Our offseason opponent breakdown series on theRams.com continues with Los Angeles' Week 12 Sunday Night Football matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Week 12, SoFi Stadium, Nov. 23, 5:20 p.m. PT, NBC).
2024
Tampa Bay's fourth-straight year capturing the NFC South included a 10-7 overall record and one of the NFL's most explosive offenses in 2024. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen orchestrated a unit that was the only one in the league to finish in the top five in yards per game (399.6), scoring (29.5), passing yards per game (250.4) and rushing yards per game (149.2). The Bucs became the first team in NFL history to complete 70% of their passes and average more than five yards per carry throughout an entire season.
Overall, Tampa Bay finished third in total offense and 18th in total defense. However, their No. 29 ranking in passing defense was most glaring, but could be attributed in part to the secondary being hit hard by injuries late in the season – 2023 All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. was limited to nine games last year.
The Bucs' season ended with a loss to the upstart Washington Commanders in the wildcard round of the playoffs.
Key changes
Coen departed to become the next head coach of the Jaguars; the Bucs promoted pass game coordinator Josh Grizzard from within as Coen's replacement at offensive coordinator.
In the draft, they used their first-round pick and highest selection on former Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, taking him 19th overall this spring to add to an already-deep wide receiver room.
Head coach
Todd Bowles is entering his fourth season as Tampa Bay's head coach. He has compiled a 27-24 regular season record and 1-3 playoff record through his first three seasons. 2025 will mark Bowles' ninth season overall as a head coach in the NFL, between four seasons in that role with the Jets (2015-18) and a three-game stint as the interim head coach of the Dolphins in 2011.
What to watch for
Rams defense vs. Bucs offense and the extent of its continuity from 2024
Tampa Bay likely promoted from within to retain as much of the offensive identity Coen established last season as possible.
Grizzard told Tampa Bay reporters on May 20 that they didn't change a lot in their system, and that continuity should stand to benefit quarterback Baker Mayfield. While mayfield will be working with his ninth play-caller since entering the NFL in 2018, it will be one who was part of a scheme that helped him set career-highs in passing yards (4,500), touchdown passes (41), completion percentage (71.4) and passer rating (106.8) last year.
There's already a lot of carryover personnel-wise from the Bucs' 2024 offense. Can that continuity extend to the scheme? If so, it presents a strong late-season test for a Rams defense that at times had difficulty limiting explosive plays.
