The Bucs have had one of the most prolific scoring offenses in the NFL since Bruce Arians’ arrival in 2019. Tampa Bay averaged nearly 30 points per game from 2019-2021 in Arians’ wide receiver-driven offense, and saw a slight uptick in scoring when Tom Brady replaced Jameis Winston at quarterback in 2020.

But points have been much harder to come by this season, with injuries and the retirements of Pro Bowl left guard Ali Marpet and future Hall of Fame tight end Rob Gronkowski playing a huge factor. Tampa Bay’s scoring has been down nearly 10 points per game, which has caused some frustration for both the players and fans alike.

Through the first five games of 2022, the Bucs are averaging just 20.6 points per game, which ranks tied for 17th in the league.

BUCS POINTS PER GAME RANKINGS SINCE 2019

2019: 28.6 – ranked tied for third
2020: 30.8 – ranked third
2021: 30.1 – ranked second
2022: 20.6 – ranked tied for 17th

How close are the Bucs to getting back putting up 30-point games on a more regular basis? And is that even realistic given the amount of rookies and new players that now start on offense?

After scoring 31 points and 21 points in successive weeks, Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich feels like the offense is getting close to having a breakout performance. Tampa Bay’s offense has scored six touchdowns in the last two games, while scoring just three TDs in the first three games.

Bucs QB Tom Brady and OC Byron Leftwich – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“I think we’re close – man, I just feel as though we’re close,” Leftwich said. “The more we can get everybody out there – I just want us to be out there because we’re always trying to score. I think we’re doing a lot of things at a high level that, statistically, no one is looking at. I think we’re protecting the football, I think we’re getting better on third down – obviously we’ve got to play better in the red zone. Those are all things that – as you go throughout a year, you’re fine-tuning anyway. We’re just trying to keep fine-tuning, find ways to win.

“Just make sure at the end of the year [that] we’re playing as good [of] football as we can play. But we want to get there early – we want to get there early. We understand [on] some things, we haven’t produced like we have in the past – but we’re just trying to win football games. If we can continue to win football games, I believe that stuff will come with the work that the guys put in.”

Hitting 30 points proved to be the magic number in the Bucs’ Super Bowl run in 2020. Tampa Bay scored 30 points or more in the last seven games of that season, including the postseason, to win Super Bowl LV, 31-9, over the Chiefs.

In fact, the Bucs are an astounding 18-1 in the regular season when scoring 30 points or more since Brady’s arrival in 2020. Tampa Bay is also a perfect 5-0 in the postseason when hitting the 30-point mark since 2020.

The Bucs’ lone loss when reaching 30 points actually came this year in a game when the team scored 31 against the Chiefs in a 41-31 loss to Kansas City at home on Sunday Night Football.

Brady, Leftwich See Improvement In Bucs Offense

Bucs quarterback Tom Brady agrees with Lefwich and believes Tampa Bay is taking steps in a positive direction offensively. Brady knows that with this personnel group, which features as many as five new starters on offense, that the Bucs might not be as prolific as in years past.

Tampa Bay’s offensive line has three new starters in rookie left guard Luke Goedeke, second-year center Robert Hainsey and veteran newcomer Shaq Mason at right guard. The Bucs have new receivers in Russell Gage and Julio Jones, new tight ends in rookies Cade Otton and Ko Kieft and veteran Kyle Rudolph, and a rookie running back in Rachaad White.

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

“I think we’re just going to work at it every day and get to be as good as we can possibly be,” Brady said. “What we can be compared to other years, I don’t think that’s what our goal is. We’ve got to maximize our potential. There’s a different team, a different group of guys. I don’t think any of us have played to the level we’re capable of. We’re going to keep pushing at it and try to put a little pressure on each other to bring the best out of us.”

There is a good chance that the Bucs offense could light up the scoreboard in Pittsburgh against a very banged-up Steelers team. Pittsburgh will be playing without two of its gamebreakers on defense in edge rusher T.J. Watt and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, in addition to its top three cornerbacks in Cam Sutton, Akiello Witherspoon and Levi Wallace.

The Steelers surrendered 38 points to the Bills in an ugly 38-3 loss in Buffalo last week. Pittsburgh has allowed an average of 25.6 points per game this year, which is tied for sixth-worst in the NFL.

“The more time that we spend together as this group, the more we can communicate and be in situations where something [doesn’t] go right and then we can talk about it and we all can grow from it,” Leftwich said. “I think that’s where we’re at as an offense. I do believe that we’re close, but that means nothing. Close and getting it done [are] a long way away [from each other]. We’ll see, we’ll keep working – but I love this group [and] I love where we’re at.”

The Bucs might really love where they’re at on Sunday afternoon if they can put up 30 points against the Steelers and move to 4-2 on the season.