The 2020 season was not all smooth sailing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They were swept by the New Orleans Saints, and they lost three out of four games in November to fall to 7-5.
While November was bad for the Buccaneers, a loss in October on the road to the Chicago Bears was the worst of the season, according to GM Jason Licht.
Tampa Bay fell to the Bears 20-19 in that contest after leading 10-0 in the first quarter.
“That game was a game that, probably in my career here – and we’ve had a lot of bad losses – that one was one that really stung the most, I think,” Licht said on Tuesday. “Not only did we lose the way we lost with the penalties and things like that, we also lost Vita [Vea]. I was talking about this the other day with Bruce [Arians], actually. I said, ‘Gosh, that game still stings.’ He said, ‘That’s the best thing that happened to us. That game is the best thing that happened to us, looking back in retrospect.’ I think he’s right.
“We cleaned up our penalties, we were more disciplined, and it just brought everybody together. It showed that we’re all human – everybody – and everybody needs to be held accountable. Everybody on the roster, everybody in the front office, and everybody in the organization. It brought us closer together.”
After that loss to Chicago, the Buccaneers won three straight games.
At this point, Tampa Bay has clearly turned it around, and now, after winning three games in the playoffs, all on the road, Tampa Bay is 60 minutes away from being world champions.
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