The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have not had an ideal start to the 2026 season, to say the least.
The team is sitting at 0-2 after disappointing losses to the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns. The Week 1 loss to the Bengals is forgivable- the Bengals are a good team, the game was on the road, and it was close.
The Week 2 loss, however, is much harder to explain away. The Bucs had the Browns AT HOME and couldn’t seal the deal. The Browns looked like possibly the worst team in the league in Week 1, and they came into Tampa Bay and walked out with a win.
Unfortunately, that keeps the trend going of the Bucs having some inexplicable losses every season. Head coach Todd Bowles was already on the hot seat entering the season thanks to last year’s collapse, and his seat is only getting warmer.
Bowles Running Out of Time
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Entering Week 3, Bowles has an overall record of 35-35 with the Bucs, and a 1-3 mark in the postseason.
The Bucs famously had a horrendous meltdown in 2025. After starting 6-2, the Bucs went 2-7 the rest of the way and ended up losing the division to the Panthers. It was the first time Bowles missed the playoffs as the team’s head coach.
The hope was that things would be better this year, but it’s been more of the same. The offense is inconsistent and the defense doesn’t scare anybody. Now, Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports is on the hottest seat in the league.
“Remember, Bowles shook up his coaching staff after missing the playoffs last year, firing his offensive coordinator, special teams coordinator, quarterbacks coach, cornerbacks coach and others,” Sullivan explained. “Those are the types of moves you make as a last-ditch effort before you’re shown the door. After starting 2026 winless through the first two weeks for the first time since 2014, Bowles could be the first coach fired this season if things don’t turn around.”
As Sullivan mentioned, Bowles made a ton of staff changes- and so far, they haven’t helped. What other conclusion could the team come too then, other than Bowles is the problem?
This year’s struggles are not all on Bowles. Baker Mayfield has simply not been good enough, especially considering he just received the extension he desperately wanted. It’s a mix of things that are leading to these struggles, but it’s Bowles’ job to figure it out.
