Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2021 First Trimester Review

With the first six weeks of the 2021 NFL Season in the books, we’re officially one-third of the way through the year, and it’s time for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ First Trimester Review!

Scott Smith (Senior Writer/Editor of Buccaneers.com) joined me on the Locked On Bucs Podcast to discuss the first six weeks of Bucs football.

Last year at this time Tampa Bay was 4-2, and sitting at 5-1 now the record may not be much different, but the feel of the team certainly is.

Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

This time last year Tom Brady was still new to the franchise and seeing him in a Buccaneers uniform was a little weird. Now, everyone is a lot more comfortable, but it doesn’t mean the influence he brings has faded.

New confidence arrived with Brady, and it’s thriving now on the defense, even as they deal with injuries to players like Lavonte David, Carlton Davis III, Sean Murphy-Bunting, and the up and down health of Jamel Dean and Antoine Winfield Jr. Brought in to help relieve some of the tension, Richard Sherman has even found himself injured, adding to the difficulties.

No matter, Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles has his unit persevering in the face of adversity, and it has the confidence on the defense soaring as they look forward to bringing back their injured starters throughout the year.

Smith and I also took a look back at the games played, and I asked him to identify his favorite win of the year up to now and got his thoughts on whether or not there are any residual concerns lingering after Tampa Bay’s one loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

Of course, we also take a look forward and around the league.

In the next trimester, the Buccaneers play five games in six weeks with their bye week coming in the next stretch of the NFL schedule.

I asked Smith which game is the most important to win, and he stated rather bluntly, the first of two contests against the New Orleans Saints is easily the most important of the next five.

Around the league, Smith weighs in on whether or not fans of the game should be buying into the Arizona Cardinals and their quarterback Kyler Murray, or not. And, he shares his thoughts on the future of Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs as they enter the second third of the 2021 NFL Season, at 3-3.

Looking back at the year that has been so far for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with plenty to look forward to, in the coming months.