Bucs Regroup After Collapse, Eye NFC South Lead in Carolina Showdown
After watching a 14-point fourth-quarter lead vanish in a gut-punch 29-28 loss to the Falcons, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers head into Sunday’s matchup against the Carolina Panthers with a sense of urgency that’s impossible to ignore. The stakes? First place in the NFC South and a chance to regain control of a season that’s been slipping through their fingers.
This isn’t just another game. With both teams sitting at 7-7, Sunday’s clash in Charlotte is a de facto division championship preview. And for a Bucs team that’s dropped six of its last eight, the time for excuses is long gone.
Bowles, Evans Set the Tone
Head coach Todd Bowles didn’t sugarcoat things after the loss in Atlanta - and he didn’t need to. His postgame frustration was raw and unfiltered, a clear message that the team’s lack of focus and execution won’t cut it in December. That message echoed through the locker room, and it didn’t fall on deaf ears.
Mike Evans, the heartbeat of Tampa Bay’s offense, stepped up as a vocal leader. He’s seen too much and accomplished too much to let this season drift off course.
His focus? Leadership and execution - the kind that wins games in December, not just headlines in September.
Bowles, meanwhile, is demanding more from every corner of the roster. “We understood the message after the ball game,” he said.
“Everybody is hard at work and trying to do the right things to win.” Translation: the Bucs know what’s at stake, and they’re treating this week with the intensity it demands.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield didn’t hide from the team’s offensive struggles either. He owned his part in the loss, while also challenging his teammates to clean up the missed assignments and mental lapses that plagued them late against Atlanta. All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs added another layer of accountability, saying players should “stew” over the loss - not to sulk, but to fuel the fire for what’s ahead.
Everything Still on the Table
Despite the recent skid - five losses in their last six and six of eight overall - the Buccaneers aren’t out of the fight. In fact, they still control their own playoff destiny.
A win on Sunday would vault them back atop the NFC South with two games to go. And if they manage to win two of their final three, they’ll lock up a fifth straight division title.
Even a split with Carolina could be enough, depending on how the Panthers fare next week against Seattle. But Bowles isn’t interested in scoreboard watching. His message is clear: focus on the task at hand.
“This is December football,” he said. “You get up the next day, put your head down, you go to work, and you try to correct the little things. We’re playing meaningful games in December and that’s all you can ask for.”
Kickoff Details
Sunday’s game kicks off at 1:00 p.m. ET from Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
FOX will carry the broadcast nationally, with regional coverage across the NFC South. Fans can also catch the action on Westwood One Radio, local affiliates, or stream it via NFL+ and FOX Sports platforms.
A Season on the Brink - Or a Turning Point?
The Bucs started the season hot - 5-1 out of the gate, 6-2 heading into their bye. But since then, it’s been a rough ride: losses to the Patriots, Bills, Rams, Saints, and Falcons have taken the shine off their early-season promise.
Their only win in that stretch? A narrow 20-17 escape against Arizona.
Still, Bowles isn’t panicking. And neither is Evans.
This team has been here before. The core of this roster knows what it takes to win in December, and they’ve got the scars - and the rings - to prove it.
With Evans leading the charge on offense and Bowles holding everyone accountable, Sunday isn’t just about beating the Panthers. It’s about resetting the tone for the stretch run.
The NFC South is still up for grabs. And the Bucs, despite all the bumps along the way, are still right in the middle of it.