Todd Bowles Said The Bucs Couldn’t Play For Field Goals
December 10th, 2023
Bucs coach Todd Bowles reacts.
Was it seeing Atlanta’s stud kicker Younghoe Koo miss two field goals (which ultimately proved to be the difference in the game) that spooked Bucs coach Todd Bowles?
Well, Bowles didn’t mention Koo’s missed kicks on the Buccaneers Radio Network. But Bowles claimed he had the mindset before the Bucs got to Atlanta that his offense needed to be more aggressive.
The Bucs were down a field goal, 25-22, when the Bucs took over at the Tampa Bay-25 with 3:23 left in the game.
In short, Bowles said he wasn’t playing for overtime.
“We knew we couldn’t come down here and kick field goals,” Bowles said.
After 12 plays, the Bucs scored a touchdown with tight end Cade Otton making a beautiful catch of a perfectly-placed ball from Baker Mayfield for an 11-yard touchdown. And just like that, the Bucs found themselves in first place in the NFC South.
On the game-winning drive, Bowles said he was impressed with the “calmness” of the Bucs in a very stressful drive.
December 10th, 2023 at 4:36 pm
if ATL hadnt wasted that timeout on the White challenge they’d have likely won
December 10th, 2023 at 4:36 pm
Aggressive my a$$. Aggressive is feeding your two best players on offense and it isn’t R White
December 10th, 2023 at 4:38 pm
Big drive to end a big game.
Not a polished team, with plenty of heart. I’ll take it
Go Bucs!!!
December 10th, 2023 at 4:39 pm
The atl timeout at 2 min to review whether white got stripped was worth trying for atl imo
December 10th, 2023 at 4:40 pm
Has no idea what he’s doing….his players won in spite of him.
December 10th, 2023 at 4:40 pm
Bowles played a lot of Don’t Lose Football today and not Let’s Win football.
Bucs are very lucky that the Falcons kept shooting themselves in the foot.
Regardless, Bowles still needs to be fired.
December 10th, 2023 at 4:40 pm
Underdog wins again…..Beat the Pack on to the SB.
December 10th, 2023 at 4:42 pm
They weren’t playing for OT because he knew his D was getting abused the last couple times Atlanta had the ball. If they would play for TD’s the rest of the game it might not come down to the last 3 minutes. Half way through the 4th baker didn’t have over 100 yards in the air. Crappy play calls and even worse game plan!
December 10th, 2023 at 4:43 pm
Biwkes won’t gain a point on his confidence poll this week…..
December 10th, 2023 at 4:44 pm
That’s what you were going for on offense in this game? “Aggressive?”
December 10th, 2023 at 4:46 pm
Can we cut JTS now???
December 10th, 2023 at 4:49 pm
Not sure how inhabitable it will be here this week. The success of White and Mayfield’s 4th Q heroics have triggered many who will be posting #hyperbole
IMHO for whatever reason Ridder had far too much time in the pocket and the running backs had too many open holes considering Atlanta was down both OT’s.
OTOH…Baker had to do his usual shuck and jive to stay alive in the pocket.
Targets were NOT getting open…the few times they did Baker either threw a bad pass or again the receiver…CG14 got hit right in the hands and dropped it. If you watched the coverage Archuleta pointed out Bucs were not getting open requiring perfect throws from Baker. In fact the TD toss to win it was a thing of beauty! The TD catch…oops…a stinking millesecond touch of a right hand wiped out a GREAT throw and a GREAT catch. Can’t fault ME13 he made a spectacular effort and Baker gave him a chance.
The D is still a major concern. They have playmakers but they are still not getting to the QB letting Ridder have all day, in effect hanging out Buc DB’s to dry.
Bottom line to offend #hyperbole. It was an even contest affected greatly by injuries…Atlanta’s and the Bucs. Vita sat…DW45 sat…Dean sat…and despite his GREAT int Davis could have sat as well. I’m beginning to believe the young dudes at CB are outplaying the multimillion dollar duo.
I’m with BA and others who believe ANY win in the NFL is a GOOD win. They’re too freaking hard to get and they pay the other guys too!
December 10th, 2023 at 4:50 pm
I didn’t realize how good ridder was same goes for london . Falcons did a good job of concealing how good they were up until today
December 10th, 2023 at 4:52 pm
I’m sorry.
Not impressed with this win, this team or this awful coaching staff.
Sick of Todd’s “try to do enough to not lose” mentality.
Nowhere even close to a legitimate contender and nothing is being “built” for the future.
