The 2024 Bucs offense is one of the truly special units in the NFL.
Like the Vikings defense.
Or the Steelers pass rush.
Or the Broncos offensive line.
Or the Lions offense.
Or the Ravens run game.
Some units have that perfect blend of unique and elite that they deserve to be elevated to the national stage in the playoffs. And the Bucs offense is 100% a part of that club.
Bucs OC Liam Coen and HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Slice it any way you want. The number one goal of an offense is to score points. After hanging 41 of the team’s 48 points on the Panthers on Sunday, the Bucs also scored seven points via a blocked punt on special teams, the Bucs are now averaging 29.7 points per game. Only three teams are ahead of them this season.
If you like to measure offense in terms of yards per game, they move up to third at 399.9, behind just the Ravens and Lions. The offensive line is allowing quarterback Baker Mayfield to be pressured on the fourth fewest percentage of drop backs in the NFL. The Bucs now rank third in passing success rate and fourth in rushing success rate. That is not only incredible balance, but also amazing efficiency all the way around.
Bucs Offense Is As Close To Complete As It Gets
Do the Bucs have a weakness on offense? The answer is no.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield is having a special season. He is tied for second in the NFL in passing touchdowns with 39 and second in passing yards with 4,279. He is the conductor of the train and at his best shows a complete command of the offense, often having the answers to the test before the ball is even snapped.
Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Photo by: USA Today
Paired with his special arm talent he has made some absolutely bananas throws this season. And coming off of a five-touchdown performance versus the Panthers he may be peaking at the best time. A little discussed fact about Mayfield. In a very small sample size of just four games, his cumulative performance in the playoffs has been quite impressive.
The running game has gone from moribund over the past several years to incredible this year. Rookie Bucky Irving was fifth in missed tackle forced rate among all running backs with at least 100 carries according to Pro Football Focus headed into Sunday’s game. That number most likely went up as a part of his 20-carry, 113-yard effort against the Panthers.
Rachaad White’s 389 receiving yards rank seventh among all running backs. And for fun, the Bucs throw Sean Tucker out on the field from time-to-time and all he does is average over six yards per carry.
The offensive line is anchored by the best left tackle in football. Tristan Wirfs stepped on an NFL football field as a rookie in 2020 and immediately played at an All-Pro level. That is unheard of in the modern NFL. He has only gotten better over the past four years.
Rookie center Graham Barton has had his ups and downs in his debut season, but the special traits are there. Guard Cody Mauch and tackle Luke Goedeke have developed into the most formidable right side in the league. Ben Bredeson is playing the best football of his life. The group as a whole has allowed just 93 pressures on the season; while paving the way for Irving and White each go over 1,000 total yards on the season with a game still to play.
Despite losing Chris Godwin, who was in the midst of perhaps the best season of his career, the Bucs receiving corps has stepped up to keep the passing game humming. Mike Evans is poised to extend his unprecedented 1,000-yard receiving streak to start a career despite missing 3.5 games this year. Since his post-bye week return, he is now averaging 3.15 yards per route run through Sunday’s game. On the season, only Puka Nacua has a higher efficiency.
Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
And behind Evans, Tampa Bay has enough in a supporting cast to keep the engine running. Over the past four games Jalen McMillan is averaging 6.25 targets, 4.75 catches, 60.5 yards and 1.5 touchdowns. He’s running his routes with more precision and confidence and finding open gaps in zone coverage. Most impressively he has earned Mayfield’s trust in the red zone, joining Evans and tight end Cade Otton in that regard.
Speaking of Otton, after three years of showing some glimpses, he became the Bucs passing offense for a month while Evans and Godwin were both sidelined. Keeping the offense averaging over 20 points per game. Most impressively, he has become one of the best blocking tight ends in the league. And in his absence over the past two weeks, Payne Durham and Devin Culp have shown the Bucs have some depth in their tight end room.
Durham, McMillan, Culp and Tucker join offensive linemen Robert Hainsey and Justin Skule in showing the offense isn’t just top-heavy but has key depth that has buoyed the offense at different times throughout the season. And those contributions from top to bottom have been made possible because of one man.
Liam Coen Running The Coolest Show In Town
Bucs OC Liam Coen – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R
Only wide receiver Trey Palmer has regressed from 2023, and that’s astonishing. Everyone else has improved from a year ago with the exception of Rachaad White statistically due to Bucky Irving’s emergence.
As I mentioned before, Ben Bredeson, who was cast off by the offensive line-needy Giants, has provided consistent play at left guard. Tristan Wirfs is playing out of his mind. This may be his best season as a pro. Cody Mauch is worthy of Pro Bowl consideration. Luke Goedeke is set to get a massive contract next season on the back of his strong performance this year.
Baker Mayfield is statistically pacing with MVP candidates. Irving has a case for Offensive Rookie of the Year consideration. Cade Otton has ascended. And on and on and on.
Offensive coordinator Liam Coen has adapted his offense to the talent he has on the roster as a whole, and more specifically, to the players he has available at any given time. His deployment of the Pony package (21 personnel) and the evolution of his run game to fit his squad show not only his unique ability to adapt in real time to new information, but to innovate to match them.
Coen doesn’t just make sure to have a round peg for a round hole. He finds a peg that widens as it sinks in to make the hole bigger. He is a special coach that matches the talent that has been assembled for him.
The stars have aligned in Tampa Bay.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and OC Liam Coen – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR
Coordinator.
Quarterback.
Big uglies and playmakers.
Scheme and execution.
And shout outs to head coach Todd Bowles for creating the culture to allow this group to thrive, and general manager Jason Licht and his team for bringing the players together. The football world as a whole deserves to see this unit on an elevated stage. There is still a possibility it can happen.
Thanks to the Falcons’ overtime loss to the Commanders, the Bucs are once again in control of their destiny. A win over New Orleans in Tampa Bay on Sunday crowns the Bucs as NFC South champions for a fourth season in a row. Football fans everywhere should hope they can make it into the playoffs. Because if they do the football world is in for a treat watching Baker and this offense bake.
