If Todd Bowles Coached The 2020 NFC Championship
November 29th, 2022
Not Todd Bowles-approved.
“This Joe” hates raking Todd Bowles over the coals for what has happened to this Bucs offense and the team as a whole.
Bowles’ defense is playing good ball, for the most part. But Joe has had it with this offense. No, Joe’s not absolving failing Bucs offensive coordinator Bryon Leftwich one iota. But you know what, Bowles approves, condones and accepts this sorry, grossly underachieving offense because if he didn’t, things would have changed by now.
And Joe cannot give Bowles a free pass for that, no matter how much Joe likes the guy and wants him to succeed.
Yesterday, Joe was left speechless hearing Bowles say repeatedly he was scared that the greatest quarterback in NFL history, the master of the two-minute offense, a guy on a historic non-interception season was going to throw a pick and that’s why the Bucs passed on calling timeout in the final drive and ended regulation with two timeouts in his back pocket to stuff in Team Glazer’s stocking next month.
Joe never dreamed of hearing an NFL head coach admit he was scared. But that’s just what Bowles did without using that word.
To say it’s shameful is a terrible understatement.
Think back to the 2020 NFC Championship game when, late in the first half, the Bucs had the ball at midfield. Rather than punt after calling timeout with 13 seconds left, then-Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians had Brady throw an out-pass to Playoff Lenny who got a first down.
After another timeout with eight seconds left, Brady launched a 39-yard bomb to Scotty Miller, giving the Bucs a 21-10 lead at halftime.
The Bucs would go on to win 31-26. If not for that touchdown bomb to Miller, the Bucs would have lost.
Given the logic Bowles used yesterday in explaining why he never wanted to call timeouts on the Bucs’ final drive of regulation against the Browns, had Bowles coached the 2020 NFC title game, Miller’s catch never would have happened. Bowles would have elected to punt two plays earlier.
Some coaches play to win and other coaches play not to lose. Bowles apparently prefers the latter. And that gets you bitten in the arse time after time after time.
November 29th, 2022 at 12:09 am
I just don’t get the passive nature, punting on that 4th and 2 from the Browns 37 was also inexcusable. Loser mentality.
November 29th, 2022 at 12:11 am
Bozo Bowles
November 29th, 2022 at 12:11 am
As far as HC goes, Bowles is straight TRASH!
November 29th, 2022 at 12:20 am
You play to win the game.
Somebody PLEASE tell this to coach Bowles
November 29th, 2022 at 12:21 am
Also, would someone please tell Coach Bowles that the team with the most points wins the game
November 29th, 2022 at 12:22 am
Joe………..Did you not see that it was Vaughn that threw the Defender in the air and he landed on Vea’s legs.
November 29th, 2022 at 12:24 am
Shoulda been a ?
November 29th, 2022 at 12:27 am
Also, I have defended this Coaching Staff since the change. Now I am starting to regret my support.
November 29th, 2022 at 12:28 am
You mean landed on Wirfs? Didn’t notice because was significantly more worried about Wirfs.
November 29th, 2022 at 1:03 am
Bowles in NOT HEAD COACH MATERIALPERIOD!!! Just ask the New York Jets!
November 29th, 2022 at 1:12 am
….or the possibility of a Pass Interference to the King of Drawing PIs ME13 or more recently, Scooter Miller.
Not sure if Media can request to have coaches available to the media, but I would be interested in what Goodie has to say about the run game. He is still the run game coordinator no? Harold impressed me from his first press conference with the Bucs as a straight shooter, similar to B.A.
November 29th, 2022 at 1:13 am
BL needs to go but TB is the boss. So….
.
November 29th, 2022 at 1:17 am
toilot bowles was playing for a tie …..
Most unfortunately for Everyone , fans ,players,& their families, support staff;; Bowles is untouchable-there will be NO coaching changes ..
November 29th, 2022 at 1:35 am
The UntouchaBowles
November 29th, 2022 at 1:58 am
I’ve felt bad for Bowles, he was forced to take Leftwich as part of getting the job, and I’ve given him a ton of slack as I do not believe he is involved with the offense in any way. Like how Gruden was not involved with that all-time great defense in 2002, that was Dungy’s and Kiffin’s defense and outside of running around like an idiot for the TV cameras, Gruden wasn’t involved with anything on defense other than yelling at people.
