The Game The Bucs Never Recovered From
January 13th, 2026
Worst 2025 moment?
It was so bad, even the opposing coach pitied the Bucs.
Bucs coach Todd Bowles (and his quarterback Baker Mayfield) has a very poor record in night games. Why that is, Joe will never figure out.
And Bowles’ defense always gets tied in knots by Rams head coach Sean McVay, unless McVay is playing his fourth-string quarterback due to injuries.
Even when America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, rang up the Rams in 2019 in a 55-40 Bucs win in the historic Coliseum, then-Rams quarterback Jared Goff hung 517 yards passing on Bowles.
McVay was at it again in late November. The Rams curb-stomped the Bucs 34-7 on a Sunday night before the eyes of America. McVay called off the dogs in the third quarter in Enos Stanley Kroenke’s playpen. Nobody Joe knows saw such a humiliating beatdown coming.
Gilberto Manzano of SI.com thinks that alley-beating broke the Bucs. They never did recover.
Worst moment: Tampa Bay endured its fair share of heartbreakers, including the blown 14-point fourth-quarter lead to Atlanta in Week 15. But the Buccaneers were embarrassed 34–7 by the Rams in Week 12, a reminder that they didn’t belong with Super Bowl contenders. Tampa Bay was only in the postseason mix until the end because it resided in the subpar NFC South. If they were in any other division, the Buccaneers would not have survived losing seven out of eight games before the regular-season finale against the Panthers.
The Bucs will have a tough offseason. This team will seek help in many areas. The offense is pretty set other than tight end and Joe thinks AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht may want to draft a running back on the second day of the draft.
Running back will be an interesting decision. Joe thinks the Bucs will miss Rachaad White’s versatility. And who knows what state of mind Bucky Irving will be in.
The defense needs help, especially at linebacker.
January 13th, 2026 at 9:04 am
I think a lot of us saw that beat down coming.
January 13th, 2026 at 9:06 am
imo, it was the DET game…
that game exposed the bucs as soft pretenders…we got beat to hell that game…
we need a 1st round OG and the rest defense….
i agree, letting RW1 walk is a mistake…Grizz was in over his head
GO BUCS!!!!
January 13th, 2026 at 9:12 am
I agree with 813bucboi, it was the DET game that was the start of the downfall. Before that game we beat the Seahawks, who are now the number 1 seed, and the 49ers on their home turf. Once we lost to the Lions, the rut started.
January 13th, 2026 at 9:15 am
and we play them again this upcoming year……here’s to Stafford retiring!!!
January 13th, 2026 at 9:18 am
The Head Coach the Bucs never recovered from!
Guy had to hire a dedicated time out management coach, all he had to do was to listen to the crowd!
January 13th, 2026 at 9:19 am
At least Forest Gump came out on top of every seemingly disastrous situation
January 13th, 2026 at 9:22 am
Being embarrassed on primetime games is nothing new for the Bucs. About the only time they weren’t was when they had no night games.
January 13th, 2026 at 9:23 am
Every day Bowles is still the coach is massive failure and an embarrassment.
There’s absolutely no hope for the 2026 season as long as we are hamstrung by his wide open Swiss cheese defense.
No amount of lipstick will make that pig look good.
January 13th, 2026 at 9:24 am
Yeah the Detroit game was bad. No fire against them or the Rams but if you can’t pick yourselves up after that then you got no business in the league. You’re telling me that after you got beat by a good team with self inflicted wounds that you couldn’t muster the balls to beat inferior teams? No self pride? Sometimes you have bad games, it’s as simple as that. Sometimes teams look better and worse than they really are, we’ve seen that in the playoffs. That should have ZERO bearing on the out come of the season. If that’s the case then the appropriate moniker would be LOSERS.
January 13th, 2026 at 9:26 am
Can someone please remind me Why Todd Bowles still has a job as a head coach of the Bucs? The mastermind of the putrid pass defense that’s been the Achilles team of this for years now?
