Thanksgiving is supposed to be the day when we all gather around the table, pass the mashed potatoes, and give thanks for all the blessings we have in life.
For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their fans, there’s a lot to appreciate, but when it comes to Bucs football, the gratitude well is beginning to run a little dry, especially after their latest loss. Here are five things Tampa Bay fans are not thankful for this year.
The Offense’s Identity Crisis
The Tampa Bay offense has been incredibly inconsistent this year, and even in their wins, it has taken last-minute comebacks and game-winning drives to pull out the victories. Baker Mayfield has been up-and-down, and it feels like the team is struggling to determine if they want to be a run-first or pass-first team.
Difficult five-game stretch
The Buccaneers were forced to go through the gauntlet of Detroit, New England, Buffalo, and Los Angeles in a five-game span, and it’s no wonder they lost four of those five games (with the only win sandwiched in between being the Saints).
The NFL forcing Tampa Bay to go through that gauntlet of teams feels like overkill, and it’s hindering the team's playoff chances.
Injuries, so many injuries
It’s hard to build momentum when the offensive line is held together by tape, hope, and maybe a prayer or two. Not to mention a receiving corps led by a pair of players who weren’t even projected to crack the opening day roster.
Now Baker Mayfield is banged up, too. It’s not exactly a recipe for success or winning when half the offense is injured every given week.
The Panthers rise to level of NFC South contender
The most frustrating part about this season is that just a few weeks ago, the Buccaneers were sitting at 5-1, and looked like they were going to cruise to another easy NFC South title.
That’s not the case anymore. Tampa Bay and Carolina are now tied at 6-5, and with Baker Mayfield now banged up, it’s no longer a safe projection that Tampa will win the division and make the playoffs.
The Lack of a Long-Term Plan
The biggest problem in Tampa Bay might be the lack of a long-term vision. Something is wrong here, and the team has been falling short too many years in a row. Is Baker Mayfield capable of leading the team to a Super Bowl? Is Todd Bowles capable? Is their defense championship caliber?
There are too many questions still needing to be answered, and it’s year three of the Bowles-Mayfield duo.