Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' #18 ranking appears justified given their mediocre 7-7 record and lack of signature wins against quality opponents, suggesting they've primarily beaten weaker teams while struggling against playoff-caliber competition. Their ranking below teams like the 7-6 Carolina Panthers indicates concerns about the strength of their victories and overall team consistency, likely reflecting issues with either offensive execution or defensive reliability in crucial moments. The Bucs' key weakness appears to be their inability to elevate their play against stronger opponents, as evidenced by the absence of any notable major wins that would boost their ranking despite having a .500 record. To improve their playoff positioning, Tampa Bay needs to prove they can compete with and defeat teams with winning records, while maintaining consistency against the weaker opponents they should handle - essentially showing they can be more than just a team that beats up on inferior competition.
| Rank | Team | Record | Rating | Point Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #16 |
Carolina Panthers
|
7-6 | 46.60 | -50 |
| #17 |
Kansas City Chiefs
|
6-7 | 45.74 | +63 |
| #18 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
|
7-7 | 45.19 | -27 |
| #19 |
Baltimore Ravens
|
6-7 | 40.54 | -9 |
| #20 |
Miami Dolphins
|
6-7 | 38.02 | -15 |