The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had an electric start in 2025, starting out 5-1 and entering their bye week at 6-2. Since then, they've had an unbelievable collapse, winning just one of their last eight games to end up at 7-9 heading into Week 18.
Started from the bottom now we’re here. From 6-2 to now having a pretty good chance of missing the playoffs. If you don’t remember, the Buccaneers only have one path to the playoffs.
Dianna Russini of The Athletic writes that Buccaneers HC Todd Bowles and GM Jason Licht appear to be safe even if the team ends up missing the playoffs.
It feels like anyone with a pulse who follows the NFL is down and out on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' chances this season. Losing 7 out of 8 games down the stretch will have that effect.
Even though we're used to the bad product over the last two months, it's still pretty wild to think the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' final game of the 2025 season could be a regular season game.
Rule changes have made passing numbers easier to compile in the modern era, and the game's top quarterbacks have taken full advantage. While the heaviest hitters are represented here, some storied postseasons by slightly lesser-celebrated QBs remain entrenched in playoff annals as well.
The 2025 season did not go according to plan for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After getting off to a blazing 6-2 start, the Buccaneers have fallen off a massive cliff, losing four in a row and eight of their last 10.
A fast-sinking Buccaneers season now needs more than one NFC South development to be salvaged, as the Saints now must topple the Falcons in addition to Tampa Bay defeating Carolina.
For years, Thanksgiving belonged to the NFL, but Christmas belonged to the NBA. Occasionally, an NFL game would fall on Christmas, but it was anomalous, even avoided if possible.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going through a rough patch, having lost seven of their last eight games. They’ve fallen from a promising 6-2 start and top NFC seed contender to fighting for a playoff spot against the Carolina Panthers on Saturday.
The 7-9 Tampa Bay Buccaneers could be eliminated from the upcoming postseason tournament while watching Sunday's NFL action. However, Tampa Bay's season will certainly come to an end if the club suffers a home loss to the 8-8 Carolina Panthers this coming Saturday.
The Bucs have one more game in the regular season and will be missing some important pieces to their defense. Starting cornerback Jamel Dean has been ruled out for the Bucs’ game on Saturday against the Panthers.
It would have been difficult to imagine at the midpoint of the season, but the Buccaneers will enter Week 18 fighting for their playoff lives. Once 6-2, the 7-9 Buccaneers will face the 8-8 Panthers on Saturday with the NFC South and a postseason berth at stake.
During his three years in Tampa Bay, quarterback Baker Mayfield has yet to miss a starting assignment. It's unlikely he's going to miss Saturday's regular-season finale.
Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield has taken ownership all season long when Tampa Bay has lost and made mistakes. All they’ve done is lose over the last two months having dropped seven of eight games and losing four in a row.