The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going to need a lot more offense if they’re to keep pace in the NFC South. 

After Tampa Bay’s 27-22 loss to the Baltimore Ravens Thursday night, the team has fallen to second in the NFC South behind the Atlanta Falcons. 

A big reason for the Bucs not living up to expectations has been its offense. The additions to its receiving core have become a bigger factor on the inactives list than on the stat sheet, with free agent signings Julio Jones and Russell Gage both missing time. 

Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are both very good football players, but quarterback Tom Brady isn’t quite mounting the passing game he’s used to. That could fall on Father Time finally catching up to No. 12, but it could also fall on the team’s revamped offensive line letting Brady take too many hits. 

The run game is also not giving Tampa what it needs. Take Thursday night’s output, for example. Running backs Leonard Fournette and Rachaad White combined for 43 yards and a touchdown. 

When the passing game isn’t cooking (like in the Bucs’ 21-3 loss to the Panthers last weekend), the running game has to pick up the slack. 

With the Panthers picking up unexpected steam and the Falcons surpassing expectations, the Buccaneers are no longer a given to win their division. 

If the team is going to pick up the pieces of its disappointing season, it’ll have to start with Brady and the offense.