Based on The Athletic, the 8-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers can clinch the NFC South division title with a win over the 7-8 New Orleans Saints this Sunday or with a tie in that recreation coupled with the 7-8 Atlanta Falcons dropping to the 6-9 Chicago Bears.
Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles spoke with reporters Friday about what claiming the division crown would imply for a franchise many assumed would punt on the 2023 season following the retirement of legendary quarterback Tom Brady.
“It might imply so much,” Bowles stated about probably celebrating a division title this weekend, per the Buccaneers’ web site. “It might be enormous for the younger guys to get it. It might be enormous for the fellows to get it that had been right here as a result of everyone counted them out. I feel it would be enormous for the coaches as a result of they’re working their tails off and it will be enormous for town as a result of all yr, they heard we would not win one-two-three-four video games. To have that title, I feel everyone would have some form of satisfaction.”
Buccaneers signal-caller Baker Mayfield is seen by some as the favourite to win the Comeback Participant of the Yr Award after he helped what was a 4-7 staff notch 4 consecutive victories. Mayfield might not be matching Brady’s finest performances posted whereas with Tampa Bay, however Bowles famous that the 28-year-old has confirmed himself as a real chief all through his tenure with the group that started this previous March.
“It has been his consistency since he is [been] right here – his work ethic, his maturity [in] getting alongside the with the opposite gamers,” Bowles stated about Mayfield’s affect. “Clearly, they see his fireplace and all the things on the sphere, however him being constant and the identical man each day and a man they will discuss to on and off the sphere makes it even higher.”
ESPN stats present that Mayfield enters the weekend ranked ninth amongst certified gamers with a 96.2 passer score and tied for sixth within the league with 26 passing touchdowns on the season. In the meantime, ESPN Wager listed the Buccaneers on Friday afternoon as 2.5-point favorites to deal with their enterprise in Sunday’s residence recreation towards the Saints.
