It is now do or die for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and, really, the organization should have embraced that mentality weeks ago before sliding further and further down the drain with three straight losses to the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, and Carolina Panthers in what was supposed to be a reprieve in their schedule.
But, as the Buccaneers found out the hard way, it is true what they say; there is no such thing as an easy divisional game in the NFL, especially at the business end of the season. Now, the Bucs must be perfect with the Miami Dolphins and one last battle for all the marbles against the Carolina Panthers in Week 18 at Raymond James Stadium looming ahead.
All hands need to be on deck for the Bucs now, and the main focus from the fans will be on a coaching staff that has, quite frankly, failed everyone associated with the organization this season. It is probably too late for Todd Bowles to save his job given the optics of his press conferences and the overall fan animosity towards the life long mediocre head coach, but these games will be very important for his offensive coordinator, Josh Grizzard, to save face and rebuild his own reputation.
Emeka Egbuka is the playmaker now
Grizzard, so far, is saying all the right things, and he seems to have the correct idea with changing course on one of his biggest talents in wide receiver Emeka Egbuka. Speaking after the loss to the Carolina Panthers, The Grizz said he wants to do more to get the Ohio State grad involved in the Buccaneers offense. According to official Bucs beat writer Scott Smith, Grizzard wants Egbuka to get more catches earlier in the game, too.
Egbuka only got two targets in total against Carolina despite manufacturing the team's only real big play on offense for 40 yards. A couple of more like that from Baker Mayfield to Egbigboo, and the Buccaneers may have pulled off the W against a Panthers team that did get more plays off with Bryce Young under center.
With all due respect to Young, who has come on strong lately, Mayfield is twice the quarterback that he is right now. And so Grizzard has to help him make more of those splash plays that he loves to make, and at this stage of everybody's careers, Egbuka is already the best guy to make those explosive plays. It's time to get the ball in his hands, and Buccaneers fans should be happy that at least Grizzard, unlike some of the other coaches in the building, is willing to publicly admit what needs to be done. Now let's see him do it against Miami, first, and then Carolina.