The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in deep, deep trouble, kicking off their 2026 season with a brutal 0-4 record after Sunday’s 17-14 loss to the Packers. It’s not just a bad start; it’s the continuation of a complete freefall that has everyone wondering what’s happening down in Florida.
From 6-2 to 2-11: What the Heck Happened?
Remember when the Bucs looked like a solid squad? They started the 2025 season hot, putting up a respectable 6-2 record. You would’ve thought they were building something real. But then, the wheels absolutely came off. Since that strong start, they’ve gone a shocking 2-11. That’s a collapse, plain and simple. Dropping to 0-4 in 2026 isn’t just a tough start; it’s a symptom of a much larger, ongoing problem that’s been festering for almost a full year now.
Bowles Takes the Blame, But Is It Enough?
After that nail-biter loss to Green Bay, head coach Todd Bowles faced the music, and the questions were exactly what you’d expect. Asked if he’s still the guy to lead the Bucs, he didn’t duck it. “I’m the head coach,” Bowles told reporters. “I can do more. I can always do more. I’ll always take the blame on that.” He doubled down, saying, “We’re gonna fight, we’re gonna stick together, and we’re gonna figure this thing out, and I’ll lead them to that. That’s my job.”
Here’s the kicker: every single loss this season, all four of them, has been a one-score game. On one hand, you could say they’re close. On the other hand, close doesn’t get you wins, and they’ve secured exactly zero of them. Bowles knows it, too. “We know what the problem is. It’s on us. We can’t keep getting close to not winning. That’s not good enough. Our record says what we are. We’re 0-and-4, until we acknowledge that and we correct our own mistakes, you know, it’s gonna keep happening. We talked about it as a team. We’re gonna be a team, and we got to play tougher in the end and we got to execute the end. And that’s the only way you can win the ball game.”
The message is clear: the Bucs know they’re messing up, especially at the end of games. Bowles says they’ll fight and stick together, but with a 0-4 record and that devastating 2-11 run looming large, they need to do more than talk. They need to figure out how to win those tight games, and fast. The clock is absolutely ticking for Todd Bowles and this Buccaneers squad.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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