MMQB Give Tampa Bay Buccaneers A Lot of Love

Aug 23, 2014; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh McCown (12) throws a pass during a game against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

The guys over at Monday Morning Quarterback have released their predictions for the 2014 NFL season and they are giving a lot of love to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

While neither Peter King, Greg Bedard, Jenny Vrentas, Robert Klemko, Emily Kaplan or Andy Benoit have the Bucs winning the Super Bowl, King, Bedard, Kaplan and Benoit have the Bucs making the playoffs. In fact, Benoit has Tampa Bay winning the NFC South.

In terms of individual honors, four of the six writers believe Lovie Smith will be named Coach of the Year, while Klemko believes McCown will be Comeback Player of the Year and that Doug Martin will lead the NFL in rushing. Benoit picks Alterraun Verner to lead the league in interceptions in 2014.

The writers were also asked which 2013 non-playoff team is most likely to contend for the Super Bowl.

Both King and Benoit said Tampa Bay with King writing, “Tampa Bay. The Bucs were the best bad 2013 team I saw of the 27 I saw in person on my training camp trip this summer. Lovie Smith has three keystone players at crucial positions on his defense, and a quarterback who’s better than people think in Josh McCown.”

Klemko also thinks that the ‘free-agent pickup who proves to be the best investment by January’ will be McCown.

He writes, “Josh McCown. The two-year, $10 million pact between the journeyman quarterback and the Bucs will look like a discount by season’s end. McCown was playing like a top 10 passer last season in spot duty for the Bears, and he recognizes that this opportunity in Tampa Bay is his last shot at making a real impact in the NFL.”

The entire article can be read by clicking here and it’s definitely worth the read.