Todd Bowles: Bucs Learning How To Close Out Wins
December 9th, 2024
Todd Bowles explains team growth.
With a couple of smarter coaching moves and a couple of plays late in games, who knows how many wins the 7-6 Bucs would have right now?
In three games this season, before this three-game winning streak after the bye, the Bucs lost on the final drive of the game.
In the past two wins, Bucs have needed overtime (Carolina) and to dodge a crisis of no offense after jumping out to a 14-0 lead yesterday against the Raiders.
As a result, Bowles said his team is beginning to learn how to win games.
“The growth between last week and this week [has] shown how we can come out and close out games and get through the games even when things go bad is a sign of maturity,” Bowles said.
The catch here is the injuries. Depending on what the diagnosis is on Antoine Winfield’s knee, the Bucs may be using Kayvon Merriweather and Christian Izien as starting safeties. Jordan Whitehead is on injured reserve with a pec injury.
So if the Bucs really are learning how to win close games, they need more solid play from Izien and Merriweather.
The Bucs also are down to their third-string inside linebacker (Vi Jones), who for some 11 months was parked on the practice squad as Bowles said he wasn’t ready to play.
Right now, those guys need to be ready to produce like starters.
December 9th, 2024 at 9:03 am
Merriweather showed some glimpses yesterday… of course it’s a downgrade of our starters, but it wasn’t that bad!
December 9th, 2024 at 9:06 am
If only the h/c would learn as well. “No risk it NO Biscuit” – sound familiar?
December 9th, 2024 at 9:07 am
Herbert is a different animal than the QB’s the Bucs faced yesterday. Probably going to be a slice and dice game, hopefully the offense can keep up and score more points.
December 9th, 2024 at 9:08 am
If only Liam would run the dang ball when up by 14 points. Three rushes in the second quarter is unacceptable.
December 9th, 2024 at 9:25 am
One day we will wake up in the morning and Bowles will be responible for the war in Gaza, for inflation, and all hurricanes that hit the tampa area in the future…..
So sick of some of this so called fans, or journalists…..
December 9th, 2024 at 9:26 am
Finally Learning how to close out games against these lesser teams and finally at the end of the season it just sounds ridiculous. I wonder if he said the same thing at the end of last season?
December 9th, 2024 at 9:28 am
lol! Falcons finish the season 3-1 and win the division. Bucs have zero chance against the Chargers and a low chance of winning vs the cowboys. This Bucs playoff talk is stupid.
December 9th, 2024 at 9:32 am
It sure would help to get SVD8 back. What is up with him? Lost for the season? Anyone know?
December 9th, 2024 at 9:43 am
I’m not sure what the replay officials in New York were seeing, but Merriweather and McCollum had interceptions. Merriweather had a great game in spite of the fact that he was signed just recently.
December 9th, 2024 at 9:44 am
@Infomeplease- It was reported awhile back the SVD was essentially lost for the season with a small chance to return if the Bucs make a deep playoff run.
December 9th, 2024 at 9:44 am
The word is
Eek out a win
December 9th, 2024 at 9:45 am
It’s maddening watching the Bucs try to put away teams. Bowles coaches not to lose once he has a lead. Going to give Coen credit for the call to throw it up 8 with 2 minutes remaining. That’s called stepping on your opponents throat. Too often we become predictable with a lead. Great teams go for the kill when there’s blood in the water. That call was made easier after the Raiders used their last timeout on the front end of the 2 min warning. That allowed the Bucs to call anything without the consequence of time as the clock would stop after that play regardless
December 9th, 2024 at 10:05 am
Todd BARELY Bowles.
December 9th, 2024 at 10:10 am
Chargers basically looked very beatable after watching last nights game!! Even if Herbert was injured.. They have a nice defense, a lot of play action should be a good recipe for victory. Time for some team bonding on this west coast trip!! Go Bucs.
December 9th, 2024 at 10:19 am
Falcons will lose their cross country visit to Vegas next week as their former QB Desmond Ridder will have a week to prepare and revenge on his mind. While our Bucs may or may not face QB Justin Herbert as he took a fairly sharp hit to his quad. Bucs have won 3 in a row and that is an undeniable fact.
December 9th, 2024 at 10:23 am
all I needed to hear was that Bowles wanted Jalen to take a knee instead of scoring.
