Todd Bowles Absolves Offense

November 5th, 2023

Offense did its job.

Joe doesn’t give a damn. If your offense scores 37 points, you should win. Period.

Nope. The Bucs defense shatted all over the field so badly today in Houston that Joe thought for sure Mike Smith was back at defensive coordinator and had Alterraun Verner, Vernon Hargreaves, Ryan Smith, Sabby the Goat and Chris Conte all on the field in a nickel defense.

It’s been a while since Joe saw a Bucs defense sliced and diced that badly. To make matters worse for Todd Bowles, a friggin’ rookie quarterback set an NFL rookie record by racking up 470 passing yards.

Then, the cherry on top was C.J. Stroud marching Houston some 75 yards in 40 seconds on the game-winning drive. Forty seconds!!!

Yes, Bucs fans are irate. They ought to be. And it seems Bowles was peeved too the way he spoke after the game.

“We should be p!ssed off all week,” Bowles said. “Defensively, the fundamentals and technique, the breakdowns at the end of the ball game and the start of the third quarter are unacceptable.”

Well, why was this? Joe cannot believe that Jamel Dean is so vital to this defense that his absence due to a concussion triggered a total collapse. That’s sure how it felt.

The defense crashed like a Jenga fame in a dive bar in Dunedin.

Bowles also made it clear: There is no need to throw rocks at his offense. “They scored more than enough points on offense to do it,” Bowles said.

He’s absolutely right. You score 37, that should be a winner.

The 37 points scored is a season-high for the Bucs, eclipsing the 26 points the Bucs scored in a win at New Orleans over the slimy Saints.

Wreck sh!t?” Yeah, the Bucs’ defense had their sh!t wrecked.

94 Responses to “Todd Bowles Absolves Offense”

  1. Rod Munch Says:

    The defense collapse is on one person, and shockingly, this week it isn’t Ryan Neal, who only gave up one TD.

    No, the person to blame is Todd Bowles.

    By putting no pressure on Stroud, and playing a very simple loose zone defense, he let the kid get into a zone, and did nothing to knock him out of that zone until the 2nd to last drive, when he finally started playing some man – only to revert back to super soft zone on the final series.

    A pitiful effort by a terrible head coach who is completely clueless.

  2. mark2001 Says:

    Bowles the defensive guru gave us this. And not like he hasn’t had a goodly number of high draft picks over the last years to do it. If you like Canales, fine. Keep him if you can. But time for a new HC and DC.

  3. Rod Munch Says:

    251 yards passing, 81 yards rushing.

    Only to a loser coach like Bowles is that acceptable in 2023.

    What would Arians say after a game like this?

    Oh right, Arians wouldn’t have lost this game, so we’ll never know.

  4. TheBucsAnthem Says:

    Todd Bowles needs to Absolve himself from the team

  5. Mike Says:

    Season is over- not wasting anymore time on my Sundays watching a turd of a team that you just can’t shine. When are the owners going to wake the hell up and clean house.

  6. We Make Custom Teez Says:

    LOL at the people wanting to bench Dean for Zyon McCollum 😂😂

  7. HC Grover Says:

    It was one of his very best losses.

  8. Leighroy Says:

    Shame, shame, shame.

  9. Buc50 Says:

    Off coverage on 3rd downs is killing us. They should have had pressure in that kids face. Is he better than average, yes but no way should he have beat us like that.

  10. Old Sombrero Says:

    Absolutely amazing. He not only torched us in the last 40 seconds,..but the entire game since he had 470 yards,…..Agree with you both.

  11. Miller5252 Says:

    27-0 Raiders….Weird…. What did they do last week that helped so much??? Maybe the Bucs can do the same thing.

  12. BrianBucs Says:

    But isn’t Bowles a defensive genius? 😂

  13. Jerseybuc Says:

    F you radio!! That’s your scheme out there your play calling didn’t see you coaching in the sidelines. One or 2 blown coverage maybe. Every time Houston had the ball in the second half was shredding that D for 6!!

  14. Rod Munch Says:

    HEY GUYS, I KNOW THINGS LOOK DOWN TODAY, BUT I THINK WE FOUND OUR FRANCHISE TIGHT END! OTTON WAS ON PACE TODAY TO HAVE A 1200-YARD 34-TD SEASON! GRONK JR?!?! NO, MORE LIKE GRONK SR! YES SIR!

