Buccaneers get what they deserve after Week 18 disaster

6 days ago 2

Buccaneers get what they deserve after Week 18 disaster originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 2025 season has officially come to an end.

After the 16-14 win over the Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay needed the New Orleans Saints to beat the Atlanta Falcons to secure playoff football.

But the Saints lost 19-17, sending the Panthers to the postseason and the Buccaneers home.

In truth, the Buccaneers got what they deserved.

After losing seven of their last eight games prior to Week 18, the Buccaneers simply struggled to get much going over the past couple of months.

And as a result, Tampa Bay's season, which started at 5-1, ended with an 8-9 record and no playoff ticket.

More:Buccaneers 'break that spell' in Week 18, but too little, too late?

Buccaneers face big offseason

Head coach Todd Bowles was under pressure due to his team's recent form, and now that the playoffs have been missed, the offseason will be interesting.

Plus, the futures of several players, most notably Mike Evans, are up in the air as well.

Will the Pro Bowler return in 2026? After an injury-riddled 2025 season, whether or not the star receiver has enough petrol in the tank remains to be seen.

So, there will be a host of decisions that general manager Jason Licht and his staff will have to make.

It was so close, yet so far for the Buccaneers in 2025, and ended in the worst way possible.