The Tampa Bay Buccaneers sustained success is due to a wide range of reasons. The Buccaneers are only getting better each passing week, as are their two offensive tackles. They have blossomed into the best duo in the NFL, and are one of those reasons the Bucs have stayed dominant.
The Buccaneers offense has been an absolute freight train from hell this season. There really is no other way to put it. Tom Brady is currently on pace to have the best season of his GOAT-worthy career, which is saying A LOT. Part of the reason for that, is due to the fact that he has been upright most of the season. Bookend tackles Donovan Smith and Tristan Wirfs have anchored an offensive line that has been among the NFL’s best.
The young offensive tackle duo is the best in the NFL and is time they are treated as such.
As a rookie, an argument was easily made that Wirfs was already the best right tackle in the entire league. In his sophomore season, there is no doubt about it anymore. He was snubbed in both the Pro Bowl and All-Pro voting, a travesty that should not be repeated a second time. The silver lining, any Buccaneers players honored with being called Pro Bowlers shouldn’t be able to even play in the game due to having a prior commitment: the Super Bowl.
As for the other tackle, the maturation and steady improvement of Smith has been something to behold. Despite being re-signed to a contract extension in the offseason, Smith was seen as the “weak link” of the offensive line if one was forced to pick one. He has responded to that criticism with great aplomb and is developing into one of the more solid left tackles in the league.
Smith and Wirfs are still young, and only getting better. The offense knows that they have much to improve on (which is frightening) and that includes the offensive line. If the offensive line, and the two young tackles, in particular, continue improving on the trend they are, the sky is the limit for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, if they aren’t already soaring as it is.