Tomlin thinks Bucs have ‘found their formula’ for winning after 1-5 start

A Wednesday report suggested that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were on the cusp of firing first-year offensive coordinator Zac Robinson and then selling veteran players ahead of the Nov. 10 NFL trade deadline after they lost five of six games to open the season. 

However, the Buccaneers then notched back-to-back wins in games that featured quarterback Baker Mayfield not needing to do much in his return from the dislocated thumb on his throwing hand that he suffered in Week 3. During the latest edition of “The Ronde Barber Show,” former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach and current NBC personality Mike Tomlin spoke highly of Tampa Bay’s apparent turnaround. 

Can Buccaneers win with “elite defense,” solid rushing attack?

“You got elite defense and the best kicker on the planet right now,” Tomlin said about the Buccaneers, per the JoeBucsFan website. “You know, chew with your mouth closed. And get out of stadiums with Ws. That’s what it looks like for me. And I think they’ve discovered that.” 

In a blowout 43-13 win at the rival Carolina Panthers on Oct. 25, the Buccaneers rushed for 258 yards and three touchdowns. Meanwhile, Mayfield completed seven of 11 passes for 64 yards and a score that afternoon. 

The following Sunday, Mayfield remarkably completed no passes in windy and rainy conditions during the Week 8 home game versus the Atlanta Falcons. However, Tampa Bay accumulated 324 rushing yards in a 16-0 victory.

As for Tampa Bay’s Chase McLaughlin, others have also said he’s currently the best kicker in the NFL amid his perfect campaign (19-of-19 on field-goal attempts, 17-of-17 on extra points).

Mike Tomlin seems to think the Buccaneers are suddenly dangerous

“… I think they’ve found their formula in terms of engineering victory,” Tomlin added about the Buccaneers. “And that’s probably what’s most important, particularly at this stage of the journey as you go into November. You got to have a mode of operation if you want to win and win consistently and stack wins. Certainly, over the last month, I think they’ve discovered that.”

Mayfield likely will need to be more than just a spectator when the 3-5 Buccaneers play the 6-2 Chicago Bears this coming Sunday night, as ESPN stats show that Chicago began Thursday ranked eighth in the league with an average of 26.8 points scored per game. As of Thursday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Buccaneers as six-point road underdogs against the Bears.