The Tampa Bay Buccaneers went from a 6-2 team that was fighting for the role of top dog in the NFC to a 7-9 squad that is fresh off losing to Quinn Ewers and the Miami Dolphins in Week 17. The Carolina Panthers are now the favorites to take home the NFC South title.
The losing ways from a team that has had an iron grip on the division in the last few years has many of the more reliable starters looking to explode, as running back Bucky Irving couldn't contain his emotions on the sideline.
Irving was seen yelling on the sideline, though it does not appear immediately clear who he was going off at or what has him so fired up. Offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs was able to quickly restore order.
turmoil on the bucs sideline @gregauman @NFLSTROUD @PewterReport pic.twitter.com/2XvVBLapVK
— 88 (@Wasp_49) December 28, 2025
Wirfs tried to downplay this incident by saying the offensive line was going to work out whatever problem Irving was mad about, but it is never a good sign when a player like irving is letting his temper get the best of him in this situation.
Bucs RB Bucky Irving gets into vertbal spat on sideline
2025 has been a frustrating year for Irving. Not only has he missed some time with injuries when the Bucs needed him to provide some stability, but he has lost some touches to the backups when he returned to the starting lineup. The loss of Liam Coen has impacted Irving as much as any individual player.
The Buccaneers are in such a funk that it seems like they can't do anything right. It's easy for fans to blame Bowles and his defense for letting up so many leads, but it's hard for some fans to start ignoring that Baker Mayfield is turning it over at a level that we haven't seen since his Cleveland days.
Tampa Bay's Week 18 game against Carolina will have wide-ranging ramifications. If they lose, the Bowles regime may end up getting canned for someone who could be a bit more productive. If they win, they might be able to buy themselves at least one more season in charge.
The Bucs can make all of these struggles feel like a bad dream if they win the division and claw into the playoffs with an 8-9 record, but right now, this team has as little positive momentum as they have had in years. Losing to Ewers is not something that playoff teams do.