Spiraling Buccaneers looking like team in need of offseason shakeup

Though the Buccaneers will still have an opportunity to win the division with two matchups against the division-leading Carolina Panthers in the next three weeks, this loss served as a microcosm of a team in complete disarray. A failure to turn things around could have major ramifications for both the head coach and the team’s aging core. 

Buccaneers breakdown could have drastic consequences

Ever since Tom Brady replaced Jameis Winston before the 2020 season, the Buccaneers have been the team to beat in the weak NFC South. They have won four division titles in the last five years, and the only year they failed to claim the division title was their 2020 championship season. 

Their NFC South dominance, however, has overshadowed a roster that has continued to get both older and weaker. This is especially true on the defensive side of the ball, which has regressed from a top-five unit in 2021 to 23rd this season in scoring defense. The core of defensive tackle Vita Vea, linebacker Lavonte David and cornerback Jamel Dean, while still productive, are well into the back-half of their careers, and draft-day whiffs like defensive ends Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (now with the Chicago Bears) and Logan Hall failed to inject youth into a defense that desperately needs it.

Despite the decline of defensive personnel, Bowles continues to play the same aggressive scheme that he did in the days of Shaquil Barrett and Ndamukong Suh, blitzing at the seventh-highest rate in the NFL. Not only has that only resulted in the Buccaneers ranking just 14th in sacks per game but it has significantly hampered a secondary that ranks 28th in passing yards allowed.

While the Buccaneers offensive personnel is far better than their defense, injuries and inconsistency have prevented them from reaching their full potential. Wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and running back Bucky Irving have all missed significant time this year, and rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka has suffered from drop issues and fallen off significantly in the season’s second half. 

Most concerning has been the play of quarterback Baker Mayfield, who has posted a passer rating of 77 passer rating over his last eight games. After finishing fourth in points scored in 2024, the Buccaneers have fallen to 17th this year, making them unable to overcome the defensive deficiencies. 

Barring a miraculous postseason run, it feels like a shakeup could be needed even if the Buccaneers sneak into the playoffs, and Bowles is likely to be the one facing the repercussions. Hiring an offensive-minded head coach would provide some stability after three offensive coordinator changes in the last three years, while a new voice on the defensive side of the ball could help rebuild a unit that has bottomed out in 2025.