Compare the Bucs Last six seasons to the last six seasons of New Orleans. The Saints have been pretty consistent with posting over 400 offensive points per season, but even with that output, they had losing seasons 4 out of the 7 years because their defense was bad. It wasn't until they fixed their defense in 2017 that they had winning seasons.
For the Bucs, consistent and improving offensive totals, but the defense continues to hold us back. I know this is a really obvious point, we have a bad defense. But the point is that our offense has been consistently decent to good the last 4 years and honestly we could break into the 400's as far as offensive point totals ourselves this season. IF we can get some improvement with the defense - this really could be a winning season. The offense is there, even with a token running game. The defense just needs to pull it's weight and good things can happen.
When you look at the schedule, there are not any games were I don't think we'll score a decent amount of points. When you look at the schedule you just don't have confidence that our defense can keep the other team off it. Note that in our two 9-7 seasons, we still allowed more points than the offense generated. The 3 seasons that Bowles ran the Arizona defense, those defenses allowed 324, 299, 313 points. I'm not suggesting that he can get those same numbers from our defense, but even a reduction to below 380 points and it would be hard for us NOT to have a winning season.
Anyway, it certainly worked for the Saints. I can see it working for us as well.
Bucs
2018 5-11 PF: 396 PA: 464
2017 5-11 PF: 335 PA: 382
2016 9-7 PF: 354 PA: 369
2015 6-10 PF: 342 PA: 417
2014 2-14 PF: 277 PA: 410
2013 4-12 PF: 288 PA: 389
2012 7-9 PF: 389 PA: 394
Saints
2018 13-3 PF: 504 PA: 353
2017 11-5 PF: 448 PA: 326
2016 7-9 PF: 469 PA: 454
2015 7-9 PF: 408 PA: 476
2014 7-9 PF: 401 PA: 424
2013 11-5 PF: 414 PA: 304
2012 7-9 PF: 461 PA: 454
