The Tampa Bay Buccaneers approach the 2017 NFL season with the belief that they are legitimate playoff contenders, perhaps more confident in that notion than they have been in years. New Buccaneers quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick felt the vibe the first time he came to work at One Buccaneer place on Tuesday, noting "the energy in this building and I think the confidence of the guys."
Of course, it's a reasonable belief, given that Tampa Bay was the last NFC team eliminated from playoff contention last season, losing the final spot to Detroit on a third-level tiebreaker. The 2016 Buccaneers finished 9-7 – including a 6-2 mark in the season's second half – and could probably take the next step into the postseason field with one more win in 2017.