Is It Safe To Bet On The BUCS Offense After Week 1?
The Buccaneers wanted to kick off the 2024 season with a bang. And the 37-point explosion on offense was exactly what it needed to get BUCS fans excited for the remainder of the season.
37 points is the highest the BUCS have scored on an opening day since the 2018 season when the team went on the road and dropped 48 on that team from New Orleans. Funny enough, that one also featured a castoff "journeyman QB" throwing 4 TDs and 0 INTs.
This iteration of the BUCS blowout win was slightly different as the team came in as a favorite to win(-200). And they made good on anyone who put their money down. In New Orleans, the moneyline was closer to +500 for the Pewter Pirates.
With the high output of the offense against the Commanders, many fans and pundits have projected that it could become the new normal. While that would be a welcomed sight, it's far from becoming a reality.
While the Washington defense did come into the game with a front seven that could test the BUCS' revamped offensive line, it also had one of the weakest secondaries the team will see until after the bye week in Week 11. Plenty of opponents will have a much tougher and more challenging group in the secondary.
But no matter who the opponent is, very few will be able to match up with the all-around talent found on the offensive side of the ball for the Buccaneers. Evans is the proverbial X-factor week in and week out. Opposite of him is Jalen McMillan, who is a polished route runner even as a rookie. Godwin, returning to the featured slot position, is generally too much for the second-best cornerback on a team; let alone the third-best.
The RB room may be as talented as any in the NFC. All three are a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield and can chew up yardage in their own unique running styles. And most of this isn’t new. We’ve had this level of talent for years. But the utilization of the talent by Liam Coen is what stood out in Week 1. And how he manages such talent for the rest of the season against strong opposition will be the most exciting things to watch.
The next challenge for the BUCS' offense will be on the road against a defense that only allowed 20 points in their opening game. The Buccaneers will head into Week 2 against Detroit with the moneyline as high as +275.
