“A Dramatic Collapse”
December 30th, 2025
Freefall.
Joe is just going to throw this out there: If the Bucs miss out on the playoffs this weekend (not only do the Bucs have to win to make the playoffs, so too do the slimy Saints), is this the biggest collapse in franchise history?
That’s what Pat Donovan of WDAE-AM 620 was asking yesterday in the wake of the Bucs losing to the tanking Dolphins and rookie seventh-round quarterback Quinn Ewers.
It’s an interesting take. Donovan points out that earlier this year, the Bucs were atop, albeit briefly, some national media power rankings.
The Bucs had a quarterback, Baker Mayfield, who was talked about in sober conversations as the league MVP. They had a receiver, Emeka Egbuka, who was the favorite for Rookie of the Year.
Not only has the team nose-dived, Mayfield went from possible MVP to some fans wondering if he should be the Bucs’ quarterback next year.
Egbuka went into the witness protection program.
Donovan referred to the Bucs, with one win since the bye in the first week of November, as having “a dramatic collapse.” He isn’t sure the Bucs have ever had worse.
Joe can only point to the 2011 Bucs. They may not have had real Super Bowl aspirations that year but when they did beat the slimy Saints and Drew Brees at home (a Quincy Black pick of Brees in the end zone sealed the win), the Bucs were 4-2 and headed to London to play the Bears.
Little did anyone dream on that Oct. 16 night, Black’s pick would give the Bucs their last win of the season. The Bucs proceeded to lose 10 straight and head coach Raheem Morris was launched the day after the season ended.
While losing 10 straight to end the season is really bad, Joe gets Donovan’s point.
Nobody in 2011 remotely thought the Bucs were the best team in the league. And no one gave much hope that the Bucs could make any sort of postseason run.
This year, there were legitimate expectations that the Bucs would finally break out of their one-and-done playoff rut. So if one factors in all the hopes and expectations, and how the Bucs were living up to some of those hopes, yeah, the collapse has been “dramatic.”
@953wdaePat Donovan calls this Bucs collapse the worst in franchise history. Is he right?♬ original sound – 953wdae
December 30th, 2025 at 5:08 am
Yes he’s right. They don’t even look like they can compete in the NFL much less the playoffs. Todd lost this team. They seem uninterested in the game. They will lose Saturday and hopefully the Glazers take care of business asap.
December 30th, 2025 at 5:11 am
And having to root for another to beat a team you can’t beat, so you can back your way into the playoffs. Is a sure fire way to be one and done. Loser mentality.
December 30th, 2025 at 5:21 am
Worst in team history? It’s up there for worst in league history without a major injury to a star player. The higher the high, the harder the fall. Don’t forget to mention that in addition to Baker MVP & E2 ROTY talk, some CRAZY people were talking about bowles for coach of the year! I’m not letting anyone live that down! That being said, I’m surprised nobody has made the comparison to the eagles team we beat for our 1 playoff win under bowles. It feels so similar to me. It just seemed like they couldn’t beat ANYONE at the end of that season. And we actually can’t beat anyone. If we make the playoffs, we will surely suffer the same fate.
December 30th, 2025 at 5:27 am
Worst collapse I’ve ever seen. The worst part is we’re never going to know what happened to cause it. Whatever happened was BAD. Went from a team that worked for the guy next to them to a team that wouldn’t get up off the bench when their QB is scrambling for 30 yards in a tight game. The absolute worst collapse I’ve ever seen. And Baker is dead in the middle of it. So is Todd.
December 30th, 2025 at 5:38 am
“Egbuka went into the witness protection program” – Got the biggest laugh ever! So true on all accounts. Whatever happened on the bye, we never came back from it.
I agree with all comments so far too. BucfaninMi’s comment hit it on the nail, “And having to root for another to beat a team you can’t beat, so you can back your way into the playoffs…”
It is time for another rebuild. Didn’t think it would be this way. Disheartening. Also hope this time around the right coach and others are planned out right. No band-aids, no interim’s.
December 30th, 2025 at 5:41 am
“Fools Gold” that’s what we are….Every one must Go!!!!
