TAMPA, FL - Two days after their shocking 27-11 Wild Card loss to the Vikings, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cleared out their lockers and reflected on a season that ended far earlier than expected. The sting of an upset at home was still fresh in the air as players packed up their gear and faced the questions that inevitably come with an abrupt ending.
"It's a gut punch, no other way to put it," said quarterback Baker Mayfield. "We didn't play to our standard. I take that personally. As the quarterback, it's on me to set the tone, and I didn't do enough."
Mayfield, who completed 20 of 26 passes but failed to lead a touchdown drive through the air, wasn't the only one in search of answers. Tampa's once high-powered offense looked out of sorts all game, managing just one touchdown-a short run from John Werth-and one field goal from Chase McLaughlin. The performance was a stark contrast to the regular season, where they averaged 25 points per game.
Veteran wide receiver Chris Godwin, who had just 3 catches for 33 yards in the game, voiced the frustration felt throughout the locker room. "We worked all year to get to this point," Godwin said, his voice trailing off. "To come up short like that, it's tough to swallow."
Meanwhile, the defense was left to rue its inability to contain J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings' balanced attack. Safety Antoine Winfield Jr., a vocal leader for the unit, didn't mince words. "They got the better of us," he said. "We didn't get enough pressure on McCarthy and couldn't make plays on the ball when we needed to."
For some, the uncertainty of the future was just as heavy as the loss itself. Several key players, including Winfield, linebacker Elandon Roberts, and defensive lineman Andrew Coker, are set to hit free agency. Their return to Tampa remains uncertain as the team weighs how to keep a talented roster intact while addressing the flaws exposed in their postseason exit.
Head coach Todd Bowles spoke briefly before players trickled out for the final time this season. "We didn't meet the moment," Bowles said. "But this team fought all year. There's a foundation here. We'll go back to work and figure out how to make sure this doesn't happen again."
