2020 NFL Power Rankings: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Throughout the 2020 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.
Here is where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rank in terms of average, best and worst:
- Average ranking: 9.2 (9th)
- Best ranking: 8th (Multiple)
- Worst ranking: 13th (NFL.com)
Below you will find a Week 1 roundup for the Bucs in our consensus 2020 NFL Power Rankings.
The Athletic -- Rank: 8
They're going all-in on the Tom Brady experiment, but the front seven on defense might be the strongest part of this roster. Shaq Barrett, Jason Pierre-Paul, Vita Vea, Devin White and Lavonte David offer a talented blend of youth and experience. With the change at quarterback, the Buccaneers will need to figure out what works and what doesn't on the fly. Brady's supporting cast is overwhelmingly better than it was last year with the Patriots. There's a chance he suffers a steep decline or that his accuracy goes downhill or that he deals with injury issues, but Brady has a chance for one last great run.
CBS Sports -- Rank: 9
With Tom Brady, they are an instant Super Bowl contender. If he's the same Brady. At 43, that's a legitimate question. The secondary will be key to the defense.
USA Today -- Rank: 8
A backfield that once seemed spotty now sports Leonard Fournette, Shady McCoy, Ronald Jones and rookie Ke'Shawn Vaughn. Doesn't help fantasy owners much, but Tom Brady must be stoked.
ESPN -- Rank: 8
How much of a jump will the defense make, particularly with the league's youngest secondary?
Jenna Laine: Cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting said, "We're not going to act like we're going to allow our offense to carry us, because at the end of the day we have to hold our own." Defensive coordinator Todd Bowles added, "I love having Tom [Brady] here, but I can't focus on that. If we don't stop anybody, we won't win any games." Both are right. In Weeks 1-11 last year, the Bucs' defense gave up 371.8 yards per game and 31.3 points per game -- the most in the NFL. But in Weeks 12-17, they gave up an average of 297.5 yards per game -- fifth fewest in the league -- and they gave up just 22.67 points per game. Keep in mind, when Tom Brady was with the Patriots, he had the benefit of playing with a defense that surrendered an average of just 18.44 points per game from 2001-19 -- the fewest of any team in the league. They'll see one of their biggest tests in Week 1 against a Saints team that put up a combined 65 points and 785 yards of total offense against them last year.
Jenna Laine: Cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting said, "We're not going to act like we're going to allow our offense to carry us, because at the end of the day we have to hold our own." Defensive coordinator Todd Bowles added, "I love having Tom [Brady] here, but I can't focus on that. If we don't stop anybody, we won't win any games." Both are right. In Weeks 1-11 last year, the Bucs' defense gave up 371.8 yards per game and 31.3 points per game -- the most in the NFL. But in Weeks 12-17, they gave up an average of 297.5 yards per game -- fifth fewest in the league -- and they gave up just 22.67 points per game. Keep in mind, when Tom Brady was with the Patriots, he had the benefit of playing with a defense that surrendered an average of just 18.44 points per game from 2001-19 -- the fewest of any team in the league. They'll see one of their biggest tests in Week 1 against a Saints team that put up a combined 65 points and 785 yards of total offense against them last year.
NFL.com -- Rank: 13
Loved the imagery from our buddy Kyle Brandt, who likened the Bucs' relentless acquisition of name-brand talent to the roster construction by Vince McMahon from a bygone era. We know a lot of these guys -- Leonard Fournette and Josh Rosen being the latest arrivals -- but how confident should we be in this veteran stew actually turning into something delicious for the Bucs and their fans? All we can say with certainty is that Tampa Bay gets our vote for 2020 training camp champion. Big names on the marquee, no serious injuries and pretty much nothing but glowing reports for a month. Bruce Arians and Jason Licht nailed March through August -- now we get to see how things go when it truly matters.
Previous update: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Post-Draft NFL Power Rankings Roundup
More Tampa Bay Buccaneers pages:
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers Mock Draft Roundup
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers Snap Counts
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers Franchise Leaders
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers Draft History
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers Schedule
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tickets
- 2021 NFL Mock Draft
- 2022 NFL Mock Draft
- 2020 NBA Mock Draft
- Fantasy Football Rankings
- Fantasy Football Mock Drafts