Buccaneers Drop In Power Rankings After Week 6 Loss to Detroit Lions
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been one of the more shocking teams in the league so far this season with the emergence of QB Baker Mayfield and the dominant defense. Before the season started, many NFL analysts and experts were counting out the Bucs and predicting them to finish last in the division.
When the Buccaneers improved to 3-1 on the season, many sites shot up the Buccaneers in their weekly power rankings. With a rough Week 6 loss against the Detroit Lions, many sites around the league had the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drop in their weekly power rankings.
READ MORE: Buccaneers' Quarterback Baker Mayfield Injury Update After X-Ray on Hand
Here are the Buccaneers' Week 7 power rankings by site.
NFL.com
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-1)
Six points. No touchdowns. A lousy 2 of 12 on third downs. An interception inside their own 10-yard line. The Bucs' offense had its worst outing of the season Sunday, and yet it's hard to say that it was a shocking breakdown. Though Baker Mayfield struggled, we can't pin this game entirely on him. The run game has been a travesty this season, marred by poor performances by the O-line and backs. Todd Bowles punting on fourth-and-2 while down 14 points in the fourth quarter tells you everything you need to know. Yeah, the Lions' defense was terrific Sunday, but the decision to punt suggested Bowles had more faith in his defense causing a turnover than he did in his offense gaining 2 yards. That makes me worried for the long haul.
ESPN
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-2)
Despite a scheme change and devoting more resources to the offensive line, the Bucs just cannot run the ball with any sort of consistency. Sometimes it's the blocking, and sometimes it's not identifying the holes and hitting them, but the unit is averaging 78.8 rushing yards per game (29th in the league) and just 3.0 yards per rush (32nd). That's not too far from the 76.9 rushing yards per game and 3.4 yards per rush it averaged in 2022. -- Jenna Laine
READ MORE: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Quarterback Baker Mayfield 'Not The Guy'?
CBS
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-8)
Off their bye week, they came out and laid an egg on offense against the Lions. Baker Mayfield just didn't have it.
NBC Sports
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3)
They played like they did for most of the years they wore the Bucco Bruce uniforms.
USA Today
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3)
If you don't want QB Baker Mayfield to shoulder an inordinate amount of the offensive load, you can't wallow at the bottom of the league with 3.0 yards per carry.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will look to maintain first in the NFC South and improve to a 4-2 record next week when they host the Atlanta Falcons.
Stick with BucsGameday and the Locked On Bucs podcast for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the 2023 season.
