Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5 Bold predictions vs. Packers in NFC Championship

1. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going to the Super Bowl

When the Buccaneers signed Tom Brady in the offseason, expectations went through the roof. As the season played out, it appeared the team might need to be happy with just making the playoffs.

The Buccaneers entered their bye week with a 7-5 record and looked like pretenders. The team only had one quality win which coincidentally was the Packers. Ever since the Buccaneers were able to get momentum back against inferior opponents to end the regular season. They then beat up on a less than stellar NFC East winner in the WFT. Last week against New Orleans, the team looked like a true contender.

The Buccaneers have looked more well balanced on offense than they have all year. Brady isn’t always slinging the ball downfield. Instead, he is making plays when the team needs it most. The running game is humming and the defense dominated the Saints.

More importantly, the Buccaneers look like a team that believes it belongs here. Brady has a history of upsetting teams that should beat him in conference championship games. The Buccaneers will utilize the better play from the team’s offensive line to help slow the game down for themselves. Defensively, Todd Bowles will mix coverages to force Aaron Rodgers to grow impatient.

Brady knows a win not only gets him to his tenth Super Bowl, but it will also be the first time a team plays a Super Bowl in their home stadium. For a quarterback who has very little left to accomplish, this is surely a career “bucket list” achievement. Many people have bet against Brady throughout his career and this season. No one should bet against him and the Buccaneers on Sunday.

Further, there are players who know this may be their last best chance. Ndamukong Suh and Shaquille Barrett are both free agents on defense. Chris Godwin and Leonard Fournette are both free agents on offense. It is conceivable for the team to lose all four players. Suh is a veteran who has been to the Super Bowl and lost.

All four are impactful players for the team and all four know their future is not guaranteed. Combine this with guys like Brady and Rob Gronkowski and Tampa Bay has enough influential players who will not be thinking they can come back and try again next year.