Buccaneers 'Held Everything Together' to Set Up NFC South Division Title Chance

It hasn't been a clean road but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are on the cusp of winning their third NFC South Division title in a row because of veteran leadership.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been counted out, knocked down, ridiculed, and have even had their internal laundry aired out for everyone to see, comment on, and joke about.

Coach Todd Bowles has had his job called for, new offensive coordinator Dave Canales had some calling his hiring a mistake before Thanksgiving, and those who projected the Buccaneers to fall back into obscurity without quarterback Tom Brady to save them were warming up to give themselves a well-deserved pat on the back.

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But then Tampa Bay ripped off four wins in a row and five in the past seven weeks and has placed itself on the front step of a third-straight NFC South Division title.

In almost poetic fashion, a win over the New Orleans Saints in Week 17 would clinch the deal and keep the Bucs on top for another year.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Devin White (45) celebrates after intercepting the ball against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium / Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

“It would mean a lot," coach Todd Bowles admitted about winning the division again. "It would be huge for the young guys to get it; it would be huge for the guys to get it that were here because everybody counted them out. I think it’d be huge for the coaches because they’re working their tails off and it would be huge for the city because all year, they heard we wouldn’t win one-two-three-four games. To have that title, I think everybody would have some sort of satisfaction.”

Winning a division title is always goal No. 1 for any team with Super Bowl aspirations, at least chronologically.

Doing so ensures a team will host a playoff game providing a big boost to their chances of getting a win.

Pulling it off despite all the Buccaneers have been through this season would certainly place them as one of the most dangerous teams in this year's postseason tournament, and could be laying the foundation for a unified roster that could challenge for years to come.

“You’re going to face some rough times and some adversity every season," Bowles says. "It’s a matter of how you handle it and how you come together as a unit. That’s coming together in training camp, that’s coming together in spring. These guys understand that they had to correct some mistakes they made as a unit. The older guys have held everything together and it’s helped us get to this point.”

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Bowles also said he's proud of his team. Proud of how they've corrected many of their mistakes. 

But he also knows the job isn't done. Not until the division is clinched and a trip to the playoffs is secured.

Even then, that job may done, but the next is waiting right after. 

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