    #TEAMPOSITIVE!

  15. Ted Says:

    Dear Glazers,
    Please fire Simple Todd and go get a Rock Star Offensive minded head coach and a Pro Bowl QB. The last two times you did this, you won the Lombardi Trophy. Don’t overthink this decision, you all know what works, just do it.

  16. YucsBucsYucs Says:

    Im not even mad because earlier in the week I had a feeling CJ was going to torch this defense and the Yucs were going to lose given their record to rookies and backups or first time starters. Bryce Young will do the same !! Remember this post when you bet because next week the Titans and Levis will do the same

  17. SteveK Says:

    Good news:
    CJ Stroud is not a panther and Bryce Young is.

    Joining Rod on Team Positive! Bryce Young is nowhere close to Stroud and it’s great not having to face him twice a year. Sheesh. Going has two pick 6’s so far today!

  18. Steven007 Says:

    Miller, the Glazer’s aren’t Mark Davis. And that is mostly a very good thing. Check out the raiders since he took over versus our team. Ugly day and likely and ugly season for us. But don’t start wishing for crap like that. Oftentimes teams make a change and get a short spark. If the raiders end up in the playoffs I’ll give the firing more credit. But Antonio Pierce? Come on. Bowles is likely gone here after this year. But it’s probably not going to happen until the season’s over.

  19. SBucs Says:

    Gee Todd, its sounds like you should fire the defensive coordinator.

  20. Rod Munch Says:

    YucsBucsYucs Says:
    November 5th, 2023 at 6:41 pm
    Im not even mad because earlier in the week I had a feeling CJ was going to torch this defense and the Yucs were going to lose given their record to rookies and backups or first time starters. Bryce Young will do the same !!

    ———-

    I agree on CJ, which is why I put money on him in daily.

    Completely wrong on Young. While he’ll be the Bucs, at least once, he’s no Stroud, not even Todd Bowles can make him look that good.

  21. 74 Bucs Fan Says:

    Bowels points to defensive breakdowns after each loss – but that is squarely on you Bowels if they don’t know what to do after 5 YEARS of your coaching. Seems obvious that you are the problem Bowles.

  22. Jack Sparrow Says:

    The so called Defensive genius Todd Bowles got torched by a rookie QB even without any kickers……. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

  23. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Just a bit lost in all of this is how fantastic Stroud was today…..he got the ball out…avoided what little pressure we pus on him and he was extremely poised and accurate.
    We would be very lucky to draft a QB that good.

    And yes….not overlooked our pass defense and pass rush sucked.

  24. BucThis Says:

    🙏 please let me wake up tomorrow morning to Ian Rapoport reporting that Bowels has been released from his duties 🙏

  25. Bucs13 Says:

    Stroud outplayed Mayfield with fewer weapons than him. Stroud also dealt with a makeshift OL. Mayfield was facing a Texans’ defense who were missing three starters on defense.

  26. CHRISTOS Says:

    Unacceptable is calling a timeout to avoid 10 seconds runoff after the fumble review. You are at the 14yd line.
    39 seconds is more than enough you dont need 49.
    The Texans need 49
    Unacceptable

  27. SteveK Says:

    On what planet of NFL QB evaluation is Bryce Young better than CJ Stroud? Incredible for Bucs fans that the Panthers grabbed an undersized, mediocre-armed dude- while passing on a true stud. Hahaha

  28. dbbuc711 Says:

    If he is going to absolve the offense he should resign

  29. Rod Munch Says:

    CHRISTOS Says:
    November 5th, 2023 at 6:48 pm
    Unacceptable is calling a timeout to avoid 10 seconds runoff after the fumble review. You are at the 14yd line.
    39 seconds is more than enough you dont need 49.

    ———

    Also, 39 seconds AND you have two timeouts.

    Then this moron head coach chooses to stop the clock, when he literally was running the ball to run the clock down earlier on the drive.

    Literally one of the stupidest decisions you could make knowing your defense couldn’t stop anything, and you were purposely trying to avoid any time left on the clock only a couple of plays earlier.

    But this is what you get when you have an overmatched idiot running the team.