December 30th, 2025 at 5:55 am
The Bucs dillied and dallied while the rest of the division cought up.
December 30th, 2025 at 5:56 am
This team needs to be put out of its misery. They are not going anywhere this year. It’s obvious that Todd must go. The way the season played out, made it rather an easy decision. Let’s bring in Lincoln Riley.
December 30th, 2025 at 6:00 am
Is Joe Biden running this franchise?
December 30th, 2025 at 6:00 am
I didn’t know the Falcons winning last night was such a big deal!!
Sigh
And what are the Glazers doing? Will they be having a Press Conference today to apologize for their gross incompetence and hang their heads collectively in shame!?!??!
How about Jason Licht
Or Todd Bowles for being a Horse Manure Head Coach?
The Bucs may as well vacate One Buc Place and forfeit the game this Saturday Night
Quite frankly. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry
As for the Supreme Leader Goodell…I had no idea as to the level of his creative writing for the endings of some of these games….. Not even Shakespeare could keep up with him!!!!!
These games are fixed!!! SMH
December 30th, 2025 at 6:03 am
Matthew Stafford was 74-90 his first 12 years in the NFL. Averaged 6 wins a year. Won a Super Bowl at age 34. A QB is only as good as the team he leads. I don’t care what anyone says, this team just wasn’t good enough. Baker is plenty good. If Tampa wants to run him off I really don’t think that would phase him, not even a little bit.
December 30th, 2025 at 6:05 am
Its the team leadership that has failed. The team leaders are Baker and Bowles. As long as they’re on the team the Bucs will be losers. Its very simple.
December 30th, 2025 at 6:10 am
Great, now this torturous season continues past Saturday. Predicting we beat the Panthers, and since both the Saints & Falcons would love nothing more than gift wrapping Carolina the division, they do just that on Sunday. I’ve never felt this much disdain for a Bucs season. Just when you think it can’t get any worse, it does.
December 30th, 2025 at 6:14 am
Cellar time for the Bucs in 2026. The team needs to be stripped of the coaching, many of aged and overpaid players. Even Licht needs to be looking over his shoulder……The NFC South division teams have improved to the point where the Bucs will be looking up for a few seasons at least.
December 30th, 2025 at 6:21 am
Bee, the Bucs have been the biggest losers in the history of the NFL. Bowles and Baker have been changing that fact. Horrible, horrible disgusting decades of losing. It’s very simple, right Bee? Or do you know something that the rest of us don’t know?
December 30th, 2025 at 6:22 am
It’s not complicated for Bucs fans. Sunday you do whatever you want.
7-10 is coming.
Coaches and players already packed their vacation suitcases 🧳 for Sunday.
Is up to the Glazers whether we celebrate on Sunday or just do whatever we want not the team. As I said before 7–10 is coming.
December 30th, 2025 at 6:23 am
It’s not complicated for Bucs fans. Sunday you do whatever you want.
7-10 is coming.
Coaches and players already packed their vacation suitcases 🧳 for Sunday.
Is up to the Glazers whether we celebrate on Sunday or just do whatever we want not the team. As I said before 7–10 is coming…
December 30th, 2025 at 6:25 am
i’ve seen this show before.
todd is average. he has been average. he continues to be average. this was predictable….not dramatic at all if you dont have your head well placed in your @ss. if you are blinded by the marketing and hype of the bucs and their sycophants, well that’s on you.
i was hopeful after watching the bucs offense come alive last year. when coen left this was the inevitable result.
the other good joke for this season was the chatter about a todd bowles coaching tree. LOL.
second runner up was all the nonsense about the yale graduate, so intelligent, yadayada. yea a graduate from that pigskin powerhouse oooo look out opposing defenses.
December 30th, 2025 at 6:31 am
Didn’t Todd Bowles Beam gleefully in the offseason that he figured out his problem with the defense?! Everyone else in the division is getting hotter as the season goes on. Tampa just gets worse every week. To the point it’s fun to watch the games. Because we all know it’s a multi million dollars comedy show of an origination. When we get the new stadium. Do what the chiefs did. And put your money from ticket sales back into the team. Oh wait no one’s showing up if Todd is at helm next year. Literally will be a stadium full of opposing fans. You think it’s bad now. Keep Bowles another year lol
December 30th, 2025 at 6:33 am
It’s not good when you’re rating the season as one of the most epic collapes. Glad the game is saturday. One less day to wait for bowles firing.
