In perhaps the most dramatic free agency move in NFL history, the Buccaneers went all-in by luring six-time Patriots Super Bowl winner Tom Brady to town to complete what team architects felt was a championship-caliber roster. In the end, they were proved right, as Brady added a seventh ring and the Buccaneers got their second Lombardi Trophy. After landing Brady, the Buccaneers continued to aggressively fill out the depth chart, eventually adding such veterans as tight end Rob Gronkowski, running back Leonard Fournette and wide receiver Antonio Brown. The COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the preseason and led to games played in front of empty or partially-filled stands. Just as in their first Super Bowl season, the Buccaneers opened with a loss to the Saints as Brady and the Buccaneers' offense needed time to jell. Three straight wins followed, including a patented Brady comeback against young Justin Herbert and the Chargers in Week Four. However, a run of three losses in four midseason weeks, including narrow three-pointers against the Rams and Chiefs, had the Bucs at 7-5 heading into their bye week. After the break, the Bucs' offense found its gear and the team wouldn't lose again. Two wins in the final three weeks against the Falcons left the Bucs at 11-5 and in possession of a Wild Card spot, ending a 12-year postseason drought. After an opening round win at Washington, the Buccaneers upset the Saints in New Orleans, ending Drew Brees's career and earning them a trip to Green Bay for the NFC Championship Game. With five sacks of Aaron Rodgers by Shaquil Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul, a stunning touchdown bomb by Brady to Scotty Miller right before halftime and Jordan Whitehead's forced fumble early in the second half, the Bucs left Lambeau Field with a hard-fought 31-6 victory. Those three road wins made Tampa Bay the first team ever to play a Super Bowl in its home stadium, and the result was a blowout 31-9 win over the defending-champion Kansas City Chiefs. Brady threw two touchdown passes to Rob Gronkowski and the Buccaneers' pass rush harassed Patrick Mahomes all night in Super Bowl LV, leading to three sacks, two interceptions and no touchdowns for the first time in Mahomes' career as a starter.
