The Bucs beat the Cowboys, 19-3, in the 2022 season opener. But the team’s 19 points were the fewest points scored in a Tampa Bay victory since a 19-17 win at New England last year in Week 4. The Bucs averaged 35 points per game in the other 12 wins during the 2021 season.

Including a 31-15 playoff win against the Eagles, the Bucs scored 30 points or more in 10 of their 18 games. Tampa Bay averaged 29.9 points per game last year, which ranked second behind Dallas at 30.4 points per game.

Points may be at a premium for the Bucs offense this year. At least early on in the season. Todd Bowles’ defense, which leads the NFL in scoring defense (3.0 PPG) might have to carry the team early on in 2022.

Bucs QB Tom Brady and C Robert Hainsey – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The reason? So much turnover in offensive personnel this year, especially along the offensive line, which features three new starters.

Pro Bowl left guard Ali Marpet retired, and Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen is on injured reserve. Alex Cappa, a three-year starter at right guard, moved on to Cincinnati.

Rookie Luke Goedeke steps in at left guard, and second-year center Robert Hainsey replaces Jensen. Veteran Shaq Mason is Tampa Bay’s new right guard, but he’s getting ready to play just his second regular season game in red and pewter.

Veteran receiver Antonio Brown departed at the end of last year, and future Hall of Fame tight end Rob Gronkowski retired. Backup running back Ronald Jones II, the team’s leading rusher in 2020, wasn’t re-signed by the Bucs this offseason. Neither was backup tight end O.J. Howard. Veteran receiver Tyler Johnson was waived in this year’s final roster cuts as well.

Tampa Bay added new veteran receivers in Russell Gage and Julio Jones. It also drafted a pair of promising rookie tight ends in Cade Otton and Ko Kieft, as well as rookie running back Rachaad White. The Bucs also signed veteran Kyle Rudolph, who was inactive in Week 1. All of that turnover might impede the Bucs’ point production early on until some continuity among the new players on offense can be established.

Bucs’ New Faces, Lack Of Chemistry Caused Some Red Zone Woes In Dallas

“I think you’re in Week 1, so we’re far from a finished product,” Bucs quarterback Tom Brady said. “We’re not where we’re going to be at, where we’re going to be in a couple months. There’s still a lot of new players.

“You’re looking at that field the other night: Julio is new, Rachaad is new, Cade is new, Ko is new, Kyle is new, Robert Hainsey is new, Luke is new, Shaq is new. I mean, it’s a different team, so it takes a while. It takes a lot of meetings, a lot of communication, a lot of practices, a lot of situations.”

Bucs QB Tom Brady – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

To be fair, the Bucs offense bogged down inside the Cowboys’ red zone a few times on Sunday night. Had Tampa Bay converted two of its four field goals into touchdowns that’s an extra eight points on the scoreboard. Then, it’s a 27-3 win over Dallas.

Throw in the fact that Ryan Succop missed a 36-yard field goal and the Bucs could have beaten the Cowboys, 30-3. But part of the reason why the offense bogged down in and near the red zone was because of all of the newness and the lack of communication and familiarity with each other.

“We’re far from a finished product,” Brady said. “But we’re going to try to keep working at it every day to see what we can do to improve.”

Until that happens, Bowles’ defense will need to be ready to step up and carry the day for Tampa Bay. Staying at or near the top of the NFL in scoring defense will help.