NFL 2026 Season Preview - TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS                                                                              

2025 Record - 8-9-0

Head Coach - Todd Bowles 

2025 Offensive Rank - 320 YPG (21st); Rushing - 114 YPG (21st), Passing - 206 YPG (20th) SCORING - 22.4 PPG (17th)

2025 Defensive Rank - 337 YPG (19th); Rushing - 99 YPG (5th), Passing - 238 YPG (27th) SCORING - 24.2 PPG (20th) 

Key Player Additions - Alex Anzalone (LB), A'Shawn Robinson (DL), Christian Rozeboom (LB), Kenneth Gainwell (RB), Chase Lucas (DB), Al-Quadin Muhammad (DL), David Sills (WR), Justin Skule (OL) 

Key Player Losses - Mike Evans (WR), Lavonte David (LB), Jamel Dean (DB), Logan Hall (DL), Charlie Heck (OL), Deion Jones (LB), Michael Jordan (OL), Greg Gaines (DL), Sterling Shepard (WR), Rachaad White (RB) 

OFFENSE - Baker Mayfield is entering his fourth season as the Buccaneers quarterback and he had 3,693 passing yards with 26 touchdowns and eleven interceptions last year. Mayfield also rushed for 382 yards (6.9 YPC) and scored one touchdown. Jake Browning is looking to be the backup after leaving Cincinnati. The running game features Bucky Irving (588 rushing yards, 3.4 YPC, one TD) and Kenneth Gainwell, who went for 537 rushing yards with Pittsburgh last year, averaging 4.7 YPC and scored five touchdowns and he also had 73 receptions for 486 yards and three scores. The wide receivers are Emeka Egbuka (63 receptions, 938 yards, six TD), Jalen McMillan (12 receptions, 178 yards in only four games), David Sills (18, 191, two TD with Atlanta) and Chris Godwin, Jr., who is looking to return after ankle injuries that limited him to nine games in 2025, where had 33 receptions for 360 yards and two touchdowns. The tight end is Cade Otton, who had 59 receptions for 572 yards and one touchdown. 

DEFENSE - Nose tackle Vita Vea (4 1/2 QB sacks) leads the way on the front line along with Calijah Kancey and A'Shawn Robinson (2 1/2 sacks with Carolina Panthers) as well as Elijah Roberts, Al-Quadin Muhammad, who had eleven sacks with Detroit last year and rookie DeMonte Capehart (Clemson). The linebackers are Yaya Diaby (seven sacks), SirVocea Dennis (100 tackles), Alex Anzalone (95 tackles with Detroit), Christian Rozeboom (122 tackles with Carolina) and rookies Rueben Bain, Jr. (Miami, FL) and Josiah Trotter (Missouri). The secondary has safeties Antoine Winfield, Jr. (two interceptions) and Tykee Smith, who made 100 tackles and the cornerbacks are Jacob Parrish (two INT) and Zyon McCollum. The Buccaneers defense finished 19th overall last year and totaled 37 sacks and had 13 interceptions. 

2026 SEASON OUTLOOK - The Buccaneers stumbled badly down the stretch last year, losing four of the final five games to miss the playoffs. All of those losses were one-score games, so Head Coach Todd Bowles will be looking for the team to improve at finishing games. Bowles has been one of a number of NFL head coaches rumored to be on the "hot seat" entering this season, especially following the late collapse last season. 

The offense was middle of the pack in 2025, ranking 21st overall and 17th in scoring (22.4 PPG) and Baker Mayfield is entering the last year of his current contract and wants to focus on the playing field. The team saw longtime leading wide receiver Mike Evans leave for San Francisco this season, so the Bucs will hope for more good things from second year wideout Emeka Egbuka and also Jalen McMillan, who is coming back after neck injuries forced him to miss 13 games last season. The rushing attack will see Kenneth Gainwell teaming up with Bucky Irving this season as they look to improve on a 21st ranked running game. The defense was solid against the run a year ago and with Vita Vea at nose tackle, that should continue, especially with A'Shawn Robinson, another run stuffer, now playing up front as well. The pass defense was found wanting a year ago, allowing 238 yards per game and getting burned for big plays more frequently than in past seasons. 

The Buccaneers must be better in the fourth quarter in 2026 as they lost four tight games in December last season and that cost them the NFC South division crown they held for four straight years. The pieces are in place for the Bucs to get back to the playoffs again, but it won't be easy against Atlanta, New Orleans and defending division champion Carolina lurking. As long as Mayfield stays healthy and the new players on offense and defense contribute, Tampa Bay should be right there in late December battling for the division title. 

TEAM SCHEDULE 

Week One - at Cincinnati 

Week Two - vs. Cleveland 

Week Three - vs. Minnesota 

Week Four - vs. Green Bay 

Week Five - at Dallas 

Week Six - vs. Pittsburgh 

Week Seven - at Carolina 

Week Eight - vs. Atlanta 

Week Nine - at Chicago 

Week Ten - BYE 

Week Eleven - at Detroit 

Week Twelve - vs. Carolina 

Week Thirteen - vs. L.A. Chargers 

Week Fourteen - at Baltimore 

Week Fifteen - vs. New Orleans 

Week Sixteen - at Atlanta 

Week Seventeen - vs. L.A. Rams 

Week Eighteen - at New Orleans