BUT, with that said, my slack with Bowles is done. He’s a gutless coward. Saying he was afraid that Brady would throw a pick – what a piece of trash and a cowardly response. The only thing I can figure is that Bowles is trying to take heat off Leftwich by saying the dumbest thing possible.
November 29th, 2022 at 2:14 am
Bowles’ ridiculous justification is a severe insult to Tom Brady, who has dealt with exactly the same and worse game situation countless times. COUNTLESS. Brady knows exactly what to do and how to do it. There are dozens of highlight reels, Super Bowl reels, of him managing the damned clock with seconds left.
So the question is, who called the shots yesterday? Who screwed the pooch, and why?
November 29th, 2022 at 2:19 am
Cowardly and disgraceful is words that come to mind. From no risk it no biscuit to hope we can cope, or timeouts saved means thoughtful and engaged or yes I’m scared why is that wierd or don’t play to win take a Loss to the chin or We shake in our cleats and rack up defeats
November 29th, 2022 at 2:41 am
Bear with me here, but isn’t it under the glazers or lichts purview to oversee Bowles blatant lack of clock management skill set? Promoting a clock assistant specialist to assist Bowles in these matters in order to give the Bucs a…. Just sayin.
Give the man some help cause clearly help is needed in this area.
November 29th, 2022 at 5:06 am
Bojim – DING DING DING DING DING!!!!!
November 29th, 2022 at 7:02 am
Don’t feel sorry for Bowles, he got paid. Arains got paid, Leftwich got paid, Licht got paid. Bowles got 4 more years of paychecks coming regardless of what he puts on the field. Will the Glazers be willing to pay them all to go away? Hope that sell Man U, and don’t blink about putting more money into paying another coaching staff.
November 29th, 2022 at 7:03 am
yars
November 29th, 2022 at 7:10 am
YEARS AGO… AFC playoffs, Colts losing, time running out, 4th down, Dungy sends out the punt team. The master of coaching cowardice.
Manning waves them back. Colts convert, win the game and ultimately the SB. And Dungy is hailed as some kind of genius (?)
November 29th, 2022 at 7:10 am
This is exactly what I was afraid of when Bowles was hired. I asked about it here. I said, I wonder how Todd Bowles would handle a scenario like the last 30 seconds of the NFC championship game. And now I know. I’m not at all happy with that loser mentality.
I will always support a coach’s aggressive play calling even when he loses. I will never support the “play not to lose” strategy.
November 29th, 2022 at 7:22 am
Thanks Joe! If I had to endure this loss and in fact this awful season without your website, it would be even worse by far. Thanks for being here for us!
November 29th, 2022 at 7:24 am
Todd Bowles isn’t made for today’s NFL in terms of being a leader. He is a better coordinator than most and will find work in the future as a coordinator if he chooses. As a head coach, never will be hired again. He is too passive and has no understanding of how important it is for a team to put their foot on the pedal when getting a lead. He backs off and plays to run the clock out instead of going for points.
He insists that team has to play better but they don’t. Actually he has to coach better.
The Bucs are one of the most under-achieving team stories in the NFL this year and Todd Bowles is one of the reasons for that.
November 29th, 2022 at 7:32 am
Todd Balless is a loser. Period. No guts no glory. F him. Send him and Leftworst packing. Seasons done.
November 29th, 2022 at 7:57 am
It was a horrible coaching decision
November 29th, 2022 at 8:52 am
you play to win – playing it safe is a losing decision
November 29th, 2022 at 8:53 am
Brian Flores or Eric Bienemy.
November 29th, 2022 at 10:14 am
Well I’m with “The other Joe,” Bowles is totally to blame for this garbage we’re watching. Nothing dulls the excitement of football more than a Defensive head coach. If they were going to promote from within I would have preferred Harold Goodwin. I wanted to give Bowles the benefit of the doubt as a head coach but once again he is proving some dudes are great coordinators but just aren’t head coaching material.
November 29th, 2022 at 10:30 am
Goatfarmer, Tua and the Dolphins were glad to get rid of Flores, another defensive coach. And the brains in K.C. is Andy Reid. I don’t think Bowles was afraid of Brady on the 4th and 2 punt. I think he knew Leftwich would call a run up the gut and that was what he was avoiding.
November 29th, 2022 at 1:29 pm
This Joe needs to hear the following: Bryan Leftwich was a good OC in 2020 and 2021. What’s different? A new HC! And that HC went through how many OCs in NY? How many succeeded?