For a team that started the season 5-1, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in a freefall. Early in the season, it appeared that Tampa could do no wrong. In every close game, the Buccaneers came away with the win. Their offense was among the best in the NFL, and Baker Mayfield was playing like an MVP. With their season on the line in Week 18, let’s dive into what else could be on the line for the Buccaneers.
Expectations Entering This Season
When you have the talent the Buccaneers have, especially on the offensive side of the ball, this team is expecting an NFC South title at the bare minimum. They have won the division in each of the past four years. Entering this season, their schedule didn’t seem particularly difficult, as they ranked 19th in strength of schedule—all the makings of a successful season.
What Went Wrong?
After starting the season 5-1, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers began a fall that has continued into the last week of the regular season. They were poised to continue their dominance in the NFC South and to contend for the Super Bowl. In their loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Mayfield left the game with a shoulder injury, and that was essentially the turning point of the Bucs’ season. He would continue to play, but his performance clearly dropped off.
Could the Buccaneers Fire Todd Bowles With a Loss on Saturday
Flatly, you can’t have the talent this team has and lose this division. The Atlanta Falcons are in a rebuild, the New Orleans Saints are a mess, and the Carolina Panthers are still on the rise. Since Week 9, Tampa has a record of 1-8. Blowing the lead they had in the NFC South is inexcusable.
I believe Tampa will fire its head coach if it loses to the Panthers. For a defensive head coach, this is the worst defense he has put on the field since taking over. They rank 23rd in points allowed per game, 26th in passing yards allowed per game, 7th in rushing yards allowed per game, 23rd in offensive touchdowns allowed, 18th in sacks, and 11th in takeaways per game. If I were running the organization, I would convince Bruce Arians to return to coaching or target someone like Mike McCarthy.
How Will the Roster Look Next Season?
I don’t expect much to change on the roster. The roster isn’t an issue, and they have plenty of salary cap space, $36 million. The only significant change is the retirement of their longtime captain, Lavonte David. He signed a one-year deal last offseason to return for his 14th season. Other than that, they need a dominant pass rusher, whether it’s in the NFL Draft or through a trade. They should target a player like Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders. He would be a perfect fit for a team desperate for pass-rushing help.
Final Thoughts
To sum it up, everything’s on the line for the Bucs this Saturday. If they lose, their season is over, and changes could be coming this offseason. When you go from having the MVP and one of the best records in the NFL to losing eight of your last nine games, something has to give. Do you think that Todd Bowles’ job is safe regardless of the outcome on Saturday?
As always, thank you so much for checking out my thoughts on what’s on the line for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Saturday against the Carolina Panthers! Be sure to check out our other amazing content here at New Leaf News! We hope you’re enjoying your day, and we look forward to seeing you all again soon.
