The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are looking to burst their way onto the postseason scene during the 2020 season. Here are five Super Bowl measuring sticks.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are considered one of the favorites to get to the NFL postseason this year and one of the major reasons why has to do with the addition of QB Tom Brady.
The Buccaneers are currently projected to win 10 games, according to win totals from the Action Network, and there is a ton of excitement heading into the season.
If Tampa Bay is set to make a run deep into the postseason, they’ll have several measuring sticks along the way.
Here are the five greatest measuring sticks for the Buccaneers during the 2020 season.
5. @ New York Giants
Heading up to New York to take on the Giants for a Thursday night showdown is certainly a decent measuring stick for the Bucs.
The Giants are considered one of three competitors for the NFC East- along with the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles- and there’s reason to believe that this game in November may go a long way in determining where each team stands in terms of postseason hopes.
This is a game that Tampa must find a way to win.
They’re on the road in what could be a difficult environment (even if fans aren’t allowed in the stands) and this is the type of game you have to win down the stretch if you want to truly compete.
4. vs. Minnesota Vikings
The NFC North will be highly competitive between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers.
While I certainly considered putting the game against the Packers in this slot, the truth is that this Minnesota game could mean so much more.
The game against the Vikings won’t take place until Week 14 of the season following a bye week. The two teams will match up in Tampa Bay during December and this could be a game with all kinds of playoff hopes on the line.
Both teams may need this win to stay alive in their divisional races and this will be a great measuring stick for how the Buccaneers will perform when the postseason comes around.
3. @ New Orleans Saints
The first Super Bowl measuring stick of the season will happen during opening weekend.
The Bucs will travel down to New Orleans to take on their divisional rival in a game that will certainly be a great measuring stick at the beginning of the season.
Though a lot can change between Week 1 and Week 17, this will be the perfect season-opening match-up to show Tampa Bay right from the start what they must do to improve and become legitimate playoff contenders.
2. vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The Buccaneers will play host to the Kansas City Chiefs in late November and, honestly, there’s no greater measuring stick when it comes to the Super Bowl than playing the defending champions.
The Chiefs are the heavy favorites to win the Super Bowl heading into the 2020 season and they’ll be coming to town fully motivated as they look to make a statement heading into the final portion of the regular season.
This is a game that will feel like a playoff match-up and will be an absolute big-time measuring stick for the Bucs as they prepare to compete deep into the postseason.
1. vs. New Orleans Saints
And now we’re back to the New Orleans Saints, once again.
To win the NFC South, the Bucs must go through New Orleans. This game- the second time around- will be the ultimate measuring stick as to what Tampa fans can expect of their team moving forward into the postseason.
The Saints and Bucs will play their second game in Tampa Bay on November 8 live on Sunday Night Football.
This is a game that all national analysts and fans across the country will be watching and there’s no doubt that we’ll come out of this game knowing a lot more about the Bucs and their viability in the postseason.
Can Tampa Bay come away with a Super Bowl victory this season? It’s certainly possible, we will just have to wait and see how they perform in these ‘measuring stick’ games during the regular season.