2025 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Season 50 Review
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrated their 50th NFL season in 2025, their fourth under head coach Todd Bowles and their 28th playing home games at Raymond James Stadium. The Bucs entered the year as four-time defending NFC South champions.
A 3–0 start and a 6–2 record at the bye gave the anniversary campaign an encouraging launch. Tampa Bay then went 2–7 over its final nine games, finishing 8–9 and second in the NFC South. The season ended with a home victory over Carolina, but the Panthers claimed the division through a tiebreaker.
- Regular season
- 8–9
- NFC South
- 2nd place
- Preseason
- 2–1
- Bye
- Week 9
2025 Preseason Results
All times Eastern. Tampa Bay’s score is listed first. @ indicates an away game. On smaller screens, swipe or scroll the tables sideways.
| Date / Kickoff | Helmet | Opponent / Stadium | Week / Record / TV | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7:30 p.m. ET |  |
Tennessee TitansRaymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL | PS Week 1Record: 1–0WFLA | Won 29–7 |
| 7:00 p.m. ET |  |
@ Pittsburgh SteelersAcrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA | PS Week 2Record: 2–0WFLA | Won 17–14 |
| 7:30 p.m. ET |  |
Buffalo BillsRaymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL | PS Week 3Record: 2–1WFLA | Lost 19–23 |
2025 Regular-Season Schedule & Results
Final record: 8–9 (.471) | Division: 3–3 | Conference: 6–6 | Final streak: W1
Results link to the game notes below; opponent names and helmets link to the opponent archive. The final game of the 2025 season was played on January 3, 2026.
| Date / Kickoff | Helmet | Opponent / Stadium | Week / Record / TV | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:00 p.m. ET |  |
@ Atlanta FalconsMercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA | Week 1Record: 1–0FOX | Won 23–20 |
| 7:00 p.m. ET |  |
@ Houston TexansNRG Stadium, Houston, TX | Week 2Record: 2–0ABC | Won 20–19 |
| 1:00 p.m. ET |  |
New York JetsRaymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL | Week 3Record: 3–0FOX | Won 29–27 |
| 1:00 p.m. ET |  |
Philadelphia EaglesRaymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL | Week 4Record: 3–1FOX | Lost 25–31 |
| 4:05 p.m. ET |  |
@ Seattle SeahawksLumen Field, Seattle, WA | Week 5Record: 4–1CBS | Won 38–35 |
| 1:00 p.m. ET |  |
San Francisco 49ersRaymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL | Week 6Record: 5–1CBS | Won 30–19 |
| 7:00 p.m. ET |  |
@ Detroit LionsFord Field, Detroit, MI | Week 7Record: 5–2ESPN / ABC | Lost 9–24 |
| 4:05 p.m. ET |  |
@ New Orleans SaintsCaesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA | Week 8Record: 6–2FOX | Won 23–3 |
| — | BYE WEEK | Week 9Record: 6–2 | No game | |
| 1:00 p.m. ET |  |
New England PatriotsRaymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL | Week 10Record: 6–3CBS | Lost 23–28 |
| 1:00 p.m. ET | |
@ Buffalo BillsHighmark Stadium, Orchard Park, NY | Week 11Record: 6–4CBS | Lost 32–44 |
| 8:20 p.m. ET |  |
@ Los Angeles RamsSoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA | Week 12Record: 6–5NBC | Lost 7–34 |
| 1:00 p.m. ET |  |
Arizona CardinalsRaymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL | Week 13Record: 7–5FOX | Won 20–17 |
| 1:00 p.m. ET | |
New Orleans SaintsRaymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL | Week 14Record: 7–6CBS | Lost 20–24 |
| 8:15 p.m. ET | |
Atlanta FalconsRaymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL | Week 15Record: 7–7Prime Video | Lost 28–29 |
| 1:00 p.m. ET |  |
@ Carolina PanthersBank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC | Week 16Record: 7–8FOX | Lost 20–23 |
| 1:00 p.m. ET |  |
@ Miami DolphinsHard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL | Week 17Record: 7–9FOX | Lost 17–20 |
| 4:30 p.m. ET | |
Carolina PanthersRaymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL | Week 18Record: 8–9ESPN / ABC | Won 16–14 |
Postseason Status
Tampa Bay did not qualify for the postseason. Atlanta's 19–17 victory over New Orleans on January 4, 2026 created a three-way tie at 8–9, and Carolina won the NFC South through the division tiebreaker. Division-clinching result.
2025 Season Stats Brief
| Home / Away | 4–4 / 4–5 |
|---|---|
| Points scored / allowed | 380 / 411 (−31 differential) |
| Passing leader | Baker Mayfield — 3,693 yards, 26 touchdowns |
| Rushing leader | Bucky Irving — 588 yards, 1 touchdown |
| Receiving leader | Emeka Egbuka — 63 catches, 938 yards, 6 touchdowns |
| Tackles leader | Lavonte David — 114 |
| Sacks leader | Yaya Diaby — 7.0 |
| Interceptions leader | Jamel Dean — 3 |
2025 Draft Notes
Tampa Bay selected six players: two receivers, two cornerbacks and two defensive-front prospects. Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka opened the class at No. 19 overall; Oregon receiver Tez Johnson completed it in the seventh round.
- Round 1, pick 19: WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State.
- Round 2, pick 53: CB Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame.
- Round 3, pick 84: CB Jacob Parrish, Kansas State.
- Round 4, pick 121: OLB David Walker, Central Arkansas.
- Round 5, pick 157: DL Elijah Roberts, SMU.
