Why the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Can Crash the NFL Playoffs in 2016

When it comes to NFL relevance, you can bet the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are tired of theirs only coming once the on-field action ends and the draft projections begin.

The last time the Pewter Pirates made the playoffs? 2007.

The last time they won a playoff game? When they hoisted to Lombardi Trophy to close out the 2002 season.

Tampa Bay is on their fourth head coach and third general manager in six seasons, which tells you just about all you need to know about the health of the franchise in recent years. Poor drafting, a pirate ship full of free agent busts and the absence of a true franchise quarterback have left Bucs fans pining for the days of Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, Mike Alstott, John Lynch and Ronde Barber.

But out of the ashes of Lovie Smith’s two-year, 8-24 stint running the ship, the Bucs have emerged as a sleeping giant ready to wreak havoc in 2016 and beyond.

Why can a 6-10 team with a first-time head coach and a second-year quarterback make a playoff run?

The Jameis Factor

There are two kinds of teams in the NFL: Those who have a legitimate franchise quarterback and a fighting chance at late-season games that matter, and those who don’t.

Tampa Bay thought it might have that in Josh Freeman for a moment, but his run ended as quickly as it began. After a failed one-season rental of veteran Josh McCown and a handful of starts from Mike Glennon, the Bucs sat at 2-14 with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft.

Jameis Winston. Quarterback. Florida State.

From the moment he set foot inside Raymond James Stadium, Winston has transformed Tampa Bay’s culture into one that mirrors the success and confidence he enjoyed as a Seminole, where he won a national title and a Heisman Trophy.

Winston became just the third quarterback in NFL history to throw for more than 4,000 yards in his rookie season, tossing 22 touchdowns and setting a new franchise record for quarterbacks with six scores on the ground.

This rookie’s success came despite injuries that took two of his top three receivers—Vincent Jackson and Austin Seferian-Jenkins—out for significant periods of time. Both are back at 100 percent, as will be veteran Louis Murphy and promising sophomore Kenny Bell, both of which are returning from season-ending injuries.

There are plenty of reasons to be excited about the young talent in Tampa Bay, but the team’s playoff chances begin and end with No. 3.

Koetter Keeps Consistency on Offense

By promoting Dirk Koetter from offensive coordinator to head coach, Tampa Bay is preserving the positive …

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