Two games into the NFL season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sit at 0-2 for the first time since 2014. Their recent losses to Cincinnati and Cleveland have raised alarms. FOX Sports rated Tampa Bay’s panic level as “high” after Week 2, particularly pointing to their 23-19 home defeat against Cleveland as a major concern.
Tampa Bay entered that game as an eight-point favorite but failed to capitalize on several opportunities in scoring range, managing just one touchdown. The offense has struggled with consistency, while turnovers have plagued them early on. Baker Mayfield, the quarterback, has thrown four turnovers already, including three lost fumbles in the loss to Cincinnati.
The Buccaneers’ defense has not been able to cover for those mistakes either. Cleveland’s Deshaun Watson completed 24 of 30 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns in their win. In the fourth quarter, Cleveland drove 68 yards to score the game-winning touchdown after Tampa Bay led 19-16. That sequence exemplified the team’s struggles to hold leads and close out games.
FOX Sports also highlighted Tampa Bay’s difficult upcoming schedule, facing Minnesota, Green Bay, and Dallas three times within 12 days. A loss to Minnesota would drop the Buccaneers to 0-3, deepening their early-season troubles. The Bucs have six division games left and remain only one game behind in the NFC South.
Despite the rough start, there are reasons not to panic fully. Both losses were close and winnable. Against Cincinnati, Tampa Bay lost by just six points despite four turnovers. The Cleveland game saw the Bucs with chances to win until they faltered in the red zone. These mistakes are seen as correctable, but FOX Sports stresses the urgency to fix them quickly.
Over the past decade, only 12 of 84 teams starting 0-2 have reached the playoffs, a rate of just 14.3 percent. That statistic weighs heavily on Tampa Bay’s outlook. The Buccaneers must improve both offensively and defensively to avoid falling into that category. Their next three games will test their ability to respond under pressure.
At present, Tampa Bay’s situation is uncomfortable but not yet dire. The team’s mistakes have been clear but also potentially fixable. The upcoming stretch against strong opponents will reveal whether the Buccaneers can adjust or if the early-season concerns will deepen. FOX Sports’ assessment of a high panic level captures the mood around the franchise as it tries to turn things around.
According to Yahoo Sports.