  30. Jack Clark Says:

    Todd Bowles needs to give everyone who believed in him an apology for being a complete failure of a head coach 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡

  31. Bucs13 Says:

    Four straight losses since someone from the Bucs organization leaked that this was a better team without Tom Brady. That came from either Licht or Bowles. It was a cheap shot because Brady hasn’t said ANYTHING negative about Bowles.

  32. Arn platz Says:

    Yet another rookie quarterback breaking and setting records against the Bucs defense. You can’t make this stuff up.

  33. Rod Munch Says:

    BTW, who are the coaching candidates out there to replace Bowles?

    Obviously it’s going to be an offensive guy. Do they go over a coordinator – or go for a college coach? I don’t watch college, and I’d personally not go that route, but I don’t know who the new hotness is. If you go with an OC, what scheme are you looking at?

  34. Jack Clark Says:

    Fire Todd Bowles, he will get another DC job somewhere else and Dave Canales can go crawling back to the Seahawks. It’s a win win for everyone, especially the fans!

  35. Miller5252 Says:

    @Steven007 Nope they’re not Mark Davis… But at least Mark Davis has a big enough pair that when his team was going in the wrong direction he did something about it, even if he loses 85 million over it. I’m sure the Raiders will still suck this year, but just like the Bucs going and getting Chucky or Arians, you better be willing to make a change when it’s time and you’re wasting away everything that SB brought you.

  36. 74 Bucs Fan Says:

    I look forward to watching the train wreck, uh -the press conference, tomorrow.

  37. Rod Munch Says:

    So when do we start getting articles talking about the draft?

  38. Georgia Redneck Says:

    I thought Bowles was a defensive guru. He has failed on more than this occasion. His history as a head coach is a loser. It just continues.

  39. KindaHazyOne Says:

    The blind coaching is an apparent problem to every fan that has to suffer through a game.. and now they are opening a coaching academy?

    White playing like a half decent receiver while running into walls on handoffs.. but is on the morning news for how much he’s doing for the RB game and position?

    Davis gets beat over and over, has shown 0 hustle for the better part of 2 years now… and then getting press coverage and name drops for his awesome performance?

    Am I missing something everyone else sees? Its starting to feel like these stories got wrote before the season started, and nobody cares enough to amend them as the train completely goes off the tracks…

  40. SB~LV Says:

    Starts with the owners
    Sell the team please

  41. Since76 Says:

    I really didn’t think we had a shot this year with Baker but I dare hoped. We are 7 games in in the worst division and its over already. Time to think of next year. I didn’t think we would have this many losses this early.

  42. Popcorn Mike Says:

    Rod munch you’re right when do we start talking about the draft. After today, it’s no way the Bucs make the playoffs. We’re looking 5 or 6 win season now

  43. firethecannons Says:

    Rod Munch Says:
    November 5th, 2023 at 6:59 pm
    So when do we start getting articles talking about the draft?
    It would be my guess after we lose next week to the Titans and Will Levis scores at least 5 touchdowns.

  44. Mostly Peaceful Trask Fan Says:

    Yes a rare offensive outburst was indeed squandered.

  45. Steven007 Says:

    Miller, it’s less having big cojones than it is making measured decisions. All of us are PO’D about today’s game and would love the reset to happen now. They don’t see the logic in that and most of the time it’s ultimately worked out well enough. Plus, who you’re going to elevate on our staff? Serious question. And regardless. It’s not going to happen. Also, the glazers have swallowed as much fired coach money as any ownership team in the last 25 years.

  46. Mostly Peaceful Trask Fan Says:

    Bucs13 never talk trash about Tom Brady.

    The football gods get angry.

  47. Rod Munch Says:

    TITans vs Bucs
    Point spread: Bucs -1.5

    ——-

    Are the odds makers not aware of what a rookie QB just did to Bowles? What all rookie QBs do to Bowles? Are the TITans getting Tannehill back next game? Otherwise I don’t get that line.

  48. orlbucfan Says:

    He better. He needs to figure out crooked/stupid refs, too.

  49. #99 the big fella Says:

    And with the 3rd pick in the 2024 nfl draft the bucs select Joe Schmo kicker from university of Lakeland florida

  50. Jack Sparrow Says:

    This is Arian’s fault. He never should have brought in Bowles just to appease the Rooney rules.

