Last season, the Philadelphia Eagles were the toast of the town in the NFC. Advancing to the Super Bowl and blowing out the darling Kansas City Chiefs 40-22.
While the rest of the league seemingly struggles against them, the Bucs have posted a record of 9-9 since they entered the league in 1976.
And they've had recent success too.
On Friday's Good Morning Football, host Kyle Brandt labeled the Buccaneers the No. 1 threat to the Eagles in the NFC in 2025. The Lions were No. 2 and the Rams were No. 3.
"This might be a surprise, but it shouldn't be. No. 1 I have the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They're under the radar and they smacked the Eagles last year," Brandt said. "They smacked them. They held Saquon in check, Baker went absolutely nuts, and they also knocked the Eagles out of the playoffs the year before. Also, Nick Sirianni lost to them a few years prior when it was a different iteration of the Buccaneers. Eagles fans know that the Bucs always play them very tough.
"Maybe they're not the shiniest, brightest team in the league and they don't have the exposure that maybe the Commanders had last year, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been a nemesis for this version of the Eagles."
Last season, the Bucs manhandled the Eagles 33-16 at Raymond James Stadium in Week 4, just eight months after dominating them in the Wild Card round in 2023, 32-9, also at home.
Brandt was right. This Bucs team does fly under the radar and very rarely gets national love and respect that they deserve. But that's ok with the club. Mayfield has posted back-to-back career seasons since arriving in Tampa Bay, and he hopes to continue that in 2025.