Former NFL lpayer and ESPN analyst Ryan Clark Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat / USA TODAY NETWORK

ESPN's Ryan Clark: 3-5 Buccaneers will win NFC South

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 11/4/22

Ryan Clark still likes the 3-5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers to win the NFC South title.

"Tom Brady has built up so much emotional revenue from all of us that we believe he can fix anything. Any situation he's in, he can be a part of the solution. So that's No. 1," the former NFL player and current analyst explained about his take during Friday's edition of ESPN's "Get Up" program, as shared by Chris Rosvoglou of The Spun. "We've also seen this Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense be really good this year. We thought through the first two or three weeks of the season that they would be as dominant as they were through their playoff run."

.@Realrclark25 still has the Bucs winning the NFC South

Can they pull it off? pic.twitter.com/OeS7nL7zpB
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) November 4, 2022

For what it's worth, fellow former player and analyst Marcus Spears isn't quite as high on the Buccaneers as they head into their home game against the 3-4 Los Angeles Rams this Sunday.

The Buccaneers are in territory that's become unfamiliar since Brady signed with the organization in the spring of 2020. Tampa Bay has lost three straight and five of six, and this poor run of form has coincided with Brady dealing with off-the-field issues regarding his divorce from Gisele Bündchen that the two confirmed last Friday.

Brady's inconsistent play and personal matters have somewhat overshadowed the fact that the Buccaneers will begin the first weekend of November dead last in the NFL in rushing and averaging just 61.9 yards on the ground per game, according to ESPN stats. Additionally, only seven teams are averaging fewer points per contest than the Buccaneers (18.3) after eight weeks of action.

Perhaps the best news for Brady and company is that they trail only the 4-4 Atlanta Falcons in the NFC South standings. The New Orleans Saints are also 3-5, while the totally-not-tanking Carolina Panthers are 2-6.

NFL rules say some team has to win the division crown by the end of Week 18. Why not Tampa Bay?

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