Another Sunday, and another loss for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This one came 23-20 at the hands of the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte. And once again, it was a game the Bucs had right in their hands, and they let it slip away.

It’s starting to feel like Groundhog Day watching this Bucs team, both the holiday and the movie. Each new creative way to lose feels like some type of way that Bill Murray offs himself in the movie before waking up at 6:00 am in his hotel room bed.

Whether it’s a Tyler Shough run through traffic for a touchdown, a statuesque Kirk Cousins having all day to read and pick apart the Bucs’ defense while turning a third-and-28 into a game-winning field goal, or Baker Mayfield misfiring in the fourth quarter for a crucial game-altering interception, it’s been a painful and bitter end to each Sunday afternoon for the Bucs. But they wake up on Monday and try to do something different and less dangerous.

However, despite the changing circumstances from game to game, one thing has been constant: Tampa Bay’s pass rush stinks, particularly from off the edge. And it’s not going to get any better until general manager Jason Licht improves this group of edge rushers significantly.

Tampa Bay’s pass rush simply isn’t good enough, and it’s going to be a significant reason why they miss the playoffs if they come up short

The stats tell very little of the story on Sunday. The Bucs totaled two sacks (not great) but were credited with nine QB hits. Four of those came from linebackers and defensive backs. Bryce Young wasn’t awesome statistically – 21/32 passing for 191 yards and two touchdowns – but he had too much time to throw, and when he did, he was effective at moving the ball and sustaining drives.

After the game, Todd Bowles stood up somewhat for his pass rush after he was asked about not getting much pressure from his outside rushers and how it affects the rest of the defense.

“It affects it a little,” Bowles said. “I mean, the ball was coming out quick with some empties and some things like that, and the pressure we did get, we missed the quarterback on the touchdown, but it doesn’t affect everything. I think for the most part, the coverage held everything in front of them. I know they got behind (Benjamin) Morrison one time at the end, and they got behind (Jamel) Dean before the end of the half, which can’t happen. But the pressure, when the pressure was there, the ball was coming out so fast, but we’ve got to make some plays in the pass rush and getting back there.”

Bowles is talking about when Young stepped out of a would-be sack by Yaya Diaby, dodged past Logan Hall, and delivered a strike for a go-ahead touchdown to Ja’Tavion Sanders at the end of the third quarter. Close, but no cigar. And that play showed that, while pressures are obviously very important, sacks are king for a reason.

Licht simply has to address his defense aggressively this offseason. Multiple starting-caliber linebackers are needed. The Bucs may need another starting-caliber corner if Dean hits the market and gets paid elsewhere (they love Morrison, but they need more). And they need to invest heavily at the edge rusher position, both in the draft and free agency. That should be a top priority for this roster moving forward.

We’ll see if the Bucs can back their way into the playoffs over the next two weeks against Miami and Carolina, but regardless, this team has told us each Sunday who they are. And Licht needs to do something about it in a big way once March and April are here.

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