EXCLUSIVE: Tom Brady's chances of guiding Buccaneers to deep playoff run looks slim, per ex-NFL HC Mike Smith
Few would have been able to foresee the predicament the Tampa Bay Buccaneers find themselves in this season. Following a nail-biting loss to eventual Super Bowl champions the LA Rams in the playoffs last season, most expected it to be business as usual for the Buccaneers in 2022.
Those assumptions, though, couldn't be further away from the truth. As things stand, the Buccaneers find themselves with a 6-8 record following a harrowing loss against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 15. Yet somehow, Brady and his men still find themselves on top of the NFC South.
With three games left to play this season, it's still likely that the Bucs will clinch themselves a playoff berth. But former NFL head coach Mike Smith, while appearing on Sportskeeda's BallFather podcast, remarked on how that spot would be undeserving:
"It's been a rough season. I do believe that they got the best shot at winning the NFC South. There's no doubt about that. They're going to probably end up being in the playoffs, but they don't look like a playoff team. They haven't looked that way all season long."
Smith further went on to dissect Brady's performance against the Bengals, where he threw costly interceptions and had two fumbles as well:
"You know, the thing that surprised me the most are not the interceptions, but the two fumbles. I mean, Brady, two times? He usually has a great feel for that (ball security) in the pocket."
Apart from Brady's struggles, the former Falcons coach also put the blame on the Bucs' secondary. In particular for their failure to eliminate the threat posed by Ja'Marr Chase and Tyler Boyd:
"That defense is not playing well, especially, the secondary right now. It's not a good look... They're the prettiest girl in the dance right now but it's an ugly dance."
As things stand, the Buccaneers will have to face the Dallas Cowboys in their opening playoff game. While Brady did manage to get the better of America's Team during their Week 1 matchup, things are likely to play out a lot differently in the postseason.
Buccaneers still in driver's seat to clinch NFC South
Despite being 6-8, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers remain firm favorites to clinch their division. This might seem shocking to some, but the fact of the matter is that no other team in the entire NFC South has been able to win more than five games.
Tom Brady's Tampa Bay Buccaneers are now an NFL-worst 3-10-1 ATS (6-8 SU).
They are 1-10-1 ATS in their last 12 games.
Yet, they are -400 to make the playoffs b/c of the putrid NFC South https://t.co/GRa6ozqunb
In fact, the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, and Carolina Panthers all boast identical records of 5-9. Beating Colt McCoy and the Arizona Cardinals on Christmas Day will further solidify Tampa's grip over the division.
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The Buccaneers' pursuit of a playoff berth will get another major boost if all three of their division rivals fail to secure a win in their next games.