The Tampa Buccaneers have completely fallen apart, losing their last four games. Somehow, the team still has the opportunity to win the NFC South and go to the playoffs, with a win against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. However, optimism isn’t high from Buccaneers fans that Tampa Bay will win the de facto division championship.
The reason why is that the Bucs have far too many struggles, across the board. One area the team is struggling in is on special teams. Tampa Bay’s kick coverage has become such a liability that head coach Todd Bowles admitted the team is attempting to kick a touchback on every kickoff. While touchbacks now move the ball out to the 35-yard line, the Buccaneers have decided sacrificing that yardage is a safer bet, and that speaks to how rough things are for the team.
Bucs coach Todd Bowles confirms they have such a lack of confidence in covering kickoffs that they’ve opted to try for touchbacks and let teams start at the 35 yard line. He also said the blocked FG was a low kick by Chase McLaughlin. pic.twitter.com/nDBChaXSit
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) December 29, 2025
Buccaneers admit to trying for touchbacks because of poor special teams
It’s no secret that Tampa Bay’s special teams are bad, and that’s why fans have spent weeks calling for the job of special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey. However, Bowles and the Buccaneers have decided to roll with McGaughey into the final week of the regular season. The head coach was asked about that decision on Monday, and he continued to support Tampa Bay’s special teams coordinator.
Bowles was first asked if he is opposed to making in-season coaching changes, and once he said that he’s not opposed to them, he was asked if the Buccaneers’ special teams situation has reached that point yet. The head coach quickly answered that he has not got to that point with Thomas McGaughey. That’s evident in McGaughey‘s employment, and Bowles’ answer doesn’t do much to satisfy fed up Bucs fans.
With one game left in the regular season, it’s clear nothing will change now before the season ends. Tampa Bay is just hoping the team can pull everything together on Saturday, in all phases of the game, and get a win over the Panthers. If the Buccaneers can do that, they will punch their ticket to the postseason. Anything can happen in the playoffs, and Tampa Bay will have its fighting chance if it can find a win for the first time in over a month.