December 10th, 2023 at 4:56 pm
Likely our best win of the season. The team played hard the entire game. Easy to tell everyone he meant to do it after the win. Many of us expected games to look more like this. Baker isnt the savior, but he is still a damn DAWG. I hope they dont make him key on CG as much next week, and go back to Evans more. Extra sweet when the win comes at the failure of that damn dirty bird kicker. How many times has that guy gotten the go ahead score against us?
December 10th, 2023 at 5:10 pm
I really don’t like Bowles. Not going for 4th and 2 means you’re playing for field goals you’re playing for punts
December 10th, 2023 at 5:11 pm
Unrelated: What’s the proper way to do quotes on this forum?
December 10th, 2023 at 5:22 pm
This was Toad’s idea of “aggressive”? It felt they ran it up the gut more today than ever before.
I’ll be sick to my stomach if this coaching staff returns next year.
December 10th, 2023 at 5:36 pm
We didn’t win as much as ATL lost.
They may be the only team more inept and unlucky than we are. We seem to always split the series with them.
December 10th, 2023 at 5:41 pm
@Jmarkbuc And there you have it….we didn’t win as much as Atlanta lost. That sums up the last 2 weeks. This team is god awful to watch.
December 10th, 2023 at 5:51 pm
Must win, but still upset we couldn’t get many sacks with 4 of their linemen out!?
December 10th, 2023 at 5:51 pm
A freaking dramatic 4th Q comeback…Bakers tenth career…should be 11th 4Q comeback but people here are still pissed…because…because..er style points!
December 10th, 2023 at 7:13 pm
So he went into the game thinking no field goals, then settled fora 52 yarder on fourth and one on the very first drive?
We should have Mariah Godwin look into this statement!
December 10th, 2023 at 7:26 pm
stpetebucfan Says:
December 10th, 2023 at 5:51 pm
A freaking dramatic 4th Q comeback…Bakers tenth career…should be 11th 4Q comeback but people here are still pissed…because…because..er style points!
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No. the fans who can still post on here are upset cos of Canales’ gameplan. It was stupid until the game’s end. The D with their injuries delivered. A D safety at the half? That’s not common in pro ball. ST delivered. The Offense? They should have up by 14 if the OC knew what he was doing. And that should have been by the 4th. No insult to Atlanta cos they played football. Now, Bucs go to GB. Canales better get his frigging act together!
December 10th, 2023 at 7:53 pm
The real difference in the game was the PI call on the Bucs defense that opened the door for Atlanta to get the second TD! REFS SUCK!!!
December 10th, 2023 at 8:34 pm
I don’t think a playoff birth will save Bowles…..unless he finishes 10-7 OR wins a first rd playoff game, the team is still trending in the wrong direction
December 10th, 2023 at 9:33 pm
Where are you Kyle Trask clowns at?
December 11th, 2023 at 7:22 am
A WIN IN THE NFL IS A “WIN”..I DON’T CARE SO MUCH IT IS ACCOMPLISHED, BUT THAT THE RESULT IS ATTAINED !..YES, YOU CAN FIND FAULT IN MANY AREAS IN THIS GAME, BUT THE “THRILL OF VICTORY” I’LL TAKE ANY DAY OVER “THE AGONY OF DEFEAT” ! WE CONTROL OUR OWN DESTINY AGAIN, NOW, THE REST OF THE SEASON IS NOT FUTILE FOR OUR PLAYERS OR OUR FANS ! LET’S GO BUC”S ! ! !
December 11th, 2023 at 9:07 am
Yet another fib from Todd. We led 3 to nothing Todd. They missed 2 and we kicked 2.
Go Bucs
December 11th, 2023 at 12:44 pm
This was agressive and smart from the Bucs. Instead of forcing it to Evans and Godwin, Bowles, Kanelis, and Mayfield made other guys the heroes. We actually ran the ball down their throats in the fourth quarter for the last two drives, resulting in the FG and TD. Mayfield finky hit Godwin for the big one. But, he went right back to White. Falcons’ D was so concerned with Evans and Godwin that they left Otton open for the game-winner. Best of all, that drive chewed up so much time, the Falcons couldn’t answer.
December 11th, 2023 at 1:02 pm
As usual, Bowles is delusional and must have been watching a different game in a parallel universe. Atlanta missed two makeable field goals. Also, Atlanta drove down the field in the in the final 30 seconds to almost score and put the game into overtime. The heroics came from Atlanta, which played lights out in the final minute of the game to only come up short. The Bucs merely survived, no thanks to Bowles and his incompetence. Also, what the hell happened to Mike Evans? When the season ends, get rid of Bowles and clean house. Give Antoine Winfield a huge contract. Keep Baker, but look for a long-term solution. I’m not sure that Trask is the answer, but give him a shot. Go Bucs.
December 11th, 2023 at 10:04 pm
He couldn’t even get enough players on the field..