The Buccaneers may have thought they were done with Kirk Cousins when he landed with the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency this offseason, but that relief may not last. After being sent to the Minnesota Vikings at the trade deadline, Cousins could end up right back on Tampa Bay’s path in the playoffs.
That possibility matters because Cousins has spent years giving the Buccaneers fits. Tampa Bay was glad to see him out of the NFC South after two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, but his move to Minnesota has reopened the door to another matchup the Bucs would rather avoid.
The path is pretty simple. Tampa Bay is 3-6, so there’s still plenty of work to do before anyone starts talking postseason for real.
But with the NFC South wide open and one of the NFL’s easiest remaining schedules, it would be a major letdown if the Buccaneers didn’t win the division. If they do, they’d almost certainly land as the NFC’s No. 4 seed, which would send them into the wild card round against the No. 5 seed.
That’s where Minnesota comes in. The Vikings currently sit at 6-2 and could wind up in that No. 5 spot if they finish second in the NFC North. And even before Cousins enters the picture, a matchup with Brian Flores’ defense would be a tough draw for Tampa Bay.
Cousins only makes it worse.
He already delivered one of his biggest punches against the Buccaneers in 2025, leading a 14-point fourth-quarter comeback at Raymond James Stadium. In that game, he threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns as the Falcons beat Tampa Bay 29-28.
A year earlier, he put together the best statistical game of his career against Todd Bowles’ defense, completing 42 of 58 passes for 509 yards and four touchdowns in an overtime win over the Buccaneers.
And this goes back even further. In 2015, Cousins helped Washington erase a 24-0 deficit and beat Tampa Bay 31-30, throwing for 317 yards and three touchdowns in the game that produced his famous “You Like That?” celebration.
That’s the backdrop for this potential playoff problem. In six games against Tampa Bay, Cousins is 4-2 with 17 touchdown passes and only two interceptions, averaging 340 yards per game. He has topped 300 passing yards and thrown at least three touchdowns in four of those six meetings.
For the Buccaneers, the hope is simple: keep that matchup off the board. As they chase the NFC South title, Bucs fans will be watching the NFC North closely and hoping the Vikings land anywhere but the No. 5 seed.
In Other News...
Bruce Arians Just Made Buccaneers Fans Revisit One Huge Possibility
Bruce Arians has put a familiar name back into the conversation around Tampa Bays sideline. The former Buccaneers coach, who stepped away after the 2021 season, has been talking more openly about his interest in getting back into NFL coaching after recovering from serious health issues, including open-heart surgery. For a franchise that has already lived through one abrupt transition at the top, any hint of Arians reentering the picture is going to get attention.
The timing only makes the speculation louder, with Todd Bowles facing pressure and a coaching change around the corner looking increasingly possible. Arians history with the organization gives Buccaneers fans an obvious place to go with the idea, even if nothing is settled yet. For now, it is less about a decision than a reminder that one of the most recognizable figures in recent team history may not be done on the sideline after all. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Bye Week Could Decide How Far This Offense Can Go
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There is also a broader conversation coming for Baker Mayfield and the way the offense is being deployed overall. The Bucs are weighing adjustments to Mayfield's role while planning to lean more on Kenny Gainwell, and how those pieces fit together could go a long way toward determining whether this group can turn competitiveness into something more meaningful down the stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Tony Dungy Quietly Distances Himself From A Tampa Event
Tony Dungy will not be part of the Life Surge Christian wealth seminar scheduled for Tampa next month, a quiet but notable change involving one of the most recognizable figures tied to the city. The former Buccaneers coach had been associated with the event, which has drawn attention because of the broader conversation around Life Surge and the kind of audience it has been trying to reach.
The decision comes after recent reporting raised questions about the organization, including customer complaints and the cost of its courses, with Tim Tebows involvement also coming under scrutiny. Dungy is the latest prominent name to step away from the group, joining others who have also distanced themselves as the event approaches. [Read more 🡒]