Baker Mayfield And Bucs Rank High in Super Bowl Chase Update

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are often an afterthought when it comes to being a genuine Super Bowl challenger unless Tom Brady is the starting quarterback.

But under Baker Mayfield, the franchise has won back-to-back division titles and has been to the playoffs both times, while Baker has been a Pro Bowler and could consider himself unlucky not to be one last year after a career-best season (4,500 yards, 41 touchdowns, 71.5 completion percentage, 106.8 passer rating).

Still, many doubt the Buccaneers despite them having one of the best offenses in football last season (29.5 p/g). But now we might have found a publication who is giving both the Bucs and Baker respect.

For CBS Sports, when listing the top five challengers to the Philadelphia Eagles for the Super Bowl, the Bucs get an honorable mention along with the Minnesota Vikings, Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, and Baltimore Ravens.

"Maybe it's time we start giving Baker Mayfield some legitimate respect, now that he's thrown a combined 69 (!) touchdowns in two seasons with the Bucs," CBS Sports writes. "Yes, he's also gutsy in a dangerous way, with 26 picks over that same span. But he elevated an injury-riddled lineup in 2024, and if Chris Godwin can stay on the field this time, maybe they can steal the NFC South yet again."

The Bucs only managed to "steal" the NFC South due to crippling injuries in the early part of the year that left them playing catchup. Had the Buccaneers been healthy for the entire season, they likely would have won the division at a canter.

With a new offensive coordinator in Josh Grizzard, who was also the passing game coordinator last year, the offense has Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan, Bucky Irving, and Cade Otton as its weapons.

Plus, the defense has added Haason Reddick and will likely add another defender in the first round of the draft as the roster begins to fill out.

But while some are sleeping on the Buccaneers in 2025, it appears they are finally making others take notice.