After a rollercoaster 2025 season that started with sky-high expectations and ended with a disappointing 2-7 finish over the final nine games, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are flying under the radar heading into 2026. And that might be exactly where they want to be.

The Bucs missed the playoffs last year, but a quiet offseason of retooling has positioned them as potential spoilers in the upcoming season. Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport recently highlighted Tampa Bay as a team that could crash the postseason party, writing that the Bucs "head into the 2026 campaign short two longtime leaders—wide receiver Mike Evans is in San Francisco, and linebacker Lavonte David called it a career after 14 years."

With Evans gone, all eyes are on second-year pro Emeka Egbuka to step up and fill those massive shoes. Egbuka recently told Newsweek's Megan Armstrong that both he and his teammates need to maintain their first-half intensity from 2025 over a full season. The pressure is mounting—if the Bucs come up short again, major changes could be on the horizon in 2027.

But here's the good news: Tampa Bay still plays in the NFC South, one of the most winnable divisions in football. If Baker Mayfield can get hot at the right time and the defense finds its rhythm, this revamped roster has the talent to surprise everyone and make a deep playoff run. For Bucs fans looking to rep their team in 2026, now might be the perfect time to grab some fresh gear—because this team is poised to play spoiler when it matters most.