The opinion of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers‘ 3-1 start to the 2025 NFL season can be viewed either optimistically or pessimistically.
If you are a non-believer of the Bucs, then you’ll likely be quick to point out this team could easily be 0-4 through the first month of the season with near losses coming against the Atlanta Falcons, Houston Texans, and New York Jets — who have a combined record of 3-9 through the first month of the season.
If you believed the Buccaneers were dark horse Super Bowl contenders entering the season, then you’ll likely point to Baker Mayfield’s late-game heroics and the franchise finding a way to win ball games while navigating a handful of impactful injuries.
Well, one NFL writer tasked with grading for all 32 teams through September appears to be more impressed than concerned with the Bucs 3-1 start to the 2025 NFL season.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Receive a Grade of A- Through September by USA Today
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz must be someone who sees the glass half-full because he awarded the Bucs with a grade of A- through the first month of the 2025 NFL season.
Their late-game mojo finally met its match against the Eagles,” wrote Middlehurst-Schwartz, “who finally managed to slam the door shut after Tampa Bay became the first team in the Super Bowl era to record a game-winning score in the final minute of the fourth quarter in each of its first three games.
Mayfield’s go-ahead drives in the final minute of the game against the Falcons, Texans, and Jets all felt like masterpieces. Timely throws and escapes that would make Houdini jealous made the Buccaneers feel like a team of destiny.
When you take into consideration that both the offense and defense were operating without impact starters on both sides of the ball, it is easy to see why someone would choose to reward them for their late-game perseverance than punish them for their slow starts.
But this stretch has been all about merely scraping by, and the Buccaneers have managed to do just that,” added Middlehurst-Schwartz. “With Tristan Wirfs and Chris Godwin back, the four-time defending NFC South champions should be able to round into something closer to the form they’ve displayed when at full strength. It’s high time to cut down on the special teams errors, however, after having two punts and a field goal blocked.”
When Can the Bucs Expect to be Close to 100% in 2025?
The return of Tristan Wirfs and Chris Godwin are great signs for this team long-term. Unfortunately, they returned to the field once Mike Evans, Luke Goedeke, and Calijah Kancey already exited the starting lineup due to injuries of their own.
To add insult to the laundry list of existing injuries, now Bucky Irving, Hasaan Reddick, and Jamel Dean are also dealing with injuries.
Unless the Bucs make a deep playoff push, Kancey is likely done for the season. Yet, the aforementioned Evans, Goedeke, Irving, Reddick, and Dean could be back within the next month.
Additionally, second-year WR Jalen McMillan could also get back into the mix over the back half of the season.
The Bucs aren’t out of the clear yet. Over the next three weeks, they are set to face off against the Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, and Detroit Lions — who all currently have a record of 3-1.
If the Bucs can make it to November above .500, then this team could be well-positioned to make a strong postseason run with impact players returning to the lineup.
If the Bucs keep losing the war of attrition, then it may require more of the same Mayfield magic we have seen through the first month of the season for Tampa Bay to stay in the postseason mix.
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