BUCCANEERS

3 key takeaways from the state’s football scene -- and a glimpse at what’s to come next week.

Some mock drafts have Richardson going as high as No. 4 to Indianapolis, while others have him much lower in the first round.

Three key takeaways from the state’s football scene this past weekend -- and a glimpse at what’s to come next week.

Three key takeaways from the state’s football scene this past weekend -- and a glimpse at what’s to come next week.

Tua Tagovailoa and the unbeaten Miami Dolphins are underdogs in Week 4.

Three key takeaways from the state’s football scene -- and a glimpse at what’s to come next week.

It’s really happening. Just when everyone thought legendary quarterback Tom Brady could play forever and outlast father time, that has proven not to be the case.

The NFL’s crackdown on unsportsmanlike penalties is working the way the league intended.

Tom Brady says his heavily wrapped throwing hand is sore but he expects to play when the Buccaneers visit the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night.

Huddle up! Here’s a look back at this weekend on the gridiron, with three key takeaways from the state’s football scene.

The Dallas Cowboys are expected to open the season at Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay without right guard Zack Martin after the four-time All-Pro tested positive for COVID-19.

(AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)Bill Belichick never was one to spent wildly in free agency. Whether by trade, free agency or re-signings, the group brings a good mix of offense, defense and special teams. In addition to keeping Von Miller, Justin Simmons and Shelby Harris, Paton filled his biggest defensive pothole by signing free agent cornerbacks Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller. FUTURE CONSIDERATIONSThe Lions didn’t do much in free agency but nobody in Detroit should be bothered. The Lions are focused on rebuilding through the draft after sending QB Matthew Stafford to the Rams and then letting star wide receiver Kenny Golladay walk in free agency.

TAMPA, Fla. – Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs have touched down at the Super Bowl. The AFC champions arrived in Tampa on Saturday, flying into town a day before they defend their title against the hometown Buccaneers. After spending the week at home, they’ll stay Saturday night at the team hotel — as they usually do for home games. The team had no further comment Saturday after releasing a statement Friday night saying it was in the information-gathering process. Ad“We’re going to be ready to roll come Super Bowl day,” safety Tyrann Mathieu said.

Aside from winning the final Super Bowl before the merger in 1970, the Kansas City Chiefs’ biggest claim to fame for over half a century was team founder Lamar Hunt coining the phrase Super Bowl. Three long-downtrodden teams — the Browns, Bills and Buccaneers — have made it to the divisional round this weekend and are certain they have as good a chance as the Chiefs, Packers, Saints, Ravens or Rams of winning Super Bowl 55. That’s heady stuff for a franchise that has never made it to the Super Bowl. I think Bills fans, including myself, didn’t think he was going to be this good this good this early. And he has proved a lot of people wrong.”No, there’s no comparing this Bills team to those of his playing days, Thomas said.

The Browns have raced to a 28-0 lead over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Browns’ 28 points are the most by any team in the first quarter of a playoff game since the 1970 merger. So, this will be the first NFL playoff game ever pitting two quadragenarian quarterbacks. Drew Brees is trying to join Brett Favre and Tom Brady as quarterbacks to win a playoff game after turning 40. That was his third career playoff game with 150 or more rushing yards, one game shy of Hall of Famer Terrell Davis’ record.

As the NFL gets going again, we thought we’d take a look at some of the more well-known Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans who have made their allegiances known.

(AP Photo/Mark Tenally)The Latest on Week 16 in the NFL (all times EST):___8 p.m.For the first time since 2014 there will be an NFL playoff team with a losing record. The winner will remain alive in the NFC East playoff race if Washington loses to Carolina. ___6:05 p.m.Washington is well on the way to blowing its first chance to clinch the NFC East. ___6 p.m.Eleven teams in the NFC are still harboring hopes of making a playoff run with Week 16 winding down. 1 seed in the NFC with a win Sunday night against the Titans and a Seattle loss or tie.

LAS VEGAS – The Las Vegas Raiders will be able to play four of their starting offensive linemen Sunday against Tampa Bay after they got one more day of negative tests for COVID-19. Kolton Miller, Denzelle Good, Rodney Hudson and Gabe Jackson all tested negative in results gotten back Sunday and were active for the game against the Buccaneers. The four players have tested negative every day since they had a “high risk” close contact Monday with teammate Trent Brown before he tested positive for the coronavirus. The four missed practice Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and a walkthrough on Saturday, but will be able to play against the Buccaneers. Safety Johnathan Abram, who last had contact with Brown on Tuesday, must wait one more day before he can be cleared to return and will miss the game.

The Raiders held practice on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020 without their starting five as they prepare for Sundays home game against Tampa Bay. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit, File)The Las Vegas Raiders placed four starting offensive linemen and safety Johnathan Abram on the reserve/COVID-19 list after they were determined to be close contacts with a teammate who had tested positive for the coronavirus. The person said video shows the starting offensive linemen were not following the protocols. If not, we have to have somebody step up in his place and play at a high level.”The Raiders have now had eight players placed on the COVID-19 list since the start of the season, including the seven currently on the list. Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst was put on the COVID-19 list two weeks ago before being activated on Monday.

TAMPA – Jameis Winston threw for 456 yards and four touchdowns, helping the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rally to beat the reeling Indianapolis Colts 38-35 on Sunday. Winston threw for TDs of 61 yards to Mike Evans, 3 yards to Cameron Brate and 17 yards to Justin Watson before putting the Bucs ahead for good with a 12-yarder to Breshad Perriman with 3:51 remaining. Jacoby Brissett completed 19 of 36 passes for 251 yards, two TDs and no interceptions for Indianapolis. Winston threw for 277 yards in the first half alone. ... Winston sat out the first series of the second half with what the Bucs described as a sore right hand.

Michael Reaves / Getty ImagesTAMPA, Fla. - Miami Dolphins receiver Kenny Stills says he has spoken with Stephen Ross after last week's disagreement between the two over the team owner's fundraiser for President Donald Trump. Speaking after a dual practice Wednesday with the Buccaneers in Tampa, Stills elaborated about what was discussed between the two. I think thats all it really was.Stills took issue with Ross' support of Trump while also co-founding the non-profit RISE organization which promotes equality and fights racial discrimination. The Dolphins receiver admitted over the weekend that he probably erred in expressing his opinion on social media before first speaking with Ross, but hopes the incident will encourage others to speak out. I think its important for people to understand that we can disagree on things and still move forward.