Kevin Szafraniec explains why the drop-off in Tampa Bay’s high-scoring offense will not be as dramatic as many are predicting following Liam Coen’s move to Jacksonville this offseason.
Following a successful three-year stint with Tom Brady at the helm, the Buccaneers appeared to be heading into a rebuild in 2023 after the retirement of the storied signal caller. In to replace the legendary quarterback came Baker Mayfield, a former no. 1 overall pick who had recently fallen on tough times after a promising start to his NFL career. While it appeared that a rocky road lay ahead, things went better than expected, with the Buccaneers continuing at a similar level of success to what they achieved under Brady’s watch.
Unfortunately, 2024 brought new adversity as Dave Canales, the team’s offensive coordinator in 2023, left to become the head coach in Carolina, with the unproven Liam Coen coming in to replace him. However, Tampa Bay’s offense defied the odds once again, putting together an even more prolific offense than they had the year prior on their way to yet another NFC South crown.
For the third year in a row, Mayfield and the offense face significant questions as Coen has left to become the Jaguars’ new head coach and another young, untested offensive coordinator comes in to take his place. Following two years of questions about the sustainability of the Buccaneers’ success, is it time we give Mayfield and Tampa Bay’s talented skill position players the benefit of the doubt, or will 2025 be the year that their production starts to slip?
AFC North
- Baltimore Ravens: There Is No End in Sight for Lamar Jackson’s Fantasy Domination
- Cleveland Browns: There Are Gems to be Found in Kevin Stefanski’s Offense If You Know Where to Look
- Cincinnati Bengals: Poor Real-Life Roster Construction Creates Elite Fantasy Pathways for the Bengals’ Stars
AFC South
- Houston Texans: Why New Weapons and a New Scheme Will Lead to a C.J. Stroud Bounceback
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 2025 Represents Trevor Lawrence’s Best Chance Yet to Reach His Ceiling
- Tennessee Titans: Will an Abundance of Garbage Time Provide Tennessee’s Late-Round Skill-Position Players with Big-Time Fantasy Value?
AFC East
- Miami Dolphins: Whose Fantasy Arrows Are Pointing Up on a Miami Offense Heading in the Opposite Direction?
- New York Jets: A Shift in Offensive Philosophy Could Result in Breece Hall and Isaiah Davis Forming the Best Backfield in the AFC
AFC West
- Denver Broncos: Bo Nix is About to Join the Ranks of the NFL’s Elite QBs
- Los Angeles Chargers: Has Justin Herbert Forced Greg Roman to Rethink His Offensive Approach?
- Las Vegas Raiders: Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty Could Emerge to Become the Top Players at Their Positions
NFC North
- Minnesota Vikings: J.J. McCarthy Finds Himself in the Middle of the Perfect Storm for Fantasy Production
- Green Bay Packers: Why the NFL’s Most Complete Roster Is Finally About to Get the Attention It Deserves
- Detroit Lions: Amon-Ra St. Brown’s Discounted ADP Has Him Poised to be 2025’s Most Undervalued Superstar
NFC South
- Atlanta Falcons: Which Players Are Primed to Help Take the Atlanta Offense to the Next Level?
- Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young Is Finally Ready to Deliver on His College Potential
NFC East
- Philadelphia Eagles: Why Small Changes Could Lead to Even Bigger Fantasy Scoring in 2025
- Dallas Cowboys: A New Offensive Direction Is Exactly What Dak Prescott Needs to Get Back on Track
NFC West
- San Francisco 49ers: Make Sure You Are Rostering the Next Wave of Stars in Kyle Shanahan’s Offense
- Arizona Cardinals: Why Kyler Murray Will Overcome His Doubters and Return to His Elite Ways
- Los Angeles Rams: History Is Getting Ready to Repeat Itself in L.A. as Puka Nacua Eyes 2025’s Overall WR1 Spot
A Larger Improvement Than Their Record Would Indicate
Mayfield’s resurgence in 2023 led to Tampa Bay’s record improving by one game over Brady’s final year with the Buccaneers. While the team’s record saw a similar improvement again in 2024, one additional win understates the growth the team witnessed on offense. Under Coen, Tampa Bay added more than nine additional points per game on their way to finishing fourth in scoring and third in yards across the league. Despite the defense slightly counterbalancing the offense by giving up more than three additional points per game, Tampa Bay was still able to bring home their fourth straight NFC South title.