  51. Popcorn Mike Says:

    Just right out embarrassed for my be loved Bucs

  52. SB~LV Says:

    A whole new mindset needs to come a save the franchise, new owners and clean out the legion of yes men and women hanging on to the Glazers gravy train.
    Sorry boys it’s time to sell !

  53. Winny Testaverde Says:

    Give Bowles his mercy walking papers…a box of Chips Ahoy and a gallon of 1% milk as a last meal. He won’t recover from this. He never recovered from the collapse in the waning moments vs the Rams two years ago.

  54. Miller5252 Says:

    @Steven007 at this point it doesn’t matter who you elevate. You just know it’s not going anywhere except bad with Bowles. Pick one of the 50 coaches they got on staff from Arians hire. 5 out 6 in losses, 470 yards 5 TD for a rookie and every team you should beat you’re losing to. Plus you might want to make a change before the fan base quits showing up to your sh!t show and lose your a$$ in money revenue.

  55. Dom>Licht Says:

    Or undersized div 2 OLineman

  56. Bucs 95 Says:

    GM arians ruined this team with his handpicked coach 🤣🤡

  57. Bobby Says:

    Just watched the Baker press conference. I still believe in Baker and of the Bucs go next season with and with a new HC and OC. I believe Baker has a long career in the NFL. His confidence and demeanor will continue to take him far in the NFL and in life. But looking way ahead for Baker in his life. I think he could potentially be a an NFL coach one day. He has all the tools. Baker may make a good NFL HC one day. Let’s Go Bucs!!

  58. NE Fan Says:

    This whole Bowles defense guru thing is a myth. What many don’t realize is in 2020 & 2021 the Bucs O averaged 31 & 30.5 points a game. You have to be really inept as a DC to loose with those points in your pocket. It appears today the guru found away. Rod, if a NFL DB cannot play man & zone he should probably be selling AC units at Home Depot. Especially those with contract like Davis.

  59. optimisticbucsfan Says:

    We are the Titanic after hitting the iceberg.

    Any changes are just rearranging the deckchairs.

    We are taking on water and there’s no stopping it.

    Yikes. I blame Licht and the Glazers.

    Give Todd back to Arians.

  60. Popcorn Mike Says:

    At this point I have 00 confidence Bowles can turn this team around. It’s something wrong at one Bucs place and I saw it today in the defense. Watching the replays, each time the Texans easily drove down the field and scored, the defense just walked off like, oh well. You usually see players in each other faces about who blew an assignment. Today nothing I am pretty sure Bowles is done

  61. Aubpierce Says:

    You got to cut off the head of the snake. You must fire Licht, his drafts have sucked. Arians and Brady saved his butt. Licht manages money well or is it John Spytek? Fire Jason and Todd as soon as they get off the plane.

  62. Gofortheface30 Says:

    Stevenk – you are an incredible loser. And you aren’t fooling anyone with an IQ greater than a chimpanzee that you’re a weird Ohio State fan with a weird axe to grind taking a victory lap 9 games in to a career. 9 games. Is it too much to ask to save your victory lap for 3 yrs down the road when you can come to a sensible, intelligent conclusion? Apparently yes, because Bryce Young has long overshadowed Stroud in college you have been feeling some type of way about it for a lonnng time. I mean for fuk sake he just lost to Young JUST LAST WEEK you tool. You’re an OSU fan with a little man complex searching for small victories and you’re hitching your wagon to the first Ohio state quarterback that has ever been worth a damn

  63. Bobby Says:

    Hey Bucs95… you said GM Arisns ruined this team huh….well that Super Bowl trophy and his name on a stadium says otherwise. Stupid comment by you. The Bucs in my opinion haven’t been a good team since Bruce Arians left. Tom Brady was wrong and should not have pushed Arians out. Arians is one of the greatest HC in Bucs history and a great coach overall. His resume speaks for itself. Let’s Go Bucs!!

  64. ModHairKen Says:

    Glazers: Fire Bowles. Now. Not at the end of the season. It’s about showing the fans that you don’t despise them. Letting him stay is a major FU to the fans.

  65. Mike C Says:

    Rod, did you see Pat’s Stat line from the KC game?

  66. Defense Rules Says:

    I love defense, but that was the most putrid defensive performance I’ve seen in years. It’s like Bowles drafted up a defensive scheme for this game that would GUARANTEE that we lost.

