Tampa Bay Buccaneers Miss Playoffs Again

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers began this season as the odds-on favorites to clinch the NFC South for the fifth year in a row. However, they stumbled and failed to make the playoffs, finishing with just one loss to reconcile.

Baker Mayfield, who started his career with the Cleveland Browns, has since played for the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams, and now he’s trying to carve out his niche in Florida.

With the team’s postseason aspirations hanging by a thread, head coach Todd Bowles didn’t hesitate to express his thoughts on the quarterback position. He believes they need a significant upgrade there.

“We definitely need improvement at quarterback, better communication, and our blocking has to get sharper,” Bowles remarked after the Buccaneers’ recent 20-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins.

After starting strong at 7-5, the Bucs have now lost four consecutive games. To keep their slim playoff hopes alive, they must win against the Panthers this coming Saturday while hoping for a loss from the Atlanta Falcons. If things don’t go their way, the Panthers will seal the NFC South title.

Mayfield, who shined in his initial seasons in Tampa Bay, is facing his most challenging year yet. Once touted for throwing over 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns with a 71.4% completion rate, he now sits at 3,490 yards and 25 touchdowns, with his completion percentage slipping to 62.8%.

In a notable matchup from two weeks ago, the Panthers edged out the Buccaneers 23-20, marking their first win against Tampa Bay in over three years. The Panthers haven’t seen playoff action since the 2017 season.

Bowles took on the head coaching role in 2022 after previously serving as the Bucs’ defensive coordinator and being let go as head coach of the New York Jets in 2018.