Surprise NFC Team Named Championship Contender by Top NFL Analyst
When most people think about Super Bowl favorites, the conversation usually centers around the same handful of contenders.
At DraftKings Sportsbook, the Los Angeles Rams lead the way at +800, followed by the Baltimore Ravens (+950), Seattle Seahawks (+950), Buffalo Bills (10-1), Kansas City Chiefs (15-1), and Philadelphia Eagles (16-1).
Teams like the Los Angeles Chargers (16-1), San Francisco 49ers (17-1), Detroit Lions (18-1), and Cincinnati Bengals (22-1) have also emerged as popular dark horse picks.
One name that almost nobody has talked about is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, until now.
On Tuesday, May 26, 2026, ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky boldly labeled the Buccaneers as NFC Championship contenders and argued that, on paper, they have one of the NFL‘s most complete rosters.
"On paper, I think the Bucs are NFC Championship contenders," Orlovsky said. "Very good offensive line, very good skill players, Baker [Mayfield]’s the best quarterback in the division. They’ve invested into this defensive line … And if Rueben Bain is who a lot of people going into the draft thought he was, and obviously Tampa thought he was, then this defensive line should be reminiscent of the ones that we’ve become accustomed to in Tampa."
"I just really think this is a very talented, top-to-bottom complete roster," he added.
More news: Caleb Williams Gets Wake-Up Call From Bears Coach Ahead of 2026
Mayfield remains the engine of the Bucs offense after revitalizing his career in Tampa, while Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin, and Jalen McMillan anchor the receiving corps after losing six-time Pro Bowler Mike Evans in the offseason.
Emerging running back Bucky Irving adds explosiveness and versatility out of the backfield, along with backups Kenneth Gainwell and Sean Tucker, while All-Pro tackle Tristan Wirfs remains one of football's premier offensive linemen.
Defensively, the Bucs still have Super Bowl champions Vita Vea and Antoine Winfield Jr., with edge rusher YaYa Diaby becoming an increasingly vital disruptor, leading the team with seven sacks last season.
They also added hard-hitting veteran linebackers Alex Anzalone and Christian Rozeboom in the offseason, along with Pro Bowl safety special teamer Miles Killebrew.
Arguably their biggest addition, however, was rookie edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr., a consensus All-American from the runner-up Miami Hurricanes who was widely viewed as one of the top defensive prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Orlovsky notes that if Bain hits quickly, Vea stays healthy, and Diaby takes another leap, Tampa's front could start resembling the nasty, pressure-driven identity that defined its best Todd Bowles defenses.
More news: Wan'Dale Robinson Gets Honest About Cam Ward Amid OTAs: ‘I Love Him to Death'
More news: Major Wyndham Clark News Emerges Less Than 24 Hours After Byron Nelson Win
DraftKings has placed the Bucs around 8.5 projected wins, with +115 odds to make the playoffs and +160 to win their own division, essentially viewing them as a good but flawed bubble team.
They’ll face the NFC North and AFC North this year, along with their own NFC South rivals, giving them 14 games against some of the toughest defenses in football, along with matchups against the Dallas Cowboys, Chargers, and Rams, all viewed as likely playoff teams.
On paper, Tampa checks off a lot of important boxes: proven quarterback, strong offensive line, veteran coaching staff, ascending edge talent, defensive reinforcements, and enough roster depth to survive injuries.
But they’ve got one of the more difficult schedules in the league, just lost a culture setter in Mike Evans, and play in one of the most brutal divisions in the NFL.
Just last year, Carolina, Atlanta, and Tampa all finished at 8-9, while New Orleans, which many expect to show improvement in 2026, was just two games back at 6-11.
2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 8:47 PM.