TAMPA, Fla. -- Coming out of their late bye last year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were 7-4, with their best hope -- even with quarterback Tom Brady at the helm -- grabbing one of the final NFC wild-card spots, before orchestrating an eight-game win streak that resulted in a Super Bowl.
This year, they're 6-2 coming out of the bye at the NFL halfway point, and they're sitting atop of the NFC South with a little bit of cushion thanks to the New Orleans Saints' 27-25 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.