The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are on a tremendous run of regular season success. Since their Super Bowl win for the 2020 season, they've made the playoffs five straight seasons, and tied a record four consecutive NFC South division titles.
Surprisingly to many, they've done it with Baker Mayfield under center after the retirement of Tom Brady after the 2022 season.
But Tampa Bay rarely sees any national respect.
They're routinely picked to lose the division and miss the playoffs by the national media outlets across the board. Will they never learn?
Maybe they have ... finally, and with good reason.
The Buccaneers return all 11 starters from last season on an offense that ranked near the top of the league in many major categories. They also boasted a much improved rushing attack featuring rookie back Bucky Irving and Rachaad White, along with reserve Sean Tucker.
So finally, it seems, respect is coming.
ESPN's Ben Solak named the Bucs being favored over every other team in the NFC except the Eagles as one of his 14 intrusive thoughts - "These are things I think I think, but I do not yet know exactly how to express them. Do not judge me."
"ESPN BET ranks the most likely NFC representatives for the Super Bowl in this order: Eagles, Lions, 49ers, Commanders, Packers, Rams, Vikings and Buccaneers," Solak wrote. "I would have the Buccaneers over every team besides the Eagles. Maybe tied with the Lions and Rams, but no lower than that."