December 30th, 2025 at 6:36 am
If the Glazers retain Bowles then the problem is the owners. How the heck can a coach inherit a winning SB team coming off winning seasons of 11-5 n 12-4 then u regress to 8-9,9-8,10-7, now back to 8-9 or possibly 7-10. This is beyond shameful for the fans. The writing was on the wall in 2022 when Bowles wouldn’t allow the GOAT to go for it on 4th n 2 on the Browns 37 yard line instead he decided to punt stating he didn’t want Brady to throw an int. Then in playoff against the Lions in 2023 he refuse to use his timeouts with time remaining on the clock and an opportunity for a comeback because he claim it wouldn’t have made a difference. They say players tend to take on the personality of their coach n indeed just like Bowles gave up on his players several times during his tenure as Bucs head coach, the players are doing the same to him now, example of roosters coming home to roost. Is there another Bruce Arians clone out available to take over this team because Saints, Falcons, n Panthers are making a statement for next year.
December 30th, 2025 at 6:45 am
I just want a coach with a pulse.
Stoicism is overrated.
Give me Mike Vrabel energy and leadership.
I want fire in the belly, not Nestle Chocolate Chip Cookies!
Too much to ask?
December 30th, 2025 at 6:46 am
dmatt—
Amen!!!
December 30th, 2025 at 6:50 am
dmatt, I just finished going back and looking at the Bucs Lions playoff game. Tied 17-17 after 3 quarters. Detroit had 165 yards on 2 TD drives in the 4 th qtr. Baker drove us 75 yards in the 4th quarter to make it 31-23 and for some godforsaken reason we went for 2. It’s the defense and stupid calls like going for 2 in that situation. It’s been the same problem since I got here.
December 30th, 2025 at 6:53 am
Please, Please Fire Bowles. Time to move on.
December 30th, 2025 at 6:56 am
Serious question, if we lose this week and the Saints win, do we finish in last place in the division? We would have the same record as the Saints and Falcons. Who loses the tie breaker?
December 30th, 2025 at 6:57 am
The Glazers won’t forget the fans. Sunday the bleeding will stop. Monken’s agent probably schedule a zoom call with Licht for this coming Sunday.
December 30th, 2025 at 6:59 am
I’d really like to hear from Ronde Barber (or Arians) after the smoke clears. They are both straight shooters. I had heard Barber in an interview mid-season say this is an average team that could win or lose to anyone. What I’d like to know is when they quit. Also, for what reason? The eye test tells me no one on this team wants to be out on that field.
December 30th, 2025 at 7:14 am
A fat, dimwitted coach with no willpower. The team reflects his sloth like approach.
December 30th, 2025 at 7:15 am
The way Atlanta started off last night…. there is no way the saints beat them next Sunday.
December 30th, 2025 at 7:19 am
@HeyJude
Might be wrong but I’ve got a feeling they might of found out that Evans & Lavonte might consider retiring at the end of the year & maybe that just took everything out of the team, too! If they did end up telling them that then I would’ve waited until after the season to tell them just for this reason alone. Sure the coaching has been no help either but yeah I wonder if that’s what ended up happening.
December 30th, 2025 at 7:21 am
@JowyJoeStein
Don’t pick on poor Cartman like that.😁 He’s our coach.
December 30th, 2025 at 7:25 am
Kenton
Its very simple. Baker and Bowles are terrible at their respective positions. Both were losers in the NFL on previous teams before they got to the Bucs and they’re losers now.
Arians and Brady were winners before coming to the Bucs and they won a chip when they got here. They showed great leadership skills with other NFL teams.
The difference is leadership skills, decision making ability and talent. All of which Baker and Bowles don’t have or we would’ve seen it by now.
Baker just needed one first down vs ATL to win a trip to the playoffs and he couldn’t do it. Bowles needed a stop on 4th and 14 and couldn’t get it. They are a match made in hell.
