If you take out the narrow win over the lowly Arizona Cardinals, which was not a particularly strong performance by any means, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been unable to score a victory since October 26 before the bye week against the New Orleans Saints. You know, the same cellar dwelling Saints that just upset the Bucs in Week 14 of the 2025 NFL season this past Sunday.
Facing a short turn around against another division rival in the Atlanta Falcons, nothing less than a Buccaneers victory is acceptable, and at 7-6, the Bucs pretty much have to win out from here on out in order to guarantee a playoff spot. Because the Bucs only shot at the postseason is to win the divsion, and they are doing their darndest to blow it all away, especially with the Carolina Panthers, whom the Bucs still have to face twice in the final three weeks of the season, hot on their heels.
In an attempt to bring some veteran stability to the organization, the Buccaneers made a bizarre move whose thunder was only stolen by the Indianapolis Colts bringing back a 44-year-old Philip Rivers to the NFL. It was only a signing to the practice squad, sure, but the Bucs have turned heads by bringing back Jason Pierre-Paul to the team.
The Buccaneers are in turmoil
Again, it's just a practice squad move at the end of the day, but, to be honest, it speaks volumes about where the Bucs are at that they are signing a soon to be 36 year old defensive end who has not played meaningful games since 2022.
The Buccaneers were being tabbed as Super Bowl contenders just a month ago before they got exposed by the Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Rams, and New England Patriots as being well below that level - and now they can not even take down one of the worst teams in the league in the New Orleans Saints.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are at risk of entering a period of organizational turmoil, and it falls back to a lack of leadership in this team. Everyone knows Todd Bowles is not the answer, and a career of mediocre coaching is starting to rear its ugly head fully in Tampa Bay here in 2025. Lavonte David is cooked. Baker Mayfield is fizzling out his hot streak. And now the Bucs are trying to save face with a lack of veteran leaders - and an abysmal pass rush - by going to the Pierre-Paul well. You know, a guy who hasn't had more than three sacks in a season since 2020 when the Bucs won the Super Bowl.