The Tampa Bay Buccaneers played three games in December this season and won all of them. This is not a new phenomenon specifically for the 2024 team; Tampa Bay has found a way to warm up late in the season this entire decade. Since 2020, the Buccaneers are 20-5 in regular season games in December and January; The only team with more wins and a better winning percentage in these months is Buffalo.

According to head coach Todd Bowles, last year’s Buccaneers were able to consistently play better ball toward the end of the season because they relied heavily on young players and those young players noticeably developed over the course of the season. That’s especially true for Bowles’ teams the last two years, which went 9-1 in December and January.

“I know we’ve played a lot of younger players, especially the last two years, and our veterans on the team are doing a great job of holding those guys accountable,” Bowles said. “We know they will make some mistakes at the start of the season and in the first half of the season, but in the second half of the season we expect these guys to catch up. They’ll be experienced and understand how.” To be professionals, they understand how to overcome injuries, they understand the task and they understand the plan we’re trying to implement.

“I think it’s the maturity of the players – the young guys, it’s the maturity of the veterans that helps them along, and the coaching staff is doing a great job of getting these guys ready to play. I think it’s all of the above. “I can’t speak for everyone else in the league, but for our team it plays a big role.”

On defense, the Bucs are giving key snaps to rookie safety Tykee Smith, rookie edge rusher Chris Braswell and second-year players Calijah Kancey, Yaya Diaby, Christian Izien and Kaevon Merriweather. Cornerback Zyon McCollum is in his first full year as a starter. JJ Russell and Logan Hall, both third-year players, are getting significantly more snaps than in previous years. On offense, rookie wide receiver Jalen McMillan came on strong in the second half, while center Graham Barton and running back Bucky Irving, also 2024 draft picks, were big contributors throughout. Cody Mauch took a big step forward in his second season.

During his six-year tenure as first defensive coordinator and then head coach of the Bucs, Bowles has consistently emphasized that he and his coaching staff are not afraid to play as rookies. On Monday, Bowles said that teams no longer have the luxury of sitting young players out for a while and that a seven-player draft class better have at least four players who will immediately become key contributors. Sometimes putting a rookie in the spotlight isn’t always the first plan, but injuries often make it necessary. Merriweather, for example, is currently starting at safety as the Bucs are without Antoine Winfield Jr., Jordan Whitehead and Mike Edwards. Merriweather nearly had an interception against the Raiders in Week 14 and recovered a fumble in Sunday’s win against the Chargers.

“You know something is going to happen, there’s going to be injuries, there’s going to be something that goes wrong, there’s going to be something that goes wrong off the field, but being prepared to understand it then and take the physical blows “It’s an important part of football,” Bowles said. “It’s something you have to do as an athlete and definitely as a coach. We prepare for it, we talk about it, we practice this way. We train with guys who are one step away from playing, and everyone understands the mission once. “They got in there and did a great job when they got their chances.

Bowles said the Buccaneers staff begins teaching rookies to become pros as soon as they enter the building. They are exposed to potential game situations on the practice field and hope they are prepared when they see them in a game for the first time. The hit rate in this endeavor is not 100%, but it tends to get better as the season progresses.

McMillan is a good example. In the first three games he played after Chris Godwin went down with an ankle injury in Week Seven, the third-round pick had seven catches for 71 yards and no touchdowns. (He missed two games of his own during that span due to injury.) Over the past two games, McMillan has caught nine passes for 134 yards and three touchdowns in a role that clearly makes him the Bucs’ second-leading receiver next to Mike Evans.

“(It’s) nothing like being at the games, but they get these situations, they see the guys in front of them,” Bowles said. “And if you think about it – mid-season, we went through some trials and tribulations in the first few weeks before we left, and after that they’ve matured, they’re finishing their games, they’re doing everything right and it’s paying off.” Our coaches are doing a great job preparing these guys.