As long as they are on the Bucs payroll the Bucs will be losers because they’re losers.
December 30th, 2025 at 7:25 am
Joe, I have an off topic question for you. Why the monikers “slimy” and “stinking” when referring to the Saints and Panthers?
December 30th, 2025 at 7:29 am
now on the Tee the 11:42 Tee Time
December 30th, 2025 at 7:35 am
It would be wonderfully (and poetically) ironic if both the Jaguars and the Panthers win their divisions. Liam Coen is a viable candidate for Coach of the Year. And, if the Panthers pull it out, Canales will get some COY votes as well. A further irony, we will not be losing our current Offensive Coordinator in the next round of Head Coach hires. It was never in the cards to promote Coen or Canales over Bowles. But had we a crystal ball ?!?
December 30th, 2025 at 7:44 am
I really hope the team management doesn’t blow up the entire offense like some are suggesting. The players on offense just last season showed they can be one of the top offensive units with the right coach.
2024 stats vs 2025 stats
I was going to show a comparison of our stats and then I realized we got worse in basically every measurable way on offense.
December 30th, 2025 at 7:48 am
Definitely the worst I’ve witnessed. Last year with Coen I felt like we had some real upside but the other three years I’ve always felt we were pretenders. Our division has been weak and we were barely winning it. Bowles is like 6-18 against winning teams, 1-3 in the playoffs, awful in prime time….this team was never any good because our defense is worthless when it counts. We literally allowed a team to score earlier this season in hopes of having the offense do what the defense never could….close out a game. Anyone that’s followed this team knows we couldn’t stop back up QBs and rookie QBs….its been that way dating back to Mitch Trubisky in Pittsburgh or Nick Foles in Chicago….every year there was a new set of examples. A good DC makes those guys look like bums…but not Bowles.
December 30th, 2025 at 7:52 am
Who’s pat Donovan? He another joe who hasn’t even been around for all the bucs seasons et he is asking if its tne worst in franchise history??
December 30th, 2025 at 7:59 am
If we get our Oline back and upgrade the tight end position and most importantly, get a competent OC, this offense can be top 5. As far as the defense, BLOW THE WHOLE DAMN THING UP!!! The only players worth keeping are Vita, Calijah, Tykee and AWJ. Keep the rookie DBs and maybe Ya Ya (he would make a solid backup). Send everyone else packing!!
December 30th, 2025 at 8:02 am
Im tuning in to see LVD for possibly the last time. Anything after that is a bonus. Going back to the November trade deadline I feel Jason didn’t believe it was a SB year losing to Philly and Detroit so he sat on the picks. About the same time team layed down. They knew they didn’t have it this year. I believe Falcons win or Panthers win. Todd retires with BA. If BA was going to help he would have done it a few weeks ago. As for a coach wanting to come here and deal with Mayfield the situation could be said about that with Brice at Carolina a few years back and Trevor with the Jags. Those were the least desirable HC jobs in the league at the time. I think most fire Todd crowd is expecting the same results and it could be with the right guy wanting a opportunity. When all 3 phases need overhauled sitting on a 2-8 run I want change to. I don’t think Bucs would get past Rams in playoffs anyway. Mcvay prolonged Todd’s career and he owes him one for taking the foot off the gas pedal.
December 30th, 2025 at 8:29 am
@Bee -BM has been significantly better in the past two years than the rest of his career. His previous stops being the Browns, the Panthers (who were in full rebuild mode), and then a few games with the Rams. The Browns have continued to be terrible after releasing BM. The Panthers let Darnold go who under the right coaches is having a career rebirth. The Panthers have since hired Canales who BM had a career year under before his even better career year under Coen.
What the Bucs need to do is find a new HC, OC, and DC. Then let those people work with Licht to make personnel moves.
December 30th, 2025 at 8:30 am
Why does Todd Bowels always have the face after thanksgiving dinner look?
December 30th, 2025 at 8:35 am
Usfbucs
You say Baker has been better the past 2 years? Really? How?
