The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will head into the 2018 NFL Season trying their best to forget what happened in 2017. Leading into 2017, many predicted that the Buccaneers could be the favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. With the additions they made to the offense and the promise of a stifling defense, it was obvious why that call was made. However, there’s a reason that games are played on the field and not on paper.

For a team that features Jameis Winston, DeSean Jackson, Mike Evans, and at the time Doug Martin, the Buccaneers managed only five wins. Now, as they head into what they hope is a bounce-back season, they must do so with three playoff teams in their division, a suspended starting QB, and a patchwork running game.

This could be the last year for coach Dirk Koetter if he can not get his team on the right track. The talent is there, it’s just a matter of execution and focus for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Here are three X-Factors heading into the 2018 NFL Season for the Buccaneers.

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