January 13th, 2026 at 9:31 am
Our night games are usually against elite teams, and we just aren’t at that level.
January 13th, 2026 at 9:32 am
Not only linebacker but a real edge rusher who can disrupt quarterbacks.Until then, it’s anyone’s guess. Looking more like a 2025 season until proven otherwise. Soo many ifs!!!
January 13th, 2026 at 9:33 am
I’d say it was the Tampa Rams game 4th qtr 26 seconds left after another Brady comeback to tie the game and after his week of interviews and lack of studying, he calls a blitz on one of the best QB’s against the blitz which left Kupp at that time top 3 to 5 WR’s, costing TB a potential TB 3rd SB!!! That’s his shat stain!
January 13th, 2026 at 9:34 am
I think the Rams game only proved what we really suspected, but hoping was not true. However the extent of the beating was really depressing. It was like wow we know the defense is bad, but is even worse than we thought. I think for fans we were hoping in denial that it was just a one game thing, but knew it was the end. However, I was at the Falcons game and watching Evans and J Mac come back and thought ok we have offense back!!. Then Baker throws the pick at the absolute worst time, but then Then 3 and 28, we still have this game. However, you watched Atl complete the pass on 4 th and 14 for a first down. I knew then the offense was not going to be able to save us and the season was actually over that night in my opinion.
I agree losing RW1 is a big mistake. He was solid in so many ways and really underutilized.
Every team in the NFC South got better while the Bucs got a lot worse. Unless the Bucs make some relly big moves I think they are in trouble. Today it sounds like Harbaugh may take the Falcons job. Boy I hope not because ATL has talent and with a real coach they could be dangerous
January 13th, 2026 at 9:39 am
I would have FIRED Todd Bowles after the loss to Atlanta.
3rd and 28!!!!
4th and 14!!!!
If I was a little Glazer wimp – I would have walked onto the field and fire him personally and he would not of been allowed to even go back into the locker room.
That was disgusting and Bowles should have been removed right there and then.
This team has become a dumpster fire.
January 13th, 2026 at 9:40 am
Talking about the rams the bucs couldn’t even beat the at the time a 2 win saints with a rookie QB why even talk about the rams they are no where near that level and I guess the panthers are yikes.
January 13th, 2026 at 9:40 am
USMC Buc
The FRANCHISE has become a dumpster fire
January 13th, 2026 at 9:44 am
Amen Marine Buc!! That’s what should of happened. The Glazers are an embarrassment to Tampa.
January 13th, 2026 at 9:48 am
I agree with others here that the Detroit game was the beginning of the end. But, the Rams game emphatically put the nail in the coffin of the Bucs. They curb stomped us to a pulp on national tv and humanely pulled us onto the shoulder of the road. That’s when we began to see the quit on this team that we saw the remainder of the season. Now, in stark contrast, look at the 49ers. You could make the argument that they were racked up with even more devastating injuries to key players than us. Yet, look at what they are doing! The difference? Coaching!!! There’s not a big difference between us and the 49ers except for coaching! It’s not that complicated. Why wait another year to do what needs to be done now? Insanity!
January 13th, 2026 at 9:53 am
Currently, I have no excitement for 2026. Here’s to hoping saner minds prevail in whatever decisions are made going forward.
January 13th, 2026 at 10:03 am
It is hard/impossible to get interested in any off season moves in light of the inexplicable (and unexplained) decision to stick with Bowles.
January 13th, 2026 at 10:08 am
Technicality Licht dos draft one a-hole in Devin White. I think once Licht makes that change and just drafts the best player and stop with the character hits nonsense then these embarrassing blowout games won’t happen
January 13th, 2026 at 10:08 am
I simply don’t understand why he is still the head coach. We will be in a worse position next off season. Could grab Tomlin or Harbaugh. Tomlin defenses are always tough at least.