He lead all QBs with turnovers last season and turned the ball over in the 4th quarter of both his playoff losses with the Bucs. And hes doing the same thing now down the stretch. Turnovers are the main metric that lead to losses and we’re seeing it for the 3rd season in a row with Baker.
Its apparent to me the Baker Bros don’t care about playoff wins and championships. All you want is for Baker to play. He doesn’t need to play good or help the team win, just play.
Absolutely pathetic mindset. The Bucs won’t win a chip with him as a starter.
December 30th, 2025 at 8:36 am
I doubt they could even beat a flag-football team. The only flags they can grab are the ones that resemble a penalty, or a RED flag!
December 30th, 2025 at 8:39 am
It’s so bad that the only thing on this level is the MRSA and Greg Schiano regime. At this point they have to tear it all down and rebuild. It took the lost decade and Tom Brady to come here to even change the culture for the last 5 years. Whatever happens now they have to find the right people to rebuild the culture and put a winning product on the field. This is a massive fail that is going to take years to come back from.
December 30th, 2025 at 8:40 am
Kenton, please stop comparing Baker to Stafford. Please!
Baker has had most of his weapons back since after the Bye week and has sucked the entire time. He gets happy feet, doesnt see the field quickly enough, lacks deep ball accuracy and his record in primetime games is horrible!!
December 30th, 2025 at 8:43 am
Baker has shown us what he can do with competent coaching. Bowles and Griz are the problem. Time to let them go. Hopefully they’ve identified the next Liam Coen and are ready to move.
December 30th, 2025 at 8:57 am
“Stinking Panthers,” you can thank Chris Thomas.
Why “slimy” for slimy Saints? Just look at their history the past 15-20 years.
December 30th, 2025 at 8:58 am
Easily worse than 2011.
December 30th, 2025 at 9:02 am
Fanofdabucs, I in no way compared Baker to Stafford. I merely pointed out that Stafford averaged barely over 6 wins per season over his first 12 years in the NFL. I also added that he won a Super Bowl when he was 34 years old. Baker will be 31 next spring. Get us a few more defensive drafts and with a little luck, who knows? Baker ain’t going nowhere. And no matter how bad some fans are jonesing for Baker to leave it’s not gonna change the football God’s mind. Baker is here for the duration. He’s here for every single game every single year. Unlike every other player on this team. Your number one job as a professional is to be there for the team and be ready every single game. He’s the consummate professional on a team that is sorely lacking that.
December 30th, 2025 at 9:08 am
It’s a shame that some fans want to blame Baker for every loss. Somehow he is supposed to put on the Superman costume and save the day no matter what the teammates fail to do. Just remember we wouldn’t be in this spot if the defense didn’t quit on the 3rd down and 24 to go. I hope his agent gets him a deal on a team that has genuine fans
December 30th, 2025 at 9:14 am
In context of the word collapse, yes this has been the worst. A franchise starting 0-26 isn’t a collapse. Been here for all that. Like everyone else I would like to know the why’s and where fore’s about how this happened.
Did Evans leak he was retiring? He doesn’t look like it.
Did David doe the same? Either way I would play my tail off to send those 2 out on top.
Is there more to Bucky’s situation and the way it was handled that pissed the team off? Was it Deans restructuring? The team has shown it will pay it’s players.
Injuries cannot be over stated but also can’t be used as an excuse when looking at other teams.
I think this team has a bigger lack of talent than we were led to believe or maybe even wanted to. The heart is where Licht should be looking too because there aren’t a whole lot of I am that guy’s out there judging from the effort as a whole.
And certainly coaching, in whatever fashion has been lacking as well. I do feel bad for the staff because in reality there is only so much they can do. You can put the food out but the baby has to eat it. It’s the players that have to play and not give lame a** excuses.
December 30th, 2025 at 9:22 am
take away the win where they barely beat the crappy Cardinals, and you are right in that ballpark
December 30th, 2025 at 9:52 am
Guys don’t blame Baker for any losses or you’re not a genuine fan.
This season the Bucs are 0-7 when Baker throws a pick.
Read that again.
