Tampa Bay was an NFL success story in 2023, rebounding from a 5-7 start to win the NFC South before smothering Philadelphia in the first round of the playoffs.
The team, led by resurgent quarterback Baker Mayfield, put up a fight in Detroit before losing to the Lions.
Mayfield received a lot of credit for the team’s turnaround, justifiably so, and he was richly rewarded for his efforts in the offseason.
However, the Buccaneers’ defense played a significant role in reaching the playoffs, and some of its standouts want the NFL to notice the work on that side of the ball as well.
NFL.com noted that linebacker Yaya Diaby believes experts and fans are “falling asleep” on the Tampa defense and that a day of reckoning is coming.
Diaby added, “This year, we’re going to really wake a lot of people up.”
It’s not like Tampa is a big surprise, as the team has won the very winnable division three seasons in a row.
But between Mayfield’s prowess and the defensive scheme that allows drives but shuts down scoring opportunities, not enough credit goes to the defenders.
That could change in 2024 under head coach Todd Bowles if the more experienced unit comes together and avoids the 1-6 midseason meltdown that plagued the Bucs last year.
A staggering 13 rookies were featured on last season’s 53-man roster, making Tampa one of the youngest squads in the NFL.
With the natural progression that comes with time, it should not be surprising to see the Bucs put another NFC South trophy on the team mantle.
