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How to Read this Chart

If any player name listed in the chart below is italicized, a team's grade will be expressed as a range instead of a single definite number. Italics indicate I have doubts about whether that player actually justifies inclusion within whatever category he's being associated with. Credible cases can be made for and against that player with respect to the criterion of the particular category where his name has been listed.
If a team's grade is expressed as a range, that range represents the worst-case scenario and best-case scenario. In the worst-case scenario, NO italicized player will be included in the scoring. In the best-case scenario, ALL italicized players will be included in the scoring.
Quarterbacks are evaluated either as a liability, adequate, or elite. The "adequate" label implies some measure of competence whereas the "liability" label implies that the quarterback is unable to play dropback football with any degree of competency.
Premiere Offensive Weapons are defined as high-performing skill players who add dimensionality on offense. The more ways a team can matriculate the ball downfield, the more names you will likely see listed here.
Elite Defensive Linemen are defined as truly dominant defensive linemen who can consistently control the line of scrimmage and consistently create havoc in the offensive backfield. Consistency of production is the main criteria used to evaluate pass rushers. Sacks, quarterback hits, tackles, batted passes, and turnovers are also considered here when assessing whether a given lineman can be considered elite.
Elite Coverage Defenders are defined as elite defensive backs or inside linebackers who excel at their particular role. Linebackers needs to show range in the flat, be able to cover flat receivers, and show up consistently in run support. Safeties need to show range and engineer turnover opportunities. Cornerbacks have to demonstrate an ability to shutdown most receivers that line up opposite them. It would also help if any of these coverage defenders have a knack for rushing the passer.
A successful comeback is defined as a game where a team mounted a scoring drive beginning in the fourth quarter to retake the lead and win the game OR a game where a team rallied back from a double-digit scoring deficit to eventually win the game.
Home field advantage is self-explanatory. In any postseason game between two teams from the same conference, the higher seed will always have home field advantage.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Passer Evaluation	Baker Mayfield (Elite)
Premiere Offensive Weapons 1 point for the first player 2 points for the second player 4 points for each successive player	Mike Evans Bucky Irving Jalen McMillan Cade Otton
Elite Defensive Linemen 4 points per player	Vita Vea Calijah Kancey
Elite Coverage Defenders 2 points per player	Lavonte David Antoine Winfield Jr.
Number of Successful Comebacks 2 points if the team successfully staged exactly 2 comebacks 3 points if the team staged more than 2 comebacks	2
Number of Comebacks Surrendered 2 points if the team surrendered exactly 2 comebacks 3 points if the team surrendered fewer than 2 comebacks	3
Tactical Edges Lost Only impacts a team's grade when that team is facing against another club listed here. The more teams listed here, the worse a team's odds of advancing	OffenseDefense Chargers Chargers
Tactical Edges Gained Only impacts a team's grade when that team is facing against another club listed here. The more teams listed here, the better a team's odds of advancing	OffenseDefense Ravens Chiefs Eagles Lions Ravens Chiefs
GRADE	7 - 25

I want to love these Buccaneers. Baker Mayfield is charismatic and the coaches have done wonderful work leading this team through some trying times (just look at all the tactical edges they gained).

I think offensively, they're in fine shape. Cade Otton being more healthy would have been more reassuring here as he'd be a luxury as a fourth vector, but Tampa Bay can live without him on the field. It's the defense that concerns me - no one player has definitively asserted himself as an elite player. I would honestly say Calijah Kancey comes the closest given some of the lovely tape he's produced, but to deem him a consistently disruptive force on defense is too much of a reach for me. I have much more confidence in Tampa's backfield, with Lavonte David manning the middle of the field as the head linebacker and Antoine Winfield patrolling the entire field as a free-range defensive back. The only reason Winfield is marked as uncertainly elite is because he's coming out of injury.

On top of that, throw in the questionable game management as well. Blowing those games against the Falcons, the Ravens and the 49ers does not sit well with me, especially given the manner in which those games were lost. It concerns me that this team wasn't composed enough to maintain leads and close out games. Even worse, their two comebacks this season came against below-average opponents too.

I think Tampa can surprise some people, but a postseason date with the Eagles is just too much of a hurdle for them to surmount.

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