Buccaneers Move Up the Power Rankings After Dominant Win Over Saints
After a rough showing in week 3, the Buccaneers dropped in the power rankings. With a dominant win over the New Orleans Saints in week 4, they moved up.
The Buccaneers played an amazing game in all three phases and soared to an overall record of 3-1. The Bucs showed that they are still capable of being a playoff-caliber team with an improved offense and a dominant defense.
The Saints had gone 12 games with holding their opponent to less than 20 points but the Buccaneers ended that streak when putting up 26 points. The defense did not allow a single touchdown for Derek Carr and the Saints offense.
READ MORE: Buccaneers' Head Coach Todd Bowles Comments on Mike Evans' Injury
Around the league, the Bucs moved up the power rankings. Here is where they stand in the recent power rankings from around the league
NFL.com
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (20)
The Bucs were more aggressive offensively in their win over the Saints, with Baker Mayfield providing some good (first-down passes downfield, scrambling for first downs) and some bad (a goal-line pick). The run game remains a work in progress, but the overall results were positive, given Tampa was without the injured Mike Evans for much of the day. Defensively, the Bucs swarmed Alvin Kamara (24 touches, 84 yards), got to Derek Carr enough and caused two turnovers. A big forced fumble from Antoine Winfield Jr. set up Trey Palmer's touchdown, bailing out Mayfield just before halftime. Great team ball. Winfield also batted away a would-be TD to Chris Olave. The Bucs' 11 penalties were rough -- those were part of the reason they didn't put the Saints away sooner.
ESPN
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13)
The Bucs' defense is giving up 17 points a game -- seventh best in the league. But it has given up 16 pass plays of 20 or more yards -- fourth worst in the NFL. This is largely a function of Tampa Bay's high-risk, high-reward scheme. If a player vacates his spot in coverage to blitz and doesn't affect the quarterback, it creates a hole in the defense. On nine of those plays, the Bucs were blitzing. However, they're giving up a touchdown only 27.3% of the time in the red zone -- the second-best rate in the NFL -- which allows them to take these gambles. -- Jenna Laine
CBS Sports
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (16)
At 3-1, they lead the NFC South after beating the Saints on the road. The defense came up big and Baker Mayfield is playing well.
FOX Sports
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Do not hate Todd Bowles and his squad for stacking wins against inferior competition. The Buccaneers have chalked up three wins without fanfare, but stingy defense and efficient offense is a sustainable formula that could lead to an unexpected division title in a rebuilding year.
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Yahoo
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
They have tough games on the calendar, but the Bucs can -- and should -- make the NFC South their own.
USA Today
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (23)
They've got sole possession of first place in the NFC South, but hard to see Tampa Bay staying there if its league-worst 3 yards per rush doesn't come up.
New York Post
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (15)
Is there a bigger surprise in the NFL? Former No. 1 draft pick Baker Mayfield’s resurrection at his fourth career stop continued by throwing three touchdown passes in a 26-9 win against the Saints (and a limited Derek Carr). Chris Godwin delivered eight catches for 114 yards as Mike Evans watched the second half with a hamstring injury.
NBC Sports
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (15)
This could end up being a team none of the big boys want to play in January.
The average of all these rankings put together is 10.4.
READ MORE: New Game Time Unveiled For Tampa Bay's Week 6 Matchup With The Detroit Lions
The Bucs will continue to try and add to the win column in week 6 against the Detroit Lions.
Stick with BucsGameday and the Locked On Bucs podcast for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout Training Camp.