A few weeks ago, after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell to 0-3, head coach Todd Bowles attempted to put things in perspective by pointing out the Bucs were still only a game out of first place.
Asked about what he is saying to the team, #Bucs HC Todd Bowles mentioned how the NFC South is in reach.
â PewterReport đ´ââ ď¸ (@PewterReport) September 28, 2026
âFunny thing is weâre 0-3 and weâre a game out of first place. We have to get our stuff together. We got to reach down and do more; to a coach, to a person, or to a player.â pic.twitter.com/Uddk6qE5cx
He caught a lot of flak for that comment, but itâs aging like fine wine. The Buccaneers earned their first win of the season on Thursday Night Football to improve to 1-4, and got to sit back and watch on Sunday as division rivals Atlanta and New Orleans both lost.
Tampa Bay has a legitimate path to the division title as they sit just one game back in the NFC South race, with all six of their divisional games still ahead of them. Despite their nightmare start, the door is wide open for the Buccaneers to bounce back and make a run at the postseason.
Buccaneersâ NFC South rivals just gave them a golden opportunity
The Buccaneers didnât play on Sunday, but got some help in the NFC South standings.
â The Pewter Plank (@ThePewterPlank) October 12, 2026
Saints lost to Vikings
Falcons lost to Ravens
Panthers on BYE
Current NFC South standings
1. Panthers (2-2)
2. Falcons (2-3)
3. Bucs (1-4)
4. Saints (1-4)
Bucs are only a game back đ
The Carolina Panthers had an early bye week, so they remain atop the division at 2-2. Theyâll travel to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles next week.
The Atlanta Falcons lost to the Baltimore Ravens in embarrassing fashion. With two-time MVP Lamar Jackson sidelined, the Dirty Birds faced backup quarterback Tyler Huntley. Atlanta was nursing a 23-15 with 2:31 remaining in the fourth quarter, only to allow Baltimore to go down the field and score a touchdown and a successful 2-point conversion. The Ravens went on to win 30-23 in overtime and knock the red-hot Falcons down a peg as they fell to 2-3.
The New Orleans Saints, meanwhile, faced the undefeated Minnesota Vikings and were thoroughly dominated in a 23-13 loss, falling to 1-4 on the season and tying them with the Buccaneers.
So despite an 0-4 start, the Buccaneersâ first win in Week 5 has catapulted them into a playoff race in the lowly NFC South. Baker Mayfield is expected to come back from his injury in Week 7, and the offensive line just played their best game of the season, helping Bucky Irving and the rest of the offense do the same. Meanwhile, the defense has been a top-10 unit in the NFL through a quarter of the season.
Only one team in NFL history, the 1992 San Diego Chargers, managed to reach the playoffs after an 0-4 start. The 2026 Buccaneers have a legitimate chance to join them, with the entire NFC South schedule still ahead of them and a division where nine wins could be enough to clinch a playoff berth.
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