Bucs' 0-2 Start Intensifies Pressure on Todd Bowles

Overview

• The Buccaneers fell to 0-2 after a 33-27 loss to the Bengals and a 23-19 home defeat to the Browns, leaving the team and fans stunned after high preseason expectations.
• Head coach Todd Bowles said the losses stem from repeat execution errors and that penalties and missed tackles must be fixed immediately.
• Tampa Bay was penalized six times for 62 yards against Cleveland and allowed multiple second-half scoring drives by Deshaun Watson that erased late leads.
• Player voices, including Baker Mayfield, called the issues fixable while social-media reactions and local commentary grew angry and urged firing Bowles and accountability from GM Jason Licht.
• The Bucs face the Minnesota Vikings at Raymond James Stadium in Week 3 with a short window to correct fundamentals and a reminder that only a minority of teams that start 0-2 reach the playoffs.