The Bucs had a golden opportunity to really seize the lead in the NFC South on Sunday and make some serious strides in the NFC as a whole, but a listless performance in a 20-6 home loss to the visiting Detroit Lions caused Tampa Bay to blow it. The Lions improved to 5-1 and are now tied with the San Francisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles, both of whom lost to lesser teams on Sunday, for the lead in the NFC.

The Buccaneers fell to 3-2 on the season and have a big game coming up at home next week against the 3-3 Atlanta Falcons, who, like Tampa Bay, is 1-0 in the division so far this year. Tampa Bay still has a slim lead in the NFC South by virtue of only losing two games, in addition to a 1-0 record in the division so far. But a win on Sunday could have certainly increased their lead in the NFC South and actually put Tampa Bay on par with some of the best teams in the conference record-wise.

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

But the truth of the matter is that the Bucs aren’t an elite team this year. In fact, it would be hard to suggest that this squad could be classified as a very good team so far. Very good teams are capable of beating other very good teams, and Tampa Bay is 0-2 in such games with home losses to the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions.

The Bucs have beaten two bad teams in the Minnesota Vikings (2-4) and Chicago Bears (1-5), and beat an average team in the 3-3 New Orleans Saints. The Falcons are also an average team and are up next on the schedule. Tampa Bay needs to bounce back next week to stop the NFC South or risk turning the division into the dogfight it was last year.

The Bucs didn’t win the division last season until New Year’s Day when the team came back from a halftime deficit to beat the Carolina Panthers, 30-24. Tampa Bay won the NFC South despite an 8-9 record, while Atlanta, Carolina and New Orleans all finished tied with 7-10 records.

How The Bucs Stack Up With Their NFC South Foes

Bucs DT Vita Vea and Saints QB Derek Carr – Photo by: USA Today

The Atlanta Falcons, who will visit Tampa Bay to play the Buccaneers next Sunday at Raymond James Stadium, lost their throwback home game to the Washington Commanders, 24-16. The Falcons fell to 3-3 while the Commanders improved to 3-3. The Falcons and the Bucs are 1-0 in the NFC South.

The New Orleans Saints lost at Houston to the Texans, 20-13, to fall to 3-3 on the season. The Texans, whom the Bucs will play later this year in Houston, improved to 3-3 behind rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, the second overall pick in this year’s draft. The Saints have a 1-1 record in the division, beating the Panthers and losing to the Bucs.

The Carolina Panthers remain winless at 0-6 after losing at Miami to the Dolphins, 42-21. Bryce Young, the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, threw one touchdown pass and no interceptions, but hasn’t been as effective as Stroud has been in Houston. The Panthers are 0-2 in the NFC South under new head coach Frank Reich.