Tampa Bay’s 12-Game One-Score Streak Is Tying Records, But Their 3-9 Run In Them Is What Matters

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are trapped in an absolute grind, hitting a staggering 12 straight one-score games. And here’s the kicker: they’ve gone a brutal 3-9 in that stretch, a record that’s dragging their entire season down to a dismal 1-5. It’s a wild ride, but not the kind any team wants to be on.

The Streak That’s Exciting Everyone But the Bucs

This isn’t some short blip, either. This 12-game marathon of nail-biters is tied for the *third-longest streak* of one-score games since the league merger. Think about that for a second. Only the 1989-90 Chargers, with 14 games, and the 2014-15 Ravens, with 13, have pulled off longer runs. You can bet the league office loves it, right? Every single Bucs game is coming down to the wire, making for “exciting” television. For Tampa Bay, though, it’s just a continuous, soul-crushing string of nearly there, but not quite. Their 3-9 record in those games proves it.

Mayfield’s Return: Can He Break The Curse?

Maybe the return of quarterback Baker Mayfield today against Carolina can shake things up. The guy has been out for three games, sidelined by a dislocated thumb he picked up all the way back in Week 3 against the Vikings. He’s gotta be itching to get back out there, especially with the season record sitting at a grim 1-5. There’s at least one good sign for Tampa Bay today, though. Historically, they’ve absolutely owned the Panthers, rocking a 10-2 record against them since 2020. Is that enough to break the one-score curse and get a much-needed win? Or will they just find another way to lose by a field goal at the buzzer?

Today’s game against Carolina isn’t just another Sunday. It’s a chance to stop the bleeding, both from this insane streak of close losses and their dreadful season start. Can Mayfield ignite something, or are we just going to see another heartbreaker added to their 3-9 one-score tally? All eyes are on them to see if they can finally flip the script.

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Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.