Social Media Reacts to Buccaneers' Close Wild Card Loss to Commanders

It was a hard-fought season, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers weren't able to extend it on Sunday night.

The Buccaneers dropped their Wild Card game to the Washington Commanders 23-20 Sunday, officially ending their season while the Commanders move on to play the Detroit Lions. The Bucs were able to find the end zone twice, but numerous miscues and defensive woes saw them unable to stop the Commanders, who played a more consistent game.

There was a lot to talk about on social media when the game was over, with most fans and pundits calling for head coach Todd Bowles' job, attributing those aformentioned miscues and defensive woes on him. Others, meanwhile, talked about how proud they were of another Buccaneers season in the playoffs.

Here's what the internet was saying after Tampa Bay's tough loss:

FIRE TODD BOWLES pic.twitter.com/6dQzapl9iz
— JC Cornell (@CornellNFL) January 13, 2025

Despite how gut wrenching this loss is for Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers.

Mayfield is now the NFL’s All time leader in career playoff passer rating with a score of 105.95, edging out Patrick Mahomes 105.8.

The Buccaneers have their Franchise guy and they’ll be back pic.twitter.com/0HrdtR8HA4
— Timothy Bailey (@RealTimBailey) January 13, 2025

I will always appreciate every minute of your career as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer, Lavonte David. You’re a Top 10 Buc all-time ❤️ pic.twitter.com/fHZ9Koyo0x
— Salty Buccaneer🧂🏴‍☠️🟥🟧⬜️ (@SaltyBuc91) January 13, 2025

Going to be a lot of conversations in the offseason. The defense needs an infusion of talent/depth in the back 7. Scheme needs to be modified/updated.

A premier pass rusher as well.

And yes there will be conversations about HC.
— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) January 13, 2025

Soooo yeah, I think there needs to be some very difficult conversations in Tampa Bay

I would choose Liam Coen over Todd Bowles for head coach any day of the week moving forward. If Bowles was an ordinary DC, he would be fired for how his unit performed this season
— Nico (@elitetakes_) January 13, 2025

I know Todd Bowles has made the playoffs 100% of the time, but considering:

- He's a defensive coach and Washington crossed the 50 every drive
- His clock management/in game management skills have actually gotten worse

If you can promote Coen to HC and fire Bowles, you do it
— JaguarGator9 (@JaguarGator9NFL) January 13, 2025

Every fanbase after every season ends says “ the future is bright” but I can assure you it’s true in Tampa. OL is formidable and young with an All-Pro, rookie class with Bucky Irving, Jalen McMillan, Graham Barton, Devin Culp, Chris Braswell with more snaps, Tykee Smith. Went…
— Ashlie (@EMT_Ashlie) January 13, 2025

Bowles was egregiously bad, but Bucs beat themselves all night. Commanders didn’t. As it often is when Bucs lose, that’s the story of the game
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) January 13, 2025

Bowles is one of the top defensive architects in the sport (even if it's been a mess at times this season), but you cannot continue to go into the playoffs with a coach who so often gags away key moments -- or full games -- with awful clock management https://t.co/UScc8wwVqk
— Ollie Connolly (@OllieConnolly) January 13, 2025

Tonight sure felt like (unfortunately for Bucs fans) Tampa was a chapter in a special story being written about Jayden Daniels. Wasn’t perfect, but he’s already a Top 8 QB as a rookie. Him and Quinn, Washington’s in good hands
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) January 13, 2025

Discipline.

Something this Bucs team under Todd Bowles lacks.

Horrible penalties, boneheaded miscues, etc.

Can’t win a championship this way.
— Cody Haynes (@codyh33) January 13, 2025

Tough way for the #Bucs to go out. Too many mistakes did them in. But in the end, it was the defensive struggles throughout all of the season that couldn't show up with the game on the line
— Matt Matera (@matty4_matera) January 13, 2025

After the repeated (and egregious) game management issues this season, I have to think there's a possibility that this is Todd Bowles' last game as the Bucs head coach.
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) January 13, 2025

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