Buccaneers' Passing Game Could Be Historically Bad in 2026

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers need to get their passing game together, and quickly.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) looks on before the game against the Carolina Panthers | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have an electrifying run game that ranks among the best in the league and a suffocating defense that might actually be the best in the league. So why are they 3-6 during their bye week?

The answer is in their passing offense. Tampa Bay's passing offense is last in the league in yards per game (141.9) and yards per pass (5.9). But it goes a lot deeper than that once you dive in to advanced metrics.

This Buccaneers passing offense isn't simply bad — according to success rate, it may be historically bad.

Buccaneers Among Worst Passing Offenses Since 2010 (So Far)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Zac Robinson looks on before the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Tampa Bay's is last in the NFL EPA/dropback (-0.297) and 28th in explosive pass rate. But when you take success rate into account, the offense has been dire so far.

Success rate is defined by successful plays. A successful play is typically considered to be 40% or more of the required yards on first down, 60% or more of the required yards on second down and then 100% or more of the required yards on third or fourth down.

Tampa Bay's success rate in the passing game so far this year is a paltry 35.4%. As CBS reporter JP Acosta noted on Twitter, that's only bad, it's the 11th-worst passing offense by success rate since 2010 in Weeks 1-9.

According to @TruMediaSports, these are the 20 worst offenses in the NFL since 2010 through weeks 1-9 when it comes to Passing Success Rate. 4 teams from 2026 being on here is...staggering, and the 2026 Broncos just missed the cut! pic.twitter.com/h94onOVPpx

— JP Acosta (@acosta32_jp) November 11, 2026

Obviously, there is still time for this to change for Tampa Bay going forward. The list also, interestingly enough, features three other teams from 2026 — the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 4, the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 6 and the Minnesota Vikings at No. 17.

That shouldn't distract from the fact that, if this trend continues, the Bucs could be a historically bad passing offense. That falls on everyone involved, from offensive coordinator Zac Robinson to quarterback Baker Mayfield and his largely ineffective receiving corps.

The Bucs don't have a ton of time to turn things around, but they'll have to do their best. Every NFC South team currently has three wins at the moment, so the division is all for the taking — and to take it, Tampa Bay will have to get going through the air.

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