The PewterReport.com Roundtable features the opinions of the PR staff as it tackles a topic each week that involves the Bucs. This week’s topic: Bucs 2021 Record Predictions

Scott Reynolds: Bucs Will Finish 13-4 And Win The NFC South

Let’s address the topic on everyone’s mind first. Can Tampa Bay go undefeated this season? Can they? Yes. Will they? I don’t think so. I’m certainly aware of the fact that the Bucs are on an eight-game winning streak dating back to the win over the Vikings in Week 14 after the bye. That is the longest winning streak in franchise history.

But to ask the Bucs to win 17 consecutive games and then another three in postseason is a herculean task that I’m not even sure Tom Brady could pull off. And to do so in the era of COVID-19 when even non-symptomatic vaccinated players can test positive for the Delta variant and miss a game due to a cotton swab – it just seems impossible for any team in the league. Brady’s Patriots team in 2007 was the last team to go undefeated in the regular season, but that was back when the league had 16 regular season games. Now the NFL is up to 17 games, and that’s one more hill to climb.

Bucs QB Tom Brady – Photo by: USA Today

Let’s start in the division. The NFC South should be there for the taking for Tampa Bay. Yet the Bucs got swept by the Saints last year and won in Atlanta by only four points, 31-27, after trailing by 17 points. Tampa Bay should go undefeated in the NFC South, but nothing is a given in the NFL. I could see the Bucs either finish 6-0 or 5-1 in the division. The Bucs also play the NFC East – or the NFC Least, as it is now. The only real threat might be Washington on the road, so figure Tampa Bay finishes 3-1 against that division. The other NFC teams the Bucs faces are the Bears at home and the Rams in Los Angeles. Tampa Bay lost to both last year, so I suppose is 1-1 split is fair.

The Bucs play the AFC East division this year, and that includes trips to New England and New York and games at home against the Dolphins and Bills. The AFC East is tougher than it was when Brady was in it, playing for the Patriots. Buffalo is bona fide Super Bowl contender. I see the Bucs finishing 2-2 or 3-1 against the AFC East. So add it all up and my guess is that the Bucs win the NFC South and host a home playoff game with a new franchise record 13-4 mark in 2021. Where they go beyond that will be determined by health, momentum and COVID testing.

Jon Ledyard: 14-3 Bucs Should Top NFC In 2021

The Bucs have the best roster from top-to-bottom in the NFL, and the NFC South is at its’ weakest in years. In fact, the conference as a whole is absolutely down on its’ luck right now. Outside of the Bucs and Packers, it’s extremely difficult to make an argument for an actual Super Bowl contender.

Bucs DT Ndamukong Suh and Packers QB Aaron Rodgers – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

In the NFC East, all four teams will be coming off losing seasons. The Cowboys offense will make them a tough test, but their defense has a multitude of questions. Washington will be solid, and the rest of the division is a mess. The North has Green Bay and little else in the way of true threats.

The West has strong parity, but how dangerous are Matt Stafford and Sean McVay going to be in Year 1? Can they scheme around their holes on defense with a new coordinator? The Seahawks and Cardinals have flaws everywhere. The 49ers are very talented, but the quarterback picture is very unclear heading into Week 1. Trey Lance has not looked ready to take over this preseason.

It all culminates in the Bucs looking at maybe 5-6 games that should be in question on their 2021 schedule: Cowboys, Rams, Patriots, Bills and the two matchups against the Saints. Their possible records probably range from 16-1 or 15-2 to 12-5. I’ll split it down the middle and go 14-3. Even in a league where parity is king, the Bucs are one of the better rosters we’ve seen in quite awhile.

Matt Matera: Bucs Go 14-3 To Lead The NFC

The Bucs return a loaded roster as they attempt to go for two and win a second straight Super Bowl. It’s a difficult task, as only a select number of teams have been able to accomplish it. But if there’s any team that’s best prepared to do so, it’s the Bucs. We’ve seen in training camp that the Bucs have focused on building their continuity as a unit, which will prevent any type of Super Bowl hangover.

Bucs WRs Antonio Brown and Chris Godwin – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

As I look over the schedule, it’s hard to find trap games. Having a 14-3 record means you have to be on point for almost every game. With the Bucs level of talent, it’s going to be tough for teams to keep pace with them. The Bucs have a tough stretch on the road against the Rams followed by Tom Brady’s return to New England. They also have tough games against Washington and Buffalo. Outside of that, I don’t see Tampa Bay having much trouble.

There are some out there predicting that the Bucs could have a perfect season this year. Though it’s enticing, they call it any given Sunday for a reason. Anyone in the NFL could give them their best shot when they have an off day. We’ve seen cases where the only thing that can stop the Bucs is…the Bucs – due to drops, penalties and mental errors. That may cost them a game or two, but overall a 14-3 record sends them to the postseason and potentially earns the Bucs a bye in the first round with home field advantage.

JC Allen: At 15-2, Tampa Bay Finishes With NFL’s Best Record

With one of the more loaded rosters in the league, the Bucs have the talent to run the table. Will they? Probably not. However, they do have a great chance to have the best record in the NFL.

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

The NFC South is in shambles. For the first time in over a decade, the Saints have a huge question at quarterback. The Falcons have a new coaching staff and didn’t do much to improve a horrid defense. Meanwhile the Panthers will try to assimilate a new quarterback into their offense, and have a young, developing defense. The Bucs are in the driver’s seat to capture the division crown for the first time since 2007.

Due to the league’s rotating conference schedule, the Bucs also landed the NFC “Least.” One of the worst divisions in football in 2020 doesn’t appear to be in much better shape. Washington, New York, and Philly all have question marks on both sides of the football, especially at quarterback. The Bucs also get the AFC East this year. Each team besides the Jets (sorry, Matt) looks to be in playoff contention and will give the Bucs all they can handle. I see both the losses coming against this division in 2021, to the Patriots and Bills.

Tampa Bay is set up to have an excellent season due to roster construction and schedule. Tampa Bay came in as the league’s fourth “easiest schedule” based on 2020 records. It will definitely take some injury luck from the football gods, but the Bucs should be the front runner to come out of the NFC with home field advantage throughout the playoffs.