Buccaneers Reeling Down the Stretch, But NFC South Still Within Reach
At one point earlier this season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looked like a team ready to make noise in the NFC. They opened the year with a 6-2 record, showing balance on both sides of the ball and carving out a spot among the league’s top five in several early power rankings. But since their Week 9 bye, the wheels have started to wobble - and now, with just three weeks to go, the Bucs are clinging to playoff hopes that seemed far more secure just a month ago.
The numbers tell the story: one win in their last five games. A Thursday night meltdown against the Falcons - where they squandered a 14-point fourth-quarter lead - dropped them even further in national power rankings. Yet despite the slide, Tampa Bay somehow remains atop the NFC South, thanks in part to New Orleans completing a season sweep of the Panthers.
That’s the paradox of the 2025 Buccaneers: a team that’s both unraveling and still very much in control of its postseason fate.
Injuries Have Taken Their Toll - But Help Is Arriving
Tampa’s midseason slump hasn’t come out of nowhere. Injuries have hit this roster hard, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. But there’s a silver lining - they’re starting to get healthy again, and just in time.
Mike Evans, the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, returned from a broken collarbone last Thursday and immediately reminded everyone what he’s capable of. In his first game back, Evans hauled in six catches for a season-high 132 yards.
It was a much-needed spark for a Bucs offense that had been sputtering in his absence. Evans, now 33 and still under contract through next season, has missed nine games this year due to a string of injuries - including a hamstring strain and a concussion - but his presence down the stretch could be a game-changer.
Baker Mayfield, Bowles, and the Pressure Cooker
The loss to Atlanta wasn’t just a setback - it was a gut punch. The Bucs led 28-14 in the fourth quarter before unraveling in dramatic fashion. Baker Mayfield threw a costly interception, and the defense couldn’t get off the field when it mattered most - allowing conversions on third-and-28 and fourth-and-14 before the Falcons nailed the game-winning field goal.
Head coach Todd Bowles didn’t hold back afterward, calling the collapse “inexcusable.” And he’s right - in a division this tight, you can’t afford to give away games like that.
But even with that loss, the Bucs remain in first place. That’s the strange reality of the NFC South this year: flawed teams, wide-open race.
Power Rankings Snapshot: A Mixed Bag
Here’s where the national media currently places the Buccaneers in their Week 16 power rankings:
- ESPN: No. 21 - Evans’ return is a highlight, but questions linger about his long-term future and the team’s consistency.
- Yahoo Sports: No. 18 - The Bucs were fortunate the Panthers lost in New Orleans, but blowing a 28-14 lead at home didn’t sit well.
- NFL.com: No. 17 - Despite the loss, Tampa stayed atop the division.
But trust is hard to come by, and the next two games - both against Carolina - will likely decide the South.
- USA Today: No.
16 - With Evans back and Mayfield still capable of making plays, there’s still belief this team can win the division.
- CBS Sports: No.
13 - The highest ranking of the bunch, though even here it’s acknowledged the defense has been a problem.
- FOX Sports: No.
19 - A harsh critique of the Thursday night collapse, and a reminder of how far this team has fallen from its early-season peak.
The Road Ahead: Panthers, Twice
The NFC South is going to be decided on the field - and more specifically, in the two head-to-head matchups between Tampa Bay and Carolina over the next three weeks. The first of those comes this weekend in Charlotte, and it’s shaping up to be a must-win for both sides.
For the Bucs, the formula is clear: get healthy, get Evans involved, and clean up the mistakes that have plagued them in recent weeks. The defense, in particular, needs to tighten up. Giving up 15 points in the final 10 minutes to the Falcons can’t become the norm if this team wants to play in January.
There’s still a path to the playoffs. But the margin for error is gone.
The Bucs were once a top-five team - now, they’re fighting just to stay above water. The good news?
They still control their destiny. The bad news?
They’re running out of time to prove they deserve it.