A second straight division title and a third consecutive trip to the postseason. However, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn’t look like a playoff team in 2022.
Including two playoff runs, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers combined for a 29-10 record from 2020-21, first winning Super Bowl LV from the wild card position while tying for the best record in the NFL (13-4) a year later. In 2022 and including the lopsided playoff loss to the Cowboys, the Bucs were a combined 8-10.
Head coach Todd Bowles’ first season as the team’s leader did result in a division title, but this was the only team in the playoffs with a losing record.
What’s Next for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
Waiting on what ageless quarterback Tom Brady will decide to do in terms of returning to the franchise. A year ago, the seven-time Super Bowl champion walked away and then unretired. This time around, he is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at 4:00 pm ET on March 15.
Perhaps a bigger concern would be bringing back veteran linebacker Lavonte David. He and Devin White tied for the team lead with 124 defensive stops. Brady and David are two of 24 potential unrestricted free agents the club must make decisions on sooner than later.
Biggest Offseason Concern?
Regardless of who winds up playing quarterback for the Buccaneers in 2023, the team has to find some offensive balance. The Bucs parted ways with coordinator Byron Leftwich earlier this month. So along with question marks at the quarterback position, the team is in the market for a new play-caller.
How badly did the Buccaneers’ offense perform in 2022? A year after the team amassed the second-most points in the league (511) and totaled 61 offensive TDs, the club slipped to 25th in the league in scoring. Tampa Bay managed only 313 points and the offensive unit managed only 31 trips to the end zone.
The falloff on offense was dramatic and the loss of center Ryan Jensen before the season started was a huge blow (although he returned to play in the wild card game). Elsewhere, the Buccaneers’ highly-regarded defense was manhandled on numerous occasions. Brady’s future is a mystery, the search is on for a new offensive coordinator and there could be some other big-time changes ahead.