Friday, September 22, 2023

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Week 3 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 3 roundup for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 13

Player: WR Mike Evans
Current contract situation: Under contract through the 2023 season

Evans, the franchise-record holder in almost every receiving category, is currently in the final year of his contract. Evans and his agent gave the Buccaneers a Sept. 9 deadline on getting an extension done before the season, but no deal with reached, nor was one even offered in the final hours. There's a real chance Evans plays somewhere else next season. At 30, he's still producing at a high level, as evidenced by his 171 receiving yards and a touchdown in Week 2. -- Jenna Laine

NFL.com -- Rank: 21

Mike Evans is still dusting defensive backs. Shaquil Barrett remains a backfield wrecker. Baker Mayfield is out there slinging tough passes and barreling for first downs as a runner. Who are these guys? Well, the 2-0 Bucs are in some ways who they've been, even as the Tom Brady-led teams naturally kept their identity under his umbrella. But the way Mayfield is playing -- fearlessly and decisively -- makes me think this team should compete in the wide-open NFC South. Mayfield has always had the ability to make game-changing plays, but his negative ones seemed to sting a bit more in the past. Through two games, however, he's taken one sack (spinning out of several) and thrown zero interceptions. That's a winning formula.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 11

Baker Mayfield has led this team to a 2-0 record as one of the surprising early teams. The defense has made a lot of big plays in two games.

USA Today -- Rank: 22

Good luck finding something more touching in the NFL space than OLB Shaq Barrett dedicating his season to his 2-year-old daughter, who drowned in April. His emotions were evident Sunday when he scored his first professional TD on a pick-six, then looked skyward.

The Athletic -- Rank: 14

The Bucs offense has been basically neutral this season. Tampa Bay is 13th in the league in offensive EPA per play at zero. Its 2-0 start is a function of a defense that has held the Vikings and the Bears to 17 points each. Doing just enough has been enough for the Bucs so far, but how long will that last?

FOX -- Rank: 12

If Baker Mayfield keeps playing like this, the Bucs are a very real threat. Most of the badasses from that Super Bowl defense are still in Tampa, and they still look plenty — well, badass. If Mayfield is spreading the ball around and avoiding turnovers, they can stack some wins. Philadelphia comes to town in Week 3, a big chance for the Buccaneers to prove their credentials.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 18

The Buccaneers have played two bad defenses, but Baker Mayfield has been very good. He has completed 69.1% of his passes for 490 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. That's the continuation of a strong preseason, too. Mayfield has to keep doing this against tougher competition, but the Buccaneers should be pleased so far.

PFT -- Rank: 14

The post-Tommy Bucs are quickly becoming a great story.

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