Antoine Winfield Jr.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians holds the Vince Lombardi trophy following the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021 in Tampa, Fla. Tampa Bay won 31-9. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Free-agent pickups have made a difference for some champions

By Rob Maaddi Mar. 16, 2021 12:56 PM EDT

Tampa Bay Buccaneers strong safety Antoine Winfield Jr. taunts Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill after a play during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Analysis: Bucs laugh off fouls as Chiefs see red over yellow

By Arnie Stapleton Feb. 09, 2021 02:29 AM EST

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) sits on the field after an incomplete pass as Tampa Bay Buccaneers inside linebacker Devin White (45) looks on in the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Buccaneers defense rises to occasion again in Super Bowl win

By Fred Goodall Feb. 08, 2021 12:13 AM EST

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, foreground, watches from the bench during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Buccaneers batter Mahomes in 31-9 Super Bowl rout of Chiefs

By Dave Skretta Feb. 07, 2021 10:35 PM EST

Raymond James Stadium rises in the distance ahead of Super Bowl 55 Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. The venue is hosting Sunday's Super Bowl football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Chiefs' Watkins, Bucs' Brown and Brate active for Super Bowl

Feb. 07, 2021 06:06 PM EST

FILE - In this Sept. 29, 2019, file photo, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll watches the team warm up for an NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Orchard Park, N.Y. The likelihood of Daboll staying in Buffalo for at least more season have increased after he was passed over in filling the Los Angeles Chargers coaching job, two people with direct knowledge of Daboll's plans told The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane, File)
The Latest: Packers' Aaron Rodgers wins 3rd MVP Award

By The Associated Press Feb. 06, 2021 08:07 PM EST

Raymond James Stadium rises in the distance ahead of Super Bowl 55 Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. The venue is hosting Sunday's Super Bowl football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2/7/2021

Feb. 06, 2021 03:06 PM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cameron Brate during NFL football practice, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021 in Tampa, Fla. The Buccaneers will face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 55. (Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers via AP)
Chiefs, Bucs relatively healthy heading into Super Bowl

Feb. 05, 2021 02:59 PM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) runs with a elastic band around his legs during an NFL football workout Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. The Buccaneers play the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV on Feb. 7. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Brady, productive drafts fuel Tampa Bay's run to Super Bowl

By Fred Goodall Jan. 29, 2021 07:24 PM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) holds the championship trophy after winning the NFC championship NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021. The Buccaneers defeated the Packers 31-26 to advance to the Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
Defense could be decisive in Super Bowl of dynamic offenses

By Barry Wilner Jan. 29, 2021 03:33 PM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) holds the championship trophy after winning the NFC championship NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021. The Buccaneers defeated the Packers 31-26 to advance to the Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
Road warriors: Bucs win 31-26 at Green Bay, reach Super Bowl

By Steve Megargee Jan. 24, 2021 06:37 PM EST

Green Bay Packers' Aaron Jones (33) fumbles after being hit by Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Jordan Whitehead (33) during the second half of the NFC championship NFL football game in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
Packers' Jones, Bucs' Whitehead leave NFC championship game

Jan. 24, 2021 05:17 PM EST

New Orleans Saints tight end Jared Cook, center, fumbles the ball as he is hit by Tampa Bay Buccaneers strong safety Antoine Winfield Jr. during the second half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, in New Orleans. The Buccaneers' Devin White recovered the ball. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Bucs safety Winfield inactive for NFC championship game

By Steve Megargee Jan. 24, 2021 02:03 PM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers inside linebacker Devin White, right, intercepts a pass in front of New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) during the second half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)
NFC Matchups: Where else to start but Brady and Rodgers?

By Barry Wilner Jan. 22, 2021 01:30 PM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers inside linebacker Devin White, right, celebrates after his interception with cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting (23) against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Confident Buccaneers defense reverts to form at right time

By Fred Goodall Jan. 18, 2021 06:19 PM EST

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara, right, runs against Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Carlton Davis during the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Brady, Bucs, end playoffs for Saints, Brees, 30-20

By Brett Martel Jan. 17, 2021 10:03 PM EST

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees warms up before the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints 1/17/2021

Jan. 17, 2021 05:06 PM EST

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) throws a pass before an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1/3/2021

Jan. 03, 2021 12:52 PM EST

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley (18) makes the catch against Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Carlton Davis (24) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons 12/20/2020

Dec. 20, 2020 01:26 PM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians congratulates quarterback Tom Brady (12) after a touchdown pass to wide receiver Scott Miller (10) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)
Buccaneers eye finishing strong, ending long playoff drought

By Fred Goodall Dec. 14, 2020 05:08 PM EST