Bucs look ready to take hold of NFC South

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady. Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Bucs look ready to finally take hold of NFC South

By Cory Woodroof | Last updated 12/6/22

It's been a long road, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers finally look ready to take hold of the NFC South.

The team's dramatic 17-16 win over the New Orleans Saints on "Monday Night Football" put the team in firm standing as the division's top dog.

It's what many figured would happen before the season. Quarterback Tom Brady returned to Tampa Bay for the playoffs, and now he looks like he'll get his chance at another division title.

His quest for another Super Bowl might stop short with better teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and San Francisco 49ers standing in his way.

Monday night's come-from-behind victory over New Orleans showed why the Bucs haven't been able to wrangle more momentum.

The team's offense sputtered for more than three quarters to a lackluster Saints team. It wasn't until New Orleans went up 16-3 with about eight minutes left to go in the game that Tampa Bay's offense woke up.

It's not the first time this season the Bucs have dominated the Saints in the last frame.

The Buccaneers scored 31 points in the 4th quarter of their games against the Saints this season.

They scored 6 points total in the first 3 quarters in both of those games.

Tampa Bay won both games. pic.twitter.com/4jsucJEhSv
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 6, 2022

The team does have to face the Cincinnati Bengals next week, which will be a challenge.

After that, the schedule softens with games against the Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, and Atlanta Falcons.

Tampa Bay might not be a major Super Bowl contender, but they look ready to take on the NFC South's playoff spot. It might not be by that big of a margin, but it'll count.

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