It may be akin to being the tallest kid in kindergarten, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the best team in the NFC South.
The Bucs have dominated the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons in back-to-back weeks, moving within a half-game of first place and catapulting themselves back into the division race after an 0-4 start.
It took some time, but Tampa Bay has discovered and embraced its winning formula and proven that they’re still the class of the division.
Buccaneers reminded the Falcons they’re still the team to beat in the NFC South
In Week 8, the Buccaneers took down the Falcons 16-0, pitching a defensive shutout and dominating Atlanta on both sides of the ball for four quarters.
The Falcons looked like the favorites in the division entering Week 8. Atlanta was scoring an NFC-best 31 points per game since Michael Penix Jr. took over as the starting quarterback, and had proven to be elite both running the ball offensively and stopping the run defensively.
But the Buccaneers outshined them in every way imaginable.
Going against the Falcons’ fourth-ranked rushing defense that was allowing only 89 yards per game, the Buccaneers rushed for a franchise-record 324 yards. On the other side of the ball, Atlanta’s sixth-ranked rushing offense was held under 100 yards for just the second time this season.
Penix entered Week 8 having thrown nine touchdowns and only one interception on the season. The Buccaneers intercepted him four times and handed him the worst game of his career.
Tampa Bay dominated the battle in the trenches on both sides of the ball, proving to be the more physical football team — an issue the Falcons just haven’t run into this season. Until they ran into the buzz saw that is the Buccaneers.
Panthers can’t hold a candle to the Buccaneers either
The Falcons aren’t the only NFC South team to get bullied by the Buccaneers this year.
In Week 7, the Panthers were heavy favorites as they hosted Tampa Bay, but the Buccaneers delivered a wake-up call and completely dismantled Carolina by a score of 43-13.
The Bucs followed a similar blueprint, relying on a dominant run game and a suffocating defense to emerge victorious.
Tampa Bay rushed for 258 yards on the Panthers defense, which was their season high until they shattered it this weekend against Atlanta.
And just like Penix had his worst game of the year against the Buccaneers defense, so did Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, who threw two interceptions and had a fumble returned for a touchdown.
Despite everyone, including me, counting out the Buccaneers after starting 0-4, they’ve risen from the ashes these last few weeks with utterly dominant performances over their division rivals and left zero doubt that they’re still the best team in the NFC South.
Add us as a preferred source on Google