It wasn't supposed to be this way.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers entered this season with plenty of questions and doubts about whether they'd be able to return to the playoffs after a one-year hiatus. After last season's 2-7 collapse down the stretch, the doubt was understandable, and the questions were legitimate.

But I don't think anybody ever imagined the team could look this bad.

On Sunday, the Bucs dropped their third straight game to begin the season against the Minnesota Vikings. Tampa needed to find a way to win somehow in order to save its season. Even with Vikings superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson leaving the game early and not returning due to injury, the Bucs couldn't get the job done, falling at home 23-16.

In a game where the Vikings earned only nine first downs, gained only 230 total yards of offense, and committed nine penalties for 95 yards, the Bucs still lost by a touchdown. At home.

To make matters worse, quarterback Baker Mayfield dislocated his right thumb after running for his life on a fourth-and-13 from the Bucs' 39-yard line with 1:54 to go. Tampa had all three timeouts. The right call would have been to punt and trust the defense, which had stifled Minnesota all day, to get one more stop.

Unfortunately, this is the Bucs we're talking about. Going for it was costly. Not only did they fail to get the first down (interception), but Mayfield is now likely to miss time.

Things are bad in Tampa. Really bad.

But, hey, if the season ended now, the Bucs would have the first pick in the draft!

While there is plenty of blame to go around for the team's terrible start (Mayfield, Todd Bowles, Rueben Bain Jr., etc.), there has been no bigger disappointment than the Bucs' offensive line.

Tampa's line was supposed to be the best in the NFL, or at least close. It was the Bucs' undisputed biggest team strength heading into the season.

However, what was supposed to be the team's biggest strength has become its biggest weakness.

In the first two games, Mayfield was sacked a total of seven times, an unacceptable number for an offensive line anchored by star left tackle Tristan Wirfs, who has been on the short list of the league's best offensive linemen for years.

The line is too talented to play as it has in the past two games. If Tampa was going to pull out a win against Minnesota, the line would have to play much better and hold up against defensive coordinator Brian Flores' frequent and exotic blitzing. The offensive line giving Mayfield time to throw and keeping him upright was my number one key to victory for the Bucs this week.

Unfortunately for Bucs, that is not what happened. The line was abysmal on Sunday, turning in by far its worst performance of the season against the Vikings.

Mayfield was sacked six times, and was running for his life for much of the game. 

Not only was the line unable to protect Mayfield, but it also committed crucial, devastating penalties throughout the game.

In the second quarter, after having a first-and-goal from the seven, back-to-back holding penalties on guard Cody Mauch and center Graham Barton killed the drive, forcing Tampa to settle for a field goal.

An even worse sequence happened in the third quarter with the Bucs down 17-13. After a sack and a 15-yard chop block created a third-and-29, Mayfield miraculously hit Chris Godwin Jr. for an 85-yard touchdown.

The incredible play was wiped out by yet another penalty, this time a holding call against right tackle Luke Goedeke.

It was just a miserable showing from a unit thought to be among the NFL's best at any position.

No other group on Tampa's roster has fallen short of expectations more than the offensive line.

The line was thought to be the NFL's best this season. It has been much closer to the worst.

Now the Bucs likely must depend on an undrafted rookie quarterback to somehow salvage their season.

Not many Bucs can be singled out for overachieving this season, but no position group has underachieved more than the offensive line.