January 13th, 2026 at 10:09 am
Gonna have alot of empty seats next year. Glazers.
January 13th, 2026 at 10:12 am
Night games are worrisome. However, home games haven’t been that great either. There seems to be no home field advantage.
January 13th, 2026 at 10:14 am
Todd couldn’t keep together a bunch of “I am that man” players they picked what chance does he have with anyone else lmao I laugh to keep from crying damn you bucs do better.
January 13th, 2026 at 10:17 am
The game the Bucs never recovered from was the home playoff loss to the Rams and Cooper Kuppgate. That set the wheels in motion for BA to hang it up and for Blowes to be gifted and entitled two jobs when he’d already proven he wasn’t even a good DC. Had been a loser head coach, has been a loser head coach, and would be a has been, except he’s a “never was.”
The Glazers didn’t fire Gruden until January 15. Prior to that we thought he was coming back.
There’s still hope for Blowes to be an ex-Buc employee.
January 13th, 2026 at 10:26 am
3rd and 38…….Never Forget
January 13th, 2026 at 10:27 am
*28 oops
January 13th, 2026 at 10:43 am
After the playoff loss to Rams, BA retired and the DC who called that defense that blew the game was promoted to HC…THAT was the beginning of the end. Bucs went from SB winner to 35-33 in the NFL’s crappiest by far division. I don’t know how Bowles even got the HC job, let alone how he kept it so long.
January 13th, 2026 at 10:48 am
If the Bucs were in the NFC West, they would have already lost the division title the week before in the Buffalo loss.
That’s how pathetic the NFC South was.
January 13th, 2026 at 10:49 am
Aqualung I agree 100%!!!
January 13th, 2026 at 10:55 am
They’ve never recovered since Bowles was named HC
January 13th, 2026 at 10:57 am
If you can’t see the Buccaneers winning a Superbowl with Todd Bowles as coach then why is he here? We will never go anywhere with Bowles as a coach. Even if they squeak into the playoffs next year , who are they beating? I see a 4 win team here next year.
January 13th, 2026 at 10:57 am
Like so many others, I can simply not understand how bowlzo is still the head coach after his team simply quit on him. Especially on the defense. The absolutely forgotten receivers left totally uncovered. The lack of even trying to tackle or pursue. The defensive lineman trying to cover receivers on every other play. I refuse to believe our players are simply that bad. I think they just gave up.
January 13th, 2026 at 11:00 am
The wisdom is strong in this one.
January 13th, 2026 at 11:03 am
Nah, it was the Lion’s game…
January 13th, 2026 at 11:05 am
They’ll be plenty more games like that as long as Bowles is HC/DC.
January 13th, 2026 at 11:09 am
Dang! I can’t believe he still has this job. Seems like the ownership are just scared. Mr. Bowels is not NFL head coach material. If I’m Jason, shake it up, give Chucky another chance. He loves Tampa, has energy and excitement and a good offensive mind. He might not even want this job, but if he did, sign him up! Time to get aggressive or your not going to be successful in today’s NFL.
January 13th, 2026 at 11:43 am
Only way we make the Glazer family really feel it is by not going to the games, not buying any merch, and only supporting the team vocally, not monetarily. Make them lose more money over the season than if they just fired bowles and hired a new HC. Thats about the only way I can figure change will happen.
January 13th, 2026 at 11:46 am
This ain’t the game that broke the Bucs, it was actually the Lions game.
Personally, I think something happened internally during the week leading up the lions game. Think about it:
We looked out of sorts from the moment that game kicked off. Everyone seemed nervous and was playing passive. Mike Evans body language was super weird right from the get go. And then of course he got injured on that blatant pass interference, and we honestly were never the same for the rest of the season.
January 13th, 2026 at 12:06 pm
What do we have to do? We are the only team who doesn’t have a head coach? Guess the clown has pictures as leverage.
January 13th, 2026 at 12:07 pm
Job opening: mcoaj with a brain needed.