide open. Given the teams in it, that may sound like a crazy statement, but after a wild year in the NFL last year we learned that anything could happen. Such could be the case in 2017.

Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are revamped and reloaded at a time when their division in in flux. With a coach on the rise, depth at all positions, and a talented young core via the NFL draft, Tampa Bay is in a position to win now. It is a position that just three years ago may have seemed impossible to be in, but lead by their star quarterback and second overall pick Jameis Winston, they are very much on the rise.

With those things in mind, this leaves the NFC South wide open. Perhaps, it is wide open enough for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to win it. We give you five reasons why the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will win the NFC South.

Dec 18, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cameron Brate (84) runs with the ball after making a catch in the third quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cameron Brate (84) runs with the ball after making a catch in the third quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Uncertainty of the division itself

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could win the NFC South due in part to the uncertainty surrounding most of the division. The Atlanta Falcons have a new offensive coordinator in Steve Sarkisian, and we don’t quite know what kind of production we will be getting from them yet.

Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers have one of the best rosters in the NFL on paper and should have no problems succeeding. The problem with that is, many thought that last year and Cam Newton and Co. underperformed, perhaps due in part to a Super Bowl hangover.

In the meantime, the New Orleans Saints will have to try and cope with the loss of Brandin Cooks. He caught 78 passes for 1,178 yards and eight touchdowns last season, and he leaves a gaping hole in the Saints’ offense. With that in mind, they did acquire Adrian Peterson, but will that be enough to offset the loss and can he return to his MVP form?

All the above question marks and the uncertainty within them could vault the Buccaneers to the top of the division.

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