After their win over the San Francisco 49ers in Week 6, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have forced their way into the conversation for the best team in football. Numerous power rankings have Tampa Bay occupying their top slot, led by Baker Mayfield and Todd Bowles.
But is Tampa Bay really the best team in football, or are they simply the de facto choice at the moment by virtue of having just one loss?
The Eagles lost back-to-back games, and while their loss to the Broncos was not awful, their three-score beatdown by the Giants was. Meanwhile, Detroit got pummeled by the Chiefs in Kansas City, but the Chiefs, at 3-3, are not strong enough record-wise to be the best team in the league. Buffalo also lost back-to-back games, and really has not beaten anyone of note.
Among the other one-loss teams, Pittsburgh has looked somewhat inconsistent and has a shaky Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. Similarly, Daniel Jones and the Colts have looked incredible, but does anyone really trust he can keep this up? Green Bay is probably the second-best one-loss team, but their loss to Cleveland and 40-40 tie to the Cowboys left a sour taste in the mouths of a lot of fans.
And so, with only three one-loss teams and no undefeated teams left, Tampa Bay has become the de facto choice as the NFL's best team. But what do the numbers say?
Tampa Bay is 12th in yards per game, seventh in passing and 20th in rushing. However, they are sixth in points and have been a better scoring offense than their overall efficiency suggests. That could slow down, although with Baker Mayfield capable of making crazy plays, it might not. For example, the 2024 Bills finished 10th in yards but second in scoring, mostly due to the X-factor that was Josh Allen.
Mayfield, the favorite to unseat Allen as MVP, could have the same lift for the Tampa Bay offense in 2025.
Defensively, Tampa Bay is 18th in yards allowed and 16th in points allowed. DVOA ranks them as the 13th-best team in the league.
With a mid defense and an above-average, but not the best, offense in the league, it feels like Tampa Bay is probably not the true best team in football. But for now, let's enjoy the 5-1 record and celebrate the team for what it is, a chaotic, winning team.