The Day After: Buccaneers vs Packers Week 4 Reactions

TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 04: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach Todd Bowles waits for the challenge call to be confirmed during the regular season game between the Green Bay Packers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 04, 2026 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.(Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Buccaneers are 0-4. Hoo boy. I don't think even the most pessimistic Bucs fan expected the season to be trending this way and right now there don't seem to be many answers on offense or defense. Tampa Bay's ship is taking on water at a rapid pace. When a team is struggling, social media can sometimes be a brutal place to be but it can also provide some more insight and context to what is actually happening.

Bucs defense making it too easy for opposing offenses

Tampa Bay's defense did some good things on Sunday and even forced two turnovers in the fourth quarter to keep the team in the game, but they also had their shortcomings, specifically when facing first and long situations.

In this game, the Bucs defense had:
1st and 20-> allowed a 4-yard gain next play
1st and 19 -> allowed a 16-yard gain next play
1st and 20 -> allowed a 13-yard gain next play
1st and 20 -> allowed a 19-yard gain next play

- Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) October 4, 2026

That is simply too easy for NFL offenses. When you have those situations, you need to take advantage of it and too often on Sunday the Bucs were allowing the Green Bay offense to overcome long yardage situations. Making it look easy has started to become a theme not just for the defense, but for the entire team so far this season.

This pass rush... yikes

Heading into this season, the Bucs pass rush was expected to be much improved. The team put a lot of resources into improving it with signing veterans Al Quadin Muhhamad and A'Shawn Robinson as well as drafting Rueben Bain Jr in the first round. There were clear expectations for this group with the likes of Yaya Diaby, Vita Vea and Calijiah Kancey already in place. The production, however has been lackluster to say the least.

Pressure Allowed Vs. TB@PFF

LT: Jordan Morgan: 3
LG: Laken Tomlinson: 0
C: Sean Rhyan: 1
RG: Travis Glover: 1
RT: Anthony Belton: 0

- Jacob Morley (@JacobMorley) October 5, 2026

Coming into Sunday the Packers offensive line was a huge issue and a really hinderance to their offensive production. Don't worry though, they played the right team this week. Jordan Love gets the ball out quickly which doesn't help, but to not have any semblance of pressure on Sunday is just not going to cut it.

Tampa Bay's offense has been ugly for a long time

The Bucs offensive struggles this season have been well documented, but this is an issue stemming from last year as well. Watching this team operate an offense just feels like pulling teeth at this point.

Most games for NFL teams scoring 20 points or less since Week 12 of last season:

Bucs 9 (2-7)
Jets 8 (0-8)
Cardinals 7 (0-7)

- Greg Auman (@gregauman) October 4, 2026

Tampa Bay is on that list with the Jets and the Cardinals who have been two of the worst teams in the NFL over the past year respectively. This is a serious issue, and the worrisome part is that there are no signs things are getting better. In fact, the Bucs points scored as an offense has decreased each week this season, scoring a season low 14 points against the Packers on Sunday. Something needs to change and change fast before things get even uglier for this football team.