In eight weeks, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have all but clinched a playoff spot. The team’s record was 6-2, and quarterback Baker Mayfield was named MVP. But as Week 18 approaches, the Buccaneers are in danger of missing the playoffs due to a disastrous second half.
After this hot start, things started to go downhill for Tampa Bay. The team is 1-7 in its past eight games and currently sits at 7-9 on the season. If the team wants to regroup and make the playoffs, it must defeat the Carolina Panthers in Week 18.
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As the season approaches, Buccaneers running back Rashard White is imploring his team to “take a look in the mirror” and make some efforts to try and salvage the season, JoeBucsFan.com reports.
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That’s not an encouraging statement as the team limps into its final game of the regular season. While White was careful not to bury his teammates, saying later, “I wouldn’t even say we had a terrible or bad start,” he painted a picture of a team lacking motivation.
Even if the Buccaneers win in Week 18, there’s no guarantee the team will make the playoffs. If the Atlanta Falcons also win in Week 18, the team will be in a three-way tie for the top spot in the division. The three teams are tied at 8-9, and the Panthers will advance by defeating the Falcons in the tiebreaker after defeating Atlanta twice this season.
White’s comments may have been meant to inspire his teammates, but they may have come too late. After losing so much in the second half, the Buccaneers now have a lot to do to make the playoffs. The time to build momentum was weeks ago, not days before the last game of the regular season.
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Everything will be fine for the Buccaneers in the end. Maybe the team will beat the Panthers and the New Orleans Saints can take on the Falcons.
If not, there could be big changes in store for Tampa Bay, especially after White suggested the team needs to do some soul-searching before Week 18.