The Bucs have a 100% chance to lose when he turns the ball over but nope, you cant criticize him. Blame everything and everyone else but him. He only touches the ball every offensive play. No big deal.
December 30th, 2025 at 10:02 am
Bee – take 30 secs and go look at BM stats….anyone who can read can see his stats were better with our two OCs who got hired as HCs and are now outperforming our HC.
There are multiple QBs this season with more INTs than BM who’s teams have better records than the Bucs. The team has to be able to handle a mistake and not fall apart. As one of the Joes pointed out Brady who you said was a great leader threw three picks in a game and we still won.
Absolutely pathetic mindset to not take a moment to read, research or analyze anything beyond the tip of your nose.
December 30th, 2025 at 10:26 am
Usfbucs
How do stats help you lead a game winning drive in the 4th quarter of a playoff game? Those QBs with more ints and better records, who are they? What are their stats in the playoffs? What are Bakers playoff stats?
Don’t talk about the NFC Championship Game that Brady led this team to when Baker could only dream of getting that far. Keep in mind Brady play stellar games IN THE PLAYOFFS to make it that far.
Also, those ints need context. When Brady threw those picks the Packers started on their side of the field, not the Bucs side. So those picks were like punts. Bruce Arians said they were like punts in the post game interview. Oh, and Brady actually won the game by getting a 1st down and running out the clock something Baker can’t do during the regular season let alone an NFC Championship Game.
Stats don’t win playoff games. Elite coaches and players do. Stats are for losers. And Baker is a loser.
December 30th, 2025 at 10:26 am
Bee – Fans spent hard earned money on Mayfield jerseys and can’t enjoy them right now. They spent full price before week 6 now there on sale. It’s my fault, your fault, Rods fault, defense fault, lines fault, Grizz fault, Todd’s fault, Jason’s fault, Evans fault, Mayfield throws INTs and loses games. Remember “We don’t want you to be Tom Brady, we want you to be yourself”. You can’t really blame Mayfield.
December 30th, 2025 at 10:30 am
Remember all the Polly positive types before the season that were practically crowing that Bowles had an epiphany that you need to score more than your opponent? That didn’t age well.
2011 feels like a Swedish massage compared to this groin kick of a season.
Raheem was a joke from the beginning and still is in Atlanta.
My guess is the LA game was the back breaker. Patriots and Bills game we were competitive and could have won those game had Bowles defense been above pee wee level.
But the LA game showed the darkest side to Bowles ability. We have not recovered.
December 30th, 2025 at 10:32 am
Bee – There are 6 teams this season whose QB has the same or more INTs than BM who are going to the playoffs. If you include QBs with 1-2 less INTs than BM then the number goes up to 10 QBs whose teams are going to the playoffs who were able to overcome the mistakes their QBs made.
So why are those teams not all running their QBs out the doors like you want to do with BM? Also which QB are you bringing in to replace BM?
December 30th, 2025 at 10:38 am
Two ways to look at it:
1. Massive collapse on a relatively easy back half schedule
2. We were major frauds. Our first 4 wins required late game heroics. That’s not repeatable
December 30th, 2025 at 10:41 am
Well Bee that’s easy because stats show us over a long period of time what a things expected performance level is. We could get more advanced with the stats but they are what we have. And I will bring up that game because it showcases a team who was able to overcome multiple mistakes by their QB and still win the game. No player is going to play a perfect game ever but yet your seeming expectation is that BM do just that.
Why do other QBs get a pass from you but not BM? At the start of the season he led multiple game winning drives so he has shown he can do that too.
December 30th, 2025 at 10:53 am
What other QBs get a pass from me? Lol….do you mean Brady? The guy who won a chip with the Bucs. Cmon man….lol
You didnt name the QBs sir, who specifically are you talking about? Burrow, Stafford? Guys who’ve lead their teams to the Superbowl. Baker hasnt done that has he?
All you Baker fans love stats except turnover stats. Yall really don’t like Baker playoff stats either.
Stats tell part of the story. The start of the season doesn’t matter now. The season is longer than 7 games. Baker has been bad the majority of the season.
If Baker is so good at game winning drives why haven’t we seen one in 3 months?