Raise The Flags to the Playoffs

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Matthew Wilson, Staff Writer

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made the playoffs for the first time since 2007. New additions to the team such as Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski and the  familiar faces of Mike Evans and Ronald Jones II helped lead the Bucs to an 11-5 record and a Wild Card spot in the playoffs.

“Mike Evans had to be the most exciting player to watch on the Bucs because he is such a consistent threat and got his 7th consecutive season with over 1000 yards receiving,” Will Shea, 12, said.

The Bucs drafted Evans with the 7th overall pick in the 2014 draft and he’s been their leading receiver since. This season Evans broke the NFL record for most consecutive seasons with more than 1000 receiving yards to begin a career.

“Throughout the season I loved having the feeling that we could actually compete for the Super Bowl this year,” Omar Eltannir, 12, said.

The Bucs have only won the Super Bowl once, back in 2003 when they were led by defensive superstars like Derrick Brooks and Warren Sapp. Today, the Bucs are powered by a high octane offense centered around a stellar receiving core.

“Having one of the best offenses in the league was incredible, it felt great being a Bucs fan this season,” Shea said.

The Buccaneers already had a solid offensive core consisting of receivers, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, tight end Cameron Brate, and running back Ronald Jones. This year the team made a much needed addition at quarterback with longtime New England Patriot, Tom Brady. They also made notable acquisitions at tight end, with Rob Gronkowski and at wide receiver, with Antonio Brown.

“Being a longtime Bucs fan and seeing us struggle throughout the years has been tough, but this season has filled me with hope and pride and I can’t wait to see what the playoffs hold for us,” Eltannir said.