- Round 7, pick 235: WR Tez Johnson, Oregon.
2025 Season GameDay Notes
Week 1: Away at Atlanta Falcons — Won 23–20
Rookie Emeka Egbuka caught two touchdown passes in his NFL debut, including Baker Mayfield's late go-ahead throw. Atlanta missed a potential tying field goal as Tampa Bay opened its 50th season with a 23–20 road win. Official game recap.
Week 2: Away at Houston Texans — Won 20–19
Rachaad White's two-yard touchdown run completed an 80-yard drive as Tampa Bay edged Houston 20–19. Mayfield's fourth-down scramble kept the decisive possession alive, sending the Bucs home with a 2–0 record. Official game recap.
Week 3: Home vs. New York Jets — Won 29–27
Chase McLaughlin's fifth field goal, a 36-yard kick as time expired, rescued a 29–27 victory after the Jets rallied in the fourth quarter. Tampa Bay reached 3–0 for the first time since 2005. Official game recap.
Week 4: Home vs. Philadelphia Eagles — Lost 25–31
A 65-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin and long touchdown catches by Emeka Egbuka and Bucky Irving fueled a comeback attempt. An early deficit proved too much, however, as Philadelphia handed Tampa Bay its first loss, 31–25. Official game recap.
Week 5: Away at Seattle Seahawks — Won 38–35
Lavonte David's late interception set up Chase McLaughlin's winning 39-yard field goal in a 38–35 shootout. Baker Mayfield passed for 379 yards, and Emeka Egbuka added 163 receiving yards as Tampa Bay improved to 4–1. Official game recap.
Week 6: Home vs. San Francisco 49ers — Won 30–19
Baker Mayfield escaped pressure for a crucial third-down scramble before finding Tez Johnson for a 45-yard touchdown. Tampa Bay's defense added six sacks, helping an injury-depleted lineup beat San Francisco 30–19 and reach 5–1. Official game recap.
Week 7: Away at Detroit Lions — Lost 9–24
Detroit handed Tampa Bay its first road defeat, 24–9, on Monday Night Football. The Bucs managed only 262 offensive yards, while Jahmyr Gibbs produced 218 yards from scrimmage for the Lions. Tampa Bay slipped to 5–2. Official game recap.
Week 8: Away at New Orleans Saints — Won 23–3
Anthony Nelson returned an interception for a touchdown as the defense forced four turnovers in a 23–3 victory. Chase McLaughlin connected on three field goals from beyond 50 yards, sending Tampa Bay into its bye at 6–2. Official game recap.
Week 9: Bye Week
Tampa Bay reached its break with a 6–2 record after eight games.
Week 10: Home vs. New England Patriots — Lost 23–28
Tampa Bay returned from its bye with a 28–23 home loss. Baker Mayfield threw three touchdown passes, but New England's TreVeyon Henderson broke free for 55- and 69-yard touchdown runs as the Bucs fell to 6–3. Official game recap.
Week 11: Away at Buffalo Bills — Lost 32–44
A season-high 202 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns were not enough in Buffalo. The Bills scored the game's final two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, defeating Tampa Bay 44–32 and dropping the Bucs to 6–4. Official game recap.
Week 12: Away at Los Angeles Rams — Lost 7–34
Baker Mayfield's left shoulder injury kept him out of the second half as the Rams won 34–7 on Sunday Night Football. Matthew Stafford threw three touchdown passes, and Tampa Bay's third consecutive defeat left the Bucs at 6–5. Official game recap.
Week 13: Home vs. Arizona Cardinals — Won 20–17
Left tackle Tristan Wirfs caught a touchdown on a trick play, and the defense delivered two crucial fourth-down stops. Tampa Bay held off Arizona 20–17, ending a three-game skid and improving to 7–5. Official game recap.
Week 14: Home vs. New Orleans Saints — Lost 20–24
Saints quarterback Tyler Shough rushed for two touchdowns as New Orleans won 24–20 in Tampa. The Bucs converted only three of 13 third-down attempts and could not finish their final possession with a score, falling to 7–6. Official game recap.
Week 15: Home vs. Atlanta Falcons — Lost 28–29
Tampa Bay lost a 28–14 fourth-quarter lead as Atlanta rallied for a 29–28 Thursday night victory. Zane Gonzalez's 43-yard field goal as time expired settled the game, and the Bucs' record dropped to 7–7. Official game recap.
Week 16: Away at Carolina Panthers — Lost 20–23
Carolina moved ahead in the division race with a 23–20 victory. Ryan Fitzgerald supplied the winning field goal, and Lathan Ransom intercepted Baker Mayfield with 42 seconds remaining to end Tampa Bay's comeback attempt. The Bucs fell to 7–8. Official game recap.
Week 17: Away at Miami Dolphins — Lost 17–20
Three turnovers undermined Tampa Bay's opening touchdown drive in a 20–17 loss at Miami. The Bucs slipped to 7–9, but Carolina's simultaneous loss to Seattle preserved a route to the division title entering the final week. Official game recap.
Week 18: Home vs. Carolina Panthers — Won 16–14
Tampa Bay finished the regular season with a 16–14 win in the rain, outrushing Carolina 140–19. The victory produced an 8–9 record and kept the Bucs' division-title hopes alive until the following day's Saints–Falcons result. Official game recap.
Season reference sources: Official 2025 results; kickoff times and TV schedule; finalized Week 18 details; final standings; season review and statistical leaders; 2025 draft class.
Season archive updated October 31, 2026. Game summaries are provided by BuccaneersFan.com with links to official recaps.
