Buccaneers: How Strong Can They Finish the Season?
Make Some Noise?
There’s no doubt that Sunday’s win over Kansas City was a big one for Tampa Bay. But, at 5-5, there’s still work to be done for playoffs to be in the team’s future. The rest of the schedule is rough, but if the Bucs continue to play like they have in the last two weeks, they’ll have a chance to make some noise.
So, what’s a reasonable record to expect the rest of the way for Dirk Koetter’s team? Looking at the schedule, I’d probably go with 4-2. That’s asking a lot, but 4-2 is definitely reasonable if the defense keeps playing the way it has in recent weeks. The offense will start clicking with a healthier Doug Martin, but it will be the defense that has to continue to step up.
Wins against Seattle and Dallas may be a little too much to ask, but it’s not unreasonable to expect the Bucs to pull off wins against the Chargers, Saints (twice) and Panthers. Those three teams are beatable if the Bucs play the way they have lately. If Tampa Bay plays its best football the rest of the way, a 9-7 record could be the result.