Todd Bowles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the NFC South division title this past season, but heading into 2024, the Atlanta Falcons are the betting favorites.
That comes after the Falcons signed Kirk Cousins in free agency.
Bowles was asked about Atlanta being favored at the NFL’s Annual League Meeting this week, but the Buccaneers’ head coach does not seem to care about predictions in the offseason.
“We’re not trying to win the offseason, we’re trying to win the season,” Bowles said, via Rick Stroud of The Tampa Bay Times. “So, our focus will be the same. It fuels a lot of us. It fuels a lot of the players, and we get ready to come back and try to defend our title like we did and just go further in the playoffs. That’s all we worry about this time of the year.”
Tampa Bay spent free agency retaining its own players. It re-signed quarterback Baker Mayfield, wide receiver Mike Evans, safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (on a franchise tag) and linebacker Lavonte David.
As a result, the Bucs were not able to make any impactful additions, as most of their money went to keeping their own free agents.
But continuity is a good thing, especially when the Buccaneers just brought in a new offensive coordinator in Liam Coen.
“It’s just the offensive coaching staff jelling so quickly with the guys we kept and the guys that [G.M. Jason Licht] has brought in,” Bowles said. “It’s been a real joy to see. Those guys, when they go in and lock the door, I’ve got to get on Liam to give them a bathroom break because he doesn’t let them out of the meeting room. But they have a real good feel for each other and the chemistry is coming together how you want.”
Tampa Bay went 9-8 this past year and went on to rout the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs. It then played the Detroit Lions tough on the road in the Divisional Round before ultimately falling.
Perhaps that year of much-needed experience as a group will propel Todd Bowles and Co. to a deeper playoff run next season.
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