‘This is the punch in the mouth we need’ – Buccaneers veteran sets the exact tone the team needs after tough loss to Bengals
The Buccaneers’ streak of season-opening wins ended against the Bengals on Sunday, but it might just be the wake-up call the team needs to play up to its potential.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost its first game of the 2026 season and it’s also the team’s first opening loss since the 2020 season.
As it turns out, the Buccaneers won the Super Bowl that year. I’m just saying.
But in all seriousness, veteran cornerback Zyon McCollum made a great point about the disappointing defeat when he spoke with reporters on Monday afternoon.
“We’re looking to bounce back,” said McCollum. “You know, we’ve been winning in Week 1 every year since I’ve been here, and it hasn’t ended in the Super Bowl. So, to come out not on the winning end in Week 1, we’re not going to panic at all, and maybe this is the punch in the mouth that we need.”
Zyon McCollum’s mindset is the mentally tough approach the Buccaneers need
One of the Buccaneers’ biggest goals of 2026 is to recapture the magic over the first eight weeks of last year where the team found ways to win, no matter what. Pulling that off requires a certain mindset and attitude that disappeared after the bye week.
Getting it back is absolutely paramount when it comes to reclaiming the NFC South, along with a playoff berth.
Todd Bowles said on Sept. 1 that he believes the Buccaneers are a mentally tough team and we saw flashes of that against the Bengals. A lot of teams would just fold up shop after three turnovers and an early 18-point deficit, but the Bucs did the complete opposite of that and made what was becoming a travesty into a competitive matchup.
“[We’ve] got to clean up the little things,” Bowles said when asked about his message to the team after the loss. “You know, you’ve got to clean up the little things. That starts in practice, and everybody knows that. Some guys have very good individual games, but individuals don’t win games – teams do. We’ve got to play a lot better. We’ve got to communicate better.
“Obviously, we can coach it better, but we’ve got to be a lot tougher going into this week.”
It’s always refreshing to see/hear players holding themselves, and others, accountable during the down moments of an NFL season. That kind of approach typically leads to improvement –and wins– down the road.
But make no mistake: The Buccaneers have to correct course and get back on track against what looks like a lowly Browns squad. Because it’s going to be an even longer week leading into the Week 3 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings if they don’t.
