Why struggling Buccaneers should not panic

Nearly halfway through the season, the Buccaneers are 3-5. Tom Brady finds himself multiple games under .500 as a starter for the first time in his historic 22-year NFL career. Does Tampa Bay have hope?

The 2021 Super Bowl champs still can make a playoff run because of the lame NFC South. Only one team in the division, the Atlanta Falcons (4-4), has a non-losing record.

The Bucs, who beat the Falcons in Week 5, are third in the division, ahead of New Orleans (3-5) and Carolina (2-6). Tampa Bay also defeated the Saints, 20-10, in Week 2, but were stunned in a 21-3 blowout loss to the Panthers in Week 7. 

There's no denying that Brady's offense hasn't been must-see TV. Neither has the banged-up Tampa Bay defense, which took another major hit, losing linebacker Shaquil Barrett for the season with an Achilles tear. Even weaklings Carolina and Pittsburgh exposed the unit.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport tweeted the Bucs are not expected to make major changes before Tuesday's trade deadline. The team expects the return of injured players--especially cornerback Carlton Davis, defensive end Akiem Hicks and cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting -- "to "act as if they had maybe done a trade," Rapoport said.