Bucs Still in Control, But Beating Themselves Could Be the Final Blow
In Tampa Bay, there’s a phrase that gets tossed around when things unravel: “Bucs beating the Bucs.” And right now, that’s not just a saying - it’s the story of their season.
Sure, injuries have taken a toll. That’s part of the game.
But what’s really derailed what looked like a promising campaign is something far more frustrating: mental mistakes, breakdowns in execution, and a team that too often seems to be standing in its own way. And this isn’t just about the players.
The coaching staff has to own its share of this collapse, too - especially after a second-half nosedive that’s been nothing short of historic.
Still, somehow, the Buccaneers aren’t out of it. At 7-8, they’re clinging to control of their playoff fate.
Win the final two games - against the Dolphins and Panthers - and they’ll lock up their fifth straight NFC South title. It’s right there in front of them.
But to get there, they’ll have to beat more than just Miami and Carolina. They’ll have to stop beating themselves.
Head coach Todd Bowles didn’t sugarcoat it.
“We understand we control our own destiny, but our biggest enemy right now is us and we understand that as well,” Bowles said. “So, going into the week, that's all we'll focus on - the things we can do better as coaches and players - and we'll go into the game against Miami.”
That sounds like the right approach, and it’s not a new theme. For weeks now, the Bucs have been preaching attention to detail, focusing on fundamentals, and trying to clean up the self-inflicted wounds.
But the results haven’t followed. One win in the last seven games tells the story.
After a frustrating loss to Carolina, rookie center Graham Barton hinted that the offense might be playing too tight, saying the team plays better when they’re “playing free.” It was a subtle comment, but one that raised questions about whether the scheme has become too rigid - or whether players are pressing under pressure.
Bowles pushed back on that idea, pointing to execution - not mindset - as the real issue.
“We play best when we're executing,” he said. “There's nothing wrong with our mental state.
We’ve got to execute and finish plays at the end. It’s football - it's a game we've been playing since we were small children and we've grown up now to play professional ball… When you lose, you try to come up with different things and everything else like that, but at the end of the day, you’ve got to work hard and execute.”
That’s the bottom line. This isn’t about effort or desire.
It’s about cleaning up the details - finishing blocks, running crisp routes, avoiding penalties, and staying locked in during critical moments. The Bucs don’t need a miracle.
They need to stop making the kind of mistakes that turn winnable games into frustrating losses.
Sunday’s matchup in Miami is going to test everything - the game plan, the discipline, and the resolve of a team that still has something to play for. The coaches will need to deliver their best work of the season, but it’s ultimately going to come down to the players executing when it matters most.
If Tampa Bay can rediscover the edge they had earlier this year - the one that had them looking like a serious playoff contender - and stop sabotaging their own progress, there’s still time to right the ship. But make no mistake: the biggest challenge isn’t the Dolphins or the Panthers. It’s the team in the mirror.