What’s Next For The Buccaneers After 23-20 Wild-Card Loss to Commanders
Tampa Bay’s playoff hopes ended Sunday when Washington beat them in a close 23-20 loss. Under Todd Bowles, this is their second early exit from the postseason. They still couldn’t win at night, losing all five prime-time games this season. Even after winning the NFC South title, they’ve fallen short in the playoffs three years in a row.
Veteran defensive leader Lavonte David may have played his last game, but he gave it his all. The 34-year-old racked up eight tackles and got a sack. His 2023 season was impressive, 130 tackles and 5.5 sacks, his best rushing numbers since 2013.
In the matchup against his rival, Mike Evans got the better of Marshon Lattimore, pulling in seven catches for 92 yards and a touchdown. Evans dominated the first half, catching everything thrown his way against Lattimore, including a quick touchdown at the goal line.
Rookie standout Bucky Irving made history, running for 77 yards on 17 carries. His ground game beat Warrick Dunn’s previous playoff record for rookies. Cade Otton broke records and exceeded expectations, collecting 244 receiving yards in postseason play. His strong return from injury helped him pass Rob Gronkowski’s previous record of 226.
The game highlighted Tampa’s defensive problems, an issue that’s bothered them all season. These weaknesses need to be addressed before next season. While Bowles has led the team to three division titles in a row, his 1-3 playoff record isn’t as impressive. The team can’t seem to turn regular-season success into playoff wins.
As they look toward 2024, there’s a lot of uncertainty. Several key players might leave, and David’s possible retirement adds another challenge to figure out.
