Buccaneers' Todd Bowles discusses proving doubters wrong

According to The Athletic, the 8-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers can clinch the NFC South division title with a win over the 7-8 New Orleans Saints this Sunday or with a tie in that game coupled with the 7-8 Atlanta Falcons losing to the 6-9 Chicago Bears. 

Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles spoke with reporters Friday about what claiming the division crown would mean for a franchise many assumed would punt on the 2023 season following the retirement of legendary quarterback Tom Brady.

"It would mean a lot," Bowles said about possibly celebrating a division title this weekend, per the Buccaneers' website. "It would be huge for the young guys to get it. It would be huge for the guys to get it that were here because everybody counted them out. I think it'd be huge for the coaches because they're working their tails off and it would be huge for the city because all year, they heard we wouldn't win one-two-three-four games. To have that title, I think everybody would have some sort of satisfaction."

Buccaneers signal-caller Baker Mayfield is viewed by some as the favorite to win the Comeback Player of the Year Award after he helped what was a 4-7 team notch four consecutive victories. Mayfield may not be matching Brady's best performances posted while with Tampa Bay, but Bowles noted that the 28-year-old has proven himself as a true leader throughout his tenure with the organization that began this past March. 

"It's been his consistency since he's [been] here – his work ethic, his maturity [in] getting along the with the other players," Bowles said about Mayfield's influence. "Obviously, they see his fire and everything on the field, but him being consistent and the same guy every day and a guy they can talk to on and off the field makes it even better."

ESPN stats show that Mayfield enters the weekend ranked ninth among qualified players with a 96.2 passer rating and tied for sixth in the league with 26 passing touchdowns on the season. Meanwhile, ESPN Bet listed the Buccaneers on Friday afternoon as 2.5-point favorites to handle their business in Sunday's home game against the Saints.