    We played the Texans even in every category except one: Bucs averaged 5.3 YPP while the Texans averaged 8.0 YPP. Other than that, the 2 teams were almost mirror images. Total plays:
    Bucs 63, Texans 62. 3rd/4th down efficiency: Bucs 5-for-15, Texans 4-for-12. Penalties: both teams had 9. Turnovers: both teams had 1. It goes on & on.

    Big difference? Stroud was 30-of-42 (71.4%) for 470 yds & 5 TDs, while Mayfield was 21-of-30 (70%) for 265 yds & 2 TDs. Both QBs had the same completion percentages, but Stroud pushed the ball further down the field on just about every play. Of Stroud’s 30 completions, 22 of them were for 10 yards or more. THAT is disgusting.

    I’ve cut Bowles some slack because I believed that he was an excellent DC and that’s what this team needs at this point (I’ve long been against him being dual-hatted as HC & DC because as the old saying goes ‘You can’t serve 2 masters’ which he proved today).

    After today I’m no longer convinced that he’s even a good DC, much less an excellent one. The ONLY explanation that makes any sense whatsoever after what I saw today is that the Glazers have told him to ‘soft tank’ so that we can draft a top college QB next Spring. Nothing else explains the debacle I saw with opposing receivers running free play after play after play. Disgusting.

  67. ModHairKen Says:

    And, no, Bobby. Wake up. Arians had some secret agenda to promote SpongeBob and Bowles. He quit so late they had no choice but to give it to Bowles. That was dirty. He’s a lousy person.

  68. Toad Bowels Says:

    Tips hat,

    Toad Blowes blows the game!

    I guarantee the number one pick next year.
    Toad the Bloviator

  69. confido75 Says:

    Like no one saw any of this coming. A blind man saw this coming when Bowles was hired as HC. Everyone knew at that point we were in trouble. Don’t get mad at Arians, he may have influenced the decision, but Licht and the Glazers are the decision makers here. If anything, they knew we were screwed with the cap the way it is and Bowles is the useful idiot stop gap they needed until they can get back under the cap and have some draft capital. Only time will tell if Licht is playing chess or checkers here.

  70. Jeff Says:

    Clueless Todd Strikes Again. I warned you all they would lose and Stroud would have a HUGE game. One can always count on Clueless Todd to blow it!

  71. BucsBeast Says:

    Here is why Lovie…. I mean Bolwes needs to be FIRED on the spot tomorrow.
    He was scared of a ROOKIE QB. Then proceeded to give up another record to that particular QB. This time to a team with a losing record.
    His offense took the lead and bail his ass out with only 48 seconds left. Bowles literally said HOLD my beer and proceeded to give the game away.
    To a LOSING team with a QB that he so called knew very well. That he studied for to potentially draft. Not to mention having his OC call a run 1st offense, when they are 3 from worst in the league.
    Todd needs to leave town before fans run him out. But he’ll just bury his head in the sand and think it’ll go unnoticed.

  72. WyomingJoe Says:

    You “fans” are F-ing, pathetic losers. You were losers and whiners since the first game of the season. Several of you said that you wouldn’t watch another game this season. PLEASE DON’T! You can all kiss my abs!

  73. Jack Sparrow Says:

    Please fire this bum, inept and incompetent HC. 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

  74. DavidBigBucsFan99 Says:

    3 timeouts and about 20 seconds before end of the half and this smart guy let’s the clock run out and doesn’t use one but uses one when all we needed was less time on the clock AND THEN TAKES NO TIME OFF THE CLOCK ON ENSUING KICKOFF. Could’ve taken 14 seconds off the clock with those two things

  75. Rod Munch Says:

    Mike C Says:
    November 5th, 2023 at 7:36 pm
    Rod, did you see Pat’s Stat line from the KC game?

    ————-

    If Mayfield can get us a few Super Bowl appearances and a couple of rings, I’ll let him put up whatever stats he wants.

    But until then, I personally won’t be comparing him to Patty, but that’s just me. To each their own.

  76. NE Fan Says:

    No worries Wyoming Joe@ there are plenty of empty seats at the stadium you should have no problem getting one.

  77. DavidBigBucsFan99 Says:

    WhineonaJolina you’re not a Bucs fan so why you up here?

