No longer in control of their own destiny, Tampa looks to rebound from their bad loss a week ago.
All is not lost for the 2024 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Though Santa may have brought them some coal this year, Tampa still has an opportunity to accomplish exactly what they set out to at the season’s onset. Two weeks after securing the right to say ‘if we win we’re in,’ the Buccaneers lost, embarrassingly— on Sunday Night Football. Now, a week later, Tampa will be matching up with the divison rival Carolina Panthers for the second time this season, still alive but needing a win and hoping for help. So—
How can the Buccaneers win this game?
Stop letting average quarterbacks masquerade as elite against them. Todd Bowles has been sent to the firing squad quite few times in his fairly brief tenure as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In the process, the team’s defense has caught some strays. As the team paces its way through 2024 the roles almost seem reversed. Tampa Bay’s defense has been so poor at times that the firing squad has been aimed directly at the players on the field, while Bowles’ seat has been warmed— Not due to his game management or head coaching duties, but rather due to his inability to coach his defense.
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The Buccaneers’ defense hasn’t been all bad in 2024. Against the Los Angeles Chargers, the team allowed a grand total of 17 points, pitching a second half shutout. In week two, Tampa Bay wielded a defense that was capable of taking over Ford Field, shutting down Jared Goff (0 TDs, 2 INTs), and holding down the Detroit Lions‘ offense— Just 16 points were scored on Tampa that day. Even still, far too many times this year the post game discussion of a loss feels like— ‘An examination of why Todd Bowles’ defense failed today.’ Tampa’s defense is dealing with a tremendous amount of injuries and has played musical chairs with secondary all season. Injuries can’t be ignored, however, they cannnot simply explain away every wrongful, disturbing defensive performance.
Bryce Young, Kirk Cousins, Cooper Rush— These names have a two noteworthy things in common. All three have spent time on the bench this season— deemed not their team’s best chance to win football games. All three have also ransacked Tampa Bay’s defensive credibility. Those three, in just four games, have thrown for better than 1,300 yards, 10 touchdowns and just a single interception against Tampa’s defense.
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This is a group, under this coach, that used to carry this team— Piloted it as its driving force. Now, the Bucs’ defense is little more than a few very good players who can be seen trying to overcompensate each week.
Bryce Young has been a nice storyline in 2024, as his career appears to be trending in right direction, but he will enter Sunday’s game with 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions on the season. Since he has returned from his benching, the moment his career turned the corner, he has thrown 10 touchdowns and six interceptions. Significant signs of improvement— Still not a quarterback that good defense should struggle against.
How can the Buccaneers lose this game?
They cannot. Tampa Bay takes the field this Sunday with everything a team could want— Everything except what they gave up a week ago. The team no longer controls its own destiny but any realistic chance the Bucs have of having 2024’s book read with a happy ending requires them to win, win, and continue winning from there— should they be allowed to carry on.
Resetting off of last week’s substandard performance, the Buccaneers will playing their final two games of the season against teams with really great draft position. These games, against bad teams, will be played at home— in the comfort of Raymond James Stadium. The Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints have a combined total of nine wins— One more than the Buccaneers.
Tampa Bay is the only team in the entire NFC South to have a positive point differential on the season (427–352). Losing and ultimately missing out on winning the NFC South would be a challenging stain for Todd Bowles and co. to wipe away come the 2025 offseason. Tampa simply cannot lose.
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