The Tampa Bay Buccaneers enter the 2021 NFL season with the difficult task of trying to win a second straight Super Bowl. Each of the last 16 champions have failed to successfully repeat, and only three of those teams even won their conference in consecutive years.

Tampa Bay is led by the last quarterback who won back-to-back titles. Tom Brady and the New England Patriots became Super Bowl champions in both the 2003 and 2004 seasons.

Can Brady and the Bucs replicate that feat in 2020 and 2021?

Doubting Brady has proved to be a mistake, year after year. The quarterback has solidified himself as the greatest NFL player of all time, and he continues to be one of the sport’s top signal callers, even at 44 years old.

In February's Super Bowl, Brady outplayed Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes and earned a record fifth Super Bowl MVP award. Brady won his seventh Super Bowl ring and his first without New England head coach Bill Belichick.

There were moments during his first season in Tampa Brady when it appeared to some that Brady was no longer the same, great player. The Bucs were just 7-5 after 12 games, and Brady had thrown seven interceptions over a four-game stretch.

All Brady did from that point on was finish the regular season with 12 touchdowns, one interception and four straight victories. Brady threw for another 10 touchdowns and a 98.1 passer rating in four playoffs wins.

Considering that Brady improved as he spent more time in a new offense, he could be even better during his second season with the Bucs.

Brady had plenty of help along the way. Tampa Bay is returning every starter on offense and defense from last year’s team, which is unheard of in the NFL.

Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Antonio Brown and Rob Gronkowski give Brady a terrific array of pass catchers. Brady is protected by one of the league’s best offensive lines. Second-team All-Pro Devin White leads an elite front seven. The Bucs’ secondary is more than solid.

It’s why Tampa Bay is the prohibitive favorite in the NFC. Only the Kansas City Chiefs, who have made two straight Super Bowls, have better championship odds than the Bucs.

Tampa Bay has a clear path to the playoffs and a top seed in the NFC. With the New Orleans Saints losing some of their best players, including future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Drew Brees, the Bucs are expected to cruise to an NFC South title. Tampa Bay also has four games against the NFC East, which was a weak division a season ago .

The Bucs benefited from four Saints turnovers and questionable decision-making from the Green Bay Packers in last year’s NFC playoffs. Tampa Bay took advantage of Kansas City’s offensive line injuries to pressure Mahomes throughout the Super Bowl.

The NFC is full of legitimate championship contenders. The NFC West alone has three in the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks. Reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers and the Packers nearly beat the Bucs in last year’s playoffs after a second straight 13-win season. The Dallas Cowboys could be much better now that quarterback Dak Prescott is back on the field.

Chris Godwin Tom Brady Buccaneers
Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates with Chris Godwin #14 during the fourth quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium on February 07, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
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