Despite their 3-0 record, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' DVOA ranking is relatively low, according to FTNFantasy.com.
The Buccaneers are ranked No. 16 in the league in terms of DVOA. They have a 3.5% total DVOA percentage, putting them just slightly above league-average.
It's not clear what the DVOA formula is, but there's an argument that it's flawed. While Tampa Bay's wins have been close, they have been wins nonetheless. Saying an undefeated Buccaneers squad is the 16th-best team in the NFL feels disrespectful, especially for a team that has been in the postseason five straight years.
Tampa Bay has been here before. They were ranked No. 18 in 2023, a year they won the division and won a playoff game. Perhaps disrespect on the part of DVOA is just something Tampa Bay has to deal with?
It is worth noting where the three opponents of Tampa are currently ranked through Week 3. Atlanta is ranked at No. 19, New York is ranked No. 24 and Houston comes in No. 25.
Perhaps the low-grades of their opponents could explain why Tampa Bay is ranked so low as well?
There's also some silver lining that comes from these rankings, however.
Tampa Bay's upcoming opponents, the Philadelphia Eagles, are ranked No. 17 in DVOA. The Eagles, also undefeated, are the lowest-ranked 3-0 team in the league by DVOA. That's probably because all of their wins have been close, gritty wins.
Nor the Eagles nor Buccaneers have been dominant in 2025, but one of them will be 4-0 after next Sunday.
The DVOA rankings indicate it will be another tight game this week, and that probably plays in Tampa Bay's favor. The Buccaneers have proven this season they excel under pressure, and when the game is on the line, Baker Mayfield delivers. With that in mind, Sunday will be another opportunity for the Buccaneers to prove they are underrated and deserve to belong in the conversation with the rest of the NFL's best teams.
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