Bucs Well-Represented On ‘Most Likely Super Bowl Matchups’ List

When Tom Brady is your quarterback, it’s Tremendous Bowl or bust. The Bucs are in yr three of experiencing that firsthand. 

Brady got here to Tampa Bay two seasons in the past and helped the franchise to its second-ever Lombardi Trophy. Final yr, he threw for greater than 5,000 yards and 40 touchdowns whereas main the Bucs to a franchise-record 13 wins. However ill-timed accidents and inopportune protection breakdowns price the staff an opportunity to repeat as champions. As a substitute, Brady and the Bucs bowed out of the playoffs within the NFC Divisional Spherical, dropping to the eventual Tremendous Bowl champion Rams.

Now, after an offseason that had three offseasons’ price of twists and turns, the Bucs discover themselves as favorites to problem for a second championship in three years. They’ve a major presence in BetOnline.ag’s “12 most-likely Super Bowl matchups,” anyway.

4 of the top-12 likeliest Tremendous Bowl matchups contain Tampa Bay. That’s probably the most of any NFC staff, with Inexperienced Bay and Los Angeles each concerned in three. Dallas and San Francisco are the one different NFC groups represented on the listing.

Payments Lead The Approach With 5 Appearances In Prime 12

Whereas Tampa Bay is the best-represented NFC staff on this listing of odds, Brady and the Bucs aren’t the best-represented staff total. That honor goes to the Buffalo Payments, who signify the AFC in 5 of the 12 most-likely matchups.

The Bucs and Payments meet in what’s the odds-on favourite (22/1) to be the Tremendous Bowl LVII contest. However the three “likeliest” Tremendous Bowls all function Buffalo. Josh Allen and co. additionally seem within the Tenth- and Twelfth-likeliest matchups.

Tampa Bay and Buffalo aren’t scheduled to satisfy throughout the 2022 common season. However the two sides met final December, with Allen serving to the Payments erase a 24-3 halftime deficit to pressure time beyond regulation at Raymond James Stadium. Nonetheless, the Bucs received a cease to start out time beyond regulation, and that arrange a 58-yard walk-off catch-and-run by Breshad Perriman. One can solely guess how the 2 groups would observe that up with the Lombardi Trophy on the road in Glendale, Arizona subsequent February.

Inspecting The Bucs’ Different Potential Tremendous Bowl Opponents

Exterior of showing within the most certainly matchup, the Bucs are in two matchups that tie for fourth-likeliest (33/1), in addition to one tied for Tenth-likeliest (45/1).

The primary of these matchups with 33/1 odds is a Tremendous Bowl LV rematch with the Chiefs. In fact, Tampa Bay steamrolled Kansas Metropolis in that recreation again in February of 2021, profitable 31-9 at Raymond James Stadium.

The opposite contest with 33/1 odds pits the Bucs in opposition to the Chargers. Los Angeles, fueled by a rising star in quarterback Justin Herbert and a brand new addition in All-Professional move rusher Khalil Mack, seems on this prime 12 listing 3 times. The Bucs and Chargers final met in 2020, when Brady led a giant comeback for a 38-31 win in Tampa.

The ultimate matchup on this listing that features the Bucs is available in with 45/1 odds, and that one is in opposition to the new-look Broncos. Denver traded for longtime Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson this offseason, inserting them in competition in an AFC West that’s extra aggressive than ever. Tampa Bay and Denver final met in 2020, with the Bucs cruising to a 28-10 win at Mile Excessive Stadium.