It all comes down to the season finale for the Buccaneers on Sunday Afternoon.
This is what you play for: a chance to make the playoffs and possibly go on one of those magical runs that ends with the hoisting of the Lombardi Trophy.
All of the practices, the OTA’s, the film study, this is what it comes down to for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Buccaneers had a chance to win the division at home last week and secure a playoff berth. But instead, the Buccaneers failed to show up and played one of their worst games of the season, falling to the New Orleans Saints 23-13.
Now, they will have to do it the hard way: go on the road and play a 2-14 team with nothing to play for but pride.
The Buccaneers are the better team on paper. They are favored for one of the few times this season by 5.5 points. But if the Buccaneers think they can just show up and win in Carolina, we will get the same results as last week.
The Panthers gave the Green Bay Packers all they could handle last week before succumbing to Green Bay 33-30.
In their first meeting in Tampa, the game went right down to the wire, and the Bucs needed an Antoine Winfield Jr. interception to secure the 21-18 win.
The Future of Todd Bowles And Baker Mayfield Is On The Line
Not only are the playoffs and the NFC South Division Title on the line, but the future of head coach Todd Bowles could also hang in the balance with the result of this game.
Some think that a win will get Todd Bowles another year in Tampa. Others believe that Bowles will need to win at least one playoff game to be back as coach of the Buccaneers.
The decision to resign Baker Mayfield could also ride on the outcome of this game. If Mayfield has a solid performance and leads the Bucs to the playoffs, he is probably coming back on a 3-4-year deal at around 30 million per year.
If Mayfield plays like he played in the first half last week against New Orleans, there will be a lot of questions to answer on whether Mayfield is the guy to lead this franchise for the next few years.
Mayfield also has the chance to add to what has already been a career season with 3,907 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and a passer rating of 95.9.
A Strange Season For The Buccaneers
The Bucs are currently 8-8 on the season, and this has been one of the strangest seasons in Buccaneer football in quite a while.
The Buccaneers began this season 3-1, then lost six of their next seven, won four in a row to get back into playoff contention, and then played their worst game of the season with a chance to punch their ticket to the playoffs at home.
Offensive Coordinator Dave Canales talked about staying focused this week and being able to finish the job. It was really a timely wake-up call for our guys” (talking about last weeks loss). We can’t just show up and expect these things to happen for us. It takes a lot of intentionality. Even with all the holiday season and all of that, we have to maintain our focus.”
A Buccaneer win would give the team the fourth seed and a date with either Dallas or Philadelphia at home in the first round of the playoffs.
Mayfield missed some practice time this week with sore ribs. He will not be 100 percent, but he will try to give it a go against the Panthers.
If Mayfield struggles, Kyle Trask will take his first snaps of the season in the most critical game of the season.
Nothing Less Than A Buccaneer Win Will Be Acceptable
I would be shocked to see the same emotionless Buccaneer team we saw last week.
I expect Dave Canales to call it his best game of the season.
Expect the Buccaneers to come out with a lot of emotion, execute on both sides of the ball, and win this game. No excuses.
The time for learning and developing is over. It’s time to put up or shut up.
A lot is riding on this game for the Buccaneers. This is not the time for moral victories.
A NFC South championship and a playoff berth is the only acceptable outcome on Sunday afternoon.