NFL.com right to project Buccaneers will have number one offense

Cynthia Frelund of NFL.com released her list of the projected top ten offenses for the 2021 NFL season. While many would assume the Kansas City Chiefs would take that top spot, you know what they say about assuming. Wouldn’t you know it but none other than our Tampa Bay Buccaneers topped the list of projected offenses.

Frelund is the NFL’s official website’s official analytics expert and puts out lists like this all the time leading up to, and during the season. The more popular ones are how she’ll predict games based solely on analytics, not personal opinion.

She is also correct in her projection of the Buccaneers.

In case you haven’t heard, or live under a rock (no judgment), but the Bucs will be returning all 22 starters with a little on the side of their 2020 championship roster. It’s the first time in the Super Bowl era that’s happened. It makes them heavy Super Bowl favorites to repeat, or “go for two” in the words of Bruce Arians, especially when you consider the team really came on late, and now have a full offseason. The defense got the lion’s share of the credit in the playoff run, especially Super Bowl LV.

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However, the offense does still have a little ballplayer by the name of Tom Brady under center. Frelund pointed out that the Bucs have the best win-share projection on offense (third-most on defense), which certainly supports the argument.

It’s also pointed out that in games with Ali Marpet in the lineup last season, Brady enjoyed an average of 0.3 seconds longer in the pocket on passing downs. That may not seem like a lot, but it makes a HUGE difference. In the running game, backs who ran to his side of the line earned 1.3 more yards per attempt than when he wasn’t playing.

That’s all analytical number-crunching mumbo jumbo though. One can also look at it this way. The Buccaneers have the GOAT at quarterback, a solid offensive line featuring the aforementioned Marpet and Tristan Wirfs at right tackle, who entering his second season, may already be the best at his position. We hinted at the running game, which features a running back room that features at the bare minimum three starting-caliber backs. The same goes for the tight end and receiver rooms as well.

While it may seem like the list was unveiled for clicks, “oh how could the Chiefs not be number one?”, the fact of the matter is that it does make sense, and the Buccaneers will be an absolute wagon in 2021, and possibly even beyond, due in large part to their loaded roster of talent, on special teams, defense, and yes, offense.