Taking a knee would eat clock but risk a turnover….take the points and go up 15
December 9th, 2024 at 10:39 am
I have a new receipe for Bucs games. Watch them after,much easier.I saw the score and went wow pretty good, more than expected.Turned it on last night and intially went wow. Then the second and 3rd quarter, I went wow, thisi s hard to watch. Anyway yes, big plays at the end made the score look different than the game itself. The Raiders were actuall in this game till the 4th quarter. My hat off to the defense. I have been on their case as of late as they have deserved.However, yesterday was a switch they picked up the sagging offense. Much credit to cb Smith, he simply makes plays and at the right time. Hats off to Meriweather too, he did a heck of a job coming in . He was everywhere on the field, even the announcers gave him much deserved credit!!!. The injuries wow!!. I wonder if some of this is a conditioning thing? Too many hamstring injuries.
December 9th, 2024 at 10:39 am
Merriweather was impressive yesterday. He came back on the field with the Bucs as if he never left in the first place.
December 9th, 2024 at 10:48 am
Interesting take on Bowles’ quote. Seems like closing a game should be remedial learning for a veteran team that’s won the NFC South for three years straight.
December 9th, 2024 at 10:50 am
It helps that the teams the Bucs beat lately are a combined 7-32. Bowles needed to close out the 2 Atlanta games, but failed. Every game that goes by that Kirk Cousins stinks up the joint after absolutely SHREDDING the Bucs defense gets me more and more p!ssed.
December 9th, 2024 at 10:52 am
OK Todd. I’m all in. Now lets see you close out the San Diego Chargers next week. Then you will have my attention.
December 9th, 2024 at 11:02 am
They’re no longer the San Diego Chargers; they’re the LA Chargers. I just want the Bucs to beat them. LVD is taking the Defense on his shoulders. He’ll make it to the end of the season. Hey Coen, how about shocking us Bucs faithful with a few QB rollouts and options?? Go Bucs!! Beat LA and jet lag.
December 9th, 2024 at 11:28 am
Agree with you zzbucs. Some of the ridiculous moves other coaches make and they’re considered geniuses but Todd shuts down Bowers and it’s just luck.
December 9th, 2024 at 11:34 am
After Jason makes The Change, maybe the Genius could go on the road as a stand up comedian. His gibberish is hilarious.
December 9th, 2024 at 12:36 pm
So when we EEK out a win against the Raiders it’s lucky,, it’s we beat a lesser team , it’s fire the coach ,,,, When KC eeks out a win against the same team it’s Brilliant ,,, it’s Mahomes is Clutch ,, its a championship team that finds a way to win!!!
A win is a win folks and I’ll take 3 or 4 more of them and get into the dance
December 9th, 2024 at 1:48 pm
Dave Pear are you related to Jeff.
December 9th, 2024 at 3:49 pm
V complete Loser Scrubs…..ROFL
December 9th, 2024 at 5:40 pm
If they’d just learn how to crush teams out would be easier to close them out. Unfortunately our qb struggles mightily against good defenses and tends to make dumb mistakes when under extreme pressure. Luckily for us he never stops trying and stays aggressive. He’s going to have to play lights out because the Rump Raiders began to figure out Coen’s master passing attack so look for the Chargers to try to use that as well. Baker better protect the ball better because he’s going to need every scoring opportunity because this defense will get lit up without getting immense pressure on Herbert.
December 9th, 2024 at 7:30 pm
How does a safety or linebacker or OG learn how to close out games? Try harder?
Sounds more like a coaching issue!
December 9th, 2024 at 8:12 pm
Bucs learning to play 1% better than a far weaker opponent. There I fixed the headline for you.
December 10th, 2024 at 7:28 am
Dang JOE still harping on the jones needing a year to learn the defense lol we get it. He prob wouldn’t still be deemed ready if it wasnt for injuries lol
December 10th, 2024 at 10:59 am
My kishkas are in knots every game!! But considering what we are missing due to injuries, I must be impressed. Baker and Coen HAVE to figure out what’s making him a little meshuggah so we can all save our fingernails. Watching games that should be won is tough when every game is a nail-biter. But they do find a way to win, and really, the W is what makes the week better.