  78. Jack Clark Says:

    NE Fan Says:
    November 5th, 2023 at 8:36 pm
    No worries Wyoming Joe@ there are plenty of empty seats at the stadium you should have no problem getting one.

    ^^^^

    You are a parasitic worm here and add no value to this Bucs fans community

  79. NE Fan Says:

    Not nice Jackie boy, I am just agreeing with the ENTIRE fan base less Wyoming. Even DR has.changed his point of view on Bowles. Some just took longer than others.

  80. J Says:

    @Jack Ckark… that’s pretty much the perfect analogy.

  81. TonySoprano Says:

    Winny Testaverde Says:
    November 5th, 2023 at 7:19 pm
    “Give Bowles his mercy walking papers…a box of Chips Ahoy and a gallon of 1% milk as a last meal. He won’t recover from this. He never recovered from the collapse in the waning moments vs the Rams two years ago.“

    That’s ridiculous. You know Bowles is a skim milk man.

  82. Faspro Says:

    Todd Bowles…You’re Fired

  83. CT Bucs Says:

    Can I ask about not using a timeout at the end of the first half to get the ball back. I think it was 3rd and 20 with about 40 seconds to go? Given the Texans scored at TD in 40 seconds at the end of the second half. Seems possible to get points.

  84. Drunkinybor Says:

    Whatever dude.. Todd Blows voice is not heard and not going to be heard. All the players hear is blah blah blah and they are thinking when they can eat and get to their fancy cars and jet skis. One of our worst losses in history. It’s disgusting. Days like this remind me to look at both my Bucs tattoos and calm down. It reminds me of when I got them. Testaverte, Mayberry, Gruber, McCants were playing. We were still in the black and blue division. Instead of crying today I smile about the good from yesterday’s. I grew up a Warriors fan. Both my teams were considered the worst for decades. So there is hope.

  85. Jugheadfla Says:

    Let me just asked this question…….how many contested catches did the Bengals have today?…….I literally can’t think of one…..470 yds…….470 yes! Enough said

  86. BucsBeast Says:

    Which Joe wrote this article?
    This sh!t, is the sh!t us fans need!

    Todd the Lovie wannabe is in over his head. He’s a good coordinator.
    That’s his peak. Head should voluntarily step down.

  87. Rod Munch Says:

    Drunkinybor – Do you really have a Bucco Bruce tattoo? That’s really cool. I hope you got it on your forearm, and can make it look like he’s winking by twitching your muscles. I’m legit jealous, I should have got one a long time ago, but my body is a temple and it would anger our Lord and savior.

  88. David Says:

    Fire Toilet Bowl and bench the turd qb he brought with him. Even though the defense was just fine when Baker put up crappy performance in three losses at home. We did not expect to save the offense in every game. The defense was due for a bad game.

  89. bucs_shak Says:

    every week the offense laid an egg and he didn’t say the D did their job. When are we going to see both groups doing their job?

  90. adam from ny Says:

    #EauDeToiletteBowles

    🙂

  91. Mark hardt Says:

    One thing to consider is NFL ready QB,s and players in general will become the norm coming out of college. Houston,s good luck this season could become the new normal. Why? Unintended consequences of the transfer portal and massive money from NIL. Guys are staying in college longer and getting better because they can make good NIL money and find another team to compete for a ring. The kid Stroud yesterday is 22 already.

  92. BucU Says:

    This entire organization should be mocked and laughed at. Oh wait. Everybody is already doing that.

  93. Glass Half Full Guy Says:

    What’s that old saying about a “Prevent defense”? Something like “it prevents you from winning”. or something like that. Personally I think playing a “prevent defense” is the same as playing scared. When a defense gives up the length of the field in under a minute it’s almost always when they play “prevent defense”. History and logic are just lost on some coaches who still go with it anyway.

    I honestly feel bad for Baker. He gutted it out on that last drive only to watch helplessly from the sidelines for it to be wasted

  94. orlbucfan Says:

    Hey joes, are you guys really that stupid, or just scared to death to criticize the godalmighty idiot refs? Go back and REVIEW the second half. Make a complete spreadsheet of the DHolding calls on both teams. I think you might reconsider the Bucs D shatting the game. They did not. It was stolen from them.