The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in freefall, losing five of their last six games, and the latest, to the Atlanta Falcons, saw Todd Bowles' team up 28-14 in the fourth quarter.
A game-winning field goal was a dagger to the hearts of Tampa Bay fans and players as the franchise now has to pick itself up for a monster Week 16 clash against the Carolina Panthers on the road.
Given the two losses the Buccaneers are coming off of, the team's ability to keep pushing forward when things feel bleak is tough.
But for Bowles, the biggest challenge his team faces ahead of Week 16 is dealing with the mental approach.
“I don't think it's a big hurdle physically, it's a bigger hurdle mentally because of the two losses we just got over, two in one week really that sort of to speak," Bowles said. "So, we got to regroup, we got to come back Monday, and we just got to take it one day at a time, one play at a time."
More: Todd Bowles reveals Buccaneers mindset after embarrassing Falcons loss
"Little things" key to Bucs revival
This week will be huge for the franchise, and without being too heavy-handed, the Buccaneers, if they win, will have a great chance to win the division.
But lose, and it will be incredibly tough and would need to win out to ensure a fifth-straight NFC South title.
For Bowles, the key to getting a win in Week 16 is focusing on one thing.
"We got to come back with the attitude and just try to do the little things right," Bowles added. "We just want to work on the little things. If we can do those, we feel like we give ourselves a chance to win. We just got to go from practice to the game."
After starting the year 5-1, the Buccaneers have won just once since Week 8, and now that good start has been erased.
Still controlling their playoff destiny, the Buccaneers know how important Week 16 is, and getting the little details right could be what hands Tampa Bay the ascendancy in the division race.
More Buccaneers news:
- Baker Mayfield shoulders blame for Buccaneers' collapse against Falcons
- Bucky Irving's frustrating lack of usage near goal line explained by Bucs reporter
- Todd Bowles points finger after Bucs' loss to Falcons and it wasn't at the coaches
- Buccaneers vs. Falcons final score, results: Kirk Cousins, Falcons storm back from 14-point deficit to shock Buccaneers