Former player has bleak outlook for Buccaneers if improvements are not made in one key area

Once one of the hottest teams in the NFL, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have lost three of their last four heading into a difficult Week 12 road trip against the Los Angeles Rams.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield, who has accounted for the 12th-most passing yards (2,365) and is tied for the 10th-most TDs (17), has five TDs and two interceptions in those three losses, but the defense has struggled to make enough plays on its end.

During an appearance on Thursday's edition of ESPN's "First Take," former player and current analyst Ryan Clark made it clear that he does not see the Buccaneers contending in the NFC if the defense does not improve.

Ryan Clark is not buying the Buccaneers as Super Bowl contenders

"The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as they are playing right now, aren't Super Bowl threats at all," Clark said. "The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, when you go back through their schedule, you say ok, Seattle was a quality win. We'll say the San Francisco 49ers are a quality win, and then the last two weeks you play the leaders of the AFC East division in the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills and the Bills game was actually close. Baker Mayfield did have an opportunity in the fourth quarter. A Bills team that can't stop a nosebleed was able to get the football back to Josh Allen and obviously Josh Allen has one of those superhuman days.

"But if they don't get people back healthy and (head coach) Todd Bowles defensively can't figure out a way to stop the big play, this team can't compete with the top of the NFC. ... If they don't figure out a way to stop people and give Baker Mayfield more help offensively when you get some people back healthy, this team will be home early in the playoffs like we've seen them the last few years."