The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hope their 2026 season looks much different than last year, but one NFL analyst doesn't expect much improvement.
CBS Sports' John Breech released his predictions for all 32 teams ahead of the new season, and he has Tampa Bay finishing 7-10 and missing the playoffs. That would mark the Bucs' second straight losing season after going 8-9 in 2025. Breech has Tampa Bay finishing second in the NFC South, with the New Orleans Saints taking the division despite an 8-9 record.
His complete NFC South prediction:
- New Orleans Saints: 8-9
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 7-10
- Atlanta Falcons: 6-11
- Carolina Panthers: 6-11
Breech isn't just picking New Orleans to jump Tampa Bay in the division. His bold prediction for the NFC South is that Saints head coach Kellen Moore wins Coach of the Year despite New Orleans finishing below .500.
That scenario would leave the Bucs outside
the NFC playoff field entirely. Breech has the Rams, Lions, Cowboys, and Saints winning their respective divisions, with the Seahawks, Packers, and Bears earning the three wild-card spots.
It's a pretty significant change from where Breech had Tampa Bay a year ago. Before the 2025 season, he predicted the Bucs would finish 10-7 and win the NFC South. Instead, Tampa Bay went 8-9 and missed the postseason.
Now Breech expects another step back, dropping the Bucs to seven wins while predicting the Saints will do just enough to take the division.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: CBS Sports predicts disappointing 2026 season for Bucs
