Todd Bowles Doesn’t Want To Talk About The Past
September 12th, 2024
Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
Joe knows Bucs fans are pointing to January’s divisional round playoff game in Detroit where the Bucs and Lions were tied in the fourth quarter.
That means surely the Bucs ought to have a puncher’s chance of winning this Sunday, right? Well, don’t mention this to Todd Bowles.
He was asked yesterday what, if anything, can he take from the experience his team got playing in Detroit before a raucous crowd.
Bowles’ answer?
“Absolutely nothing,” Bowles said about the experience of playing a game of large stakes in Ford Field. “That was last year in the playoffs and it knocked us out.
“We’re 1-0 and we’re trying to win a ballgame to go 2-0.”
So don’t ask Bowles about last year’s playoff loss. For him, that’s the past. Sunday’s game is the present. If you want to ask him about Lions quarterback Jared Goff, that’s a different story.
Is Bowles peeved in some way about Sunday’s game? No, Bowles said, as he leaned over to speak closely in the podium mic and whispered, “I’m excited.”
September 12th, 2024 at 8:25 am
I hope his excitement and enthusiasm rubs off on the plethora of backups that will be playing this week
September 12th, 2024 at 8:31 am
I’m excited too, coach. Go get ‘em!!
September 12th, 2024 at 8:40 am
Joe … ‘Is Bowles peeved in some way about Sunday’s game? No, Bowles said, as he leaned over to speak closely in the podium mic and whispered, “I’m excited.”
LMAO. Love his dry sense of humor.
September 12th, 2024 at 8:42 am
I agree.
We need this win. If we lose, it’s not the end of the world, but winning will make a statement…several statements.
Baker Mayfield cost us that game with turnovers in my opinion. If he can play solid and avoid turnovers, he’ll keep us in the game.
Our new center is going to get tested. The Lions are going to do their best to disrupt the exchange knowing he is a rookie. He and Mayfield will need to be ready for it.
We all know our first offensive play will be a run. That hasn’t changed. The Lions know it too. So maybe start with a little deception for a change.
If the Bucs win, it will go a long way with the media…but even if we lose, if Mayfield plays solid it can still be a statement game.
Bottom line: New OL still seeking a grove, a loss would not be overly costly, but a win would make a big statement.
September 12th, 2024 at 8:42 am
If the Bucs can slow down Hutchinson, they just may suprise them. Both teams are beat up which evens the playing field some.
September 12th, 2024 at 8:44 am
Not having Winfield will hurt if he doesn’t play.
September 12th, 2024 at 8:56 am
I have a feeling we’re going to wreck Goff if he’s that excited lol.
We are going to have to get pressure to have any chance this week. Our trench play should be better than the playoffs even if Kancey is out (man we are going to be dangerous with him).
September 12th, 2024 at 9:04 am
Not 1 analyst for NFL Media picked Tampa to win this weekend. I like our chances!
September 12th, 2024 at 9:19 am
I would say that we are very solid underdogs…for a good resson
September 12th, 2024 at 9:22 am
Even though none of the analysts picked us I think we will win they picked Atlanta to be nfc champs and they were wrong soooo
September 12th, 2024 at 9:23 am
I bet Bowles is excited. He’s matching wits against a fellow excellent HC. The difference could come down to Coen vs. the Lions’ OC. Only difference? Bowles has a certain piece of finger bling called a SB ring. Have the Lions ever been in the SB? Now, what’s with the Lions being banged up, Joes? I know we are, but that’s SOP in BucWorld.
September 12th, 2024 at 9:27 am
I think during the summer most fans had us with 10 wins. Detroit playing at home was one of the 7 losses on my scorecard. So, in essence were playing with house money. Considering the number of Bucs players dealing with injuries, this will be a difficult challenge. But, should we win, euphoria will prevail.
September 12th, 2024 at 9:29 am
I think a victory in this game is about Vea, Diaby and JTS (and of course the rest of the d line) getting pressure on Goff. I think the Bucs can score on Detroit and we can slow down there running game but we can’t let Goff pick us apart with a weakened secondary. If we somehow pull off winning this game on the road, that says a lot for how good we’ll be when we get some of our top defenders back from injury. I really look forward to that.
September 12th, 2024 at 9:30 am
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
September 12th, 2024 at 8:42 am
We need this win. If we lose, it’s not the end of the world, but winning will make a statement…several statements.
Baker Mayfield cost us that game with turnovers in my opinion. If he can play solid and avoid turnovers, he’ll keep us in the game.
…………….
You mean the interception that “All World Mike Evans” didn’t even try to fight for and the interception that had Otton and Godwin routes a yard apart….Those 2 interceptions…. There is plenty of blame to go around. Like the pick 6 that Jamel Dean dropped, how would of that changed the game?
Sure the QB has a lot of responsibility but the Bucs would not of even been in that game had it not been for Mayfield busting his butt and avoiding sack after sack. Hutchinson lived in the backfield in that game.
Lions Pressure was relentless and if they don’t do something to change that in this game Bucs will be 1-1.
September 12th, 2024 at 9:36 am
Of course he doesn’t want to discuss the game that ended our season, especially the last minute or so.
September 12th, 2024 at 9:40 am
Of course he doesn’t want to talk about the playoff loss to Detroit. He squandered a time out. Okay. No one is perfect. Let’s just move on right? Well, we could have. But then he had to lie about it; saying that the game was over and it didn’t matter. He is too weak to accept any blame. He has no accountability and has the arrogance to think he doesn’t owe the truth to the owners, players, and fans. Yeah, I bet he wants to forget about that game.
September 12th, 2024 at 9:58 am
To change things up on play #1, i recommend a flee flicker…they are expecting a run, (then almost give them one)….open up the game with a play that will catch them unaware…this is a new season with new players and offensive coaches, throw away last years playbook and make this team unpredictable.
September 12th, 2024 at 10:01 am
It’s gonna be a tough game… if Goedeke, Kancey, Zyon, and Winfield are all out…. It may be too much to overcome
September 12th, 2024 at 10:05 am
That final pick–I’ve read several opinions on whose fault it was. Did Baker throw it to the wrong place, or was the target (Otten) in the wrong place?
September 12th, 2024 at 10:06 am
jockspeak 101
September 12th, 2024 at 10:11 am
@Beeej- I’ve only seen a few people say Otton ran the wrong route. Canales’s offense in general has spacing issues at times so it wouldn’t be surprising if it was.
The first int was obviously Mike’s fault. I think the second Baker had immediate pressure in his face and threw the ball to a spot he thought Otton would be but wasn’t. There’s really no telling and Baker always takes responsibility for it when discussing it so it’s a moot point.
September 12th, 2024 at 10:20 am
That’s what I thought as well- pressure was coming and he took a risk
September 12th, 2024 at 10:32 am
Week 1, the Rams were able to rush for 163 yards against the Lions.. They had 5 minutes more clock time too. We controlled the clock against Washington. That sort of approach is how we have to slow down their offense. Converting on 3rd downs, extending drives, then scoring. Keep their offense off the field as much as possible.
That Ram/Lions game was like a heavy weight fight. Detroit out lasted LA, but it took them to overtime to win.
September 12th, 2024 at 10:36 am
That famous Super Bowl between the Giants and unbeaten Patriots comes to mind–they controlled the clock for 40 minutes
September 12th, 2024 at 10:51 am
The Rams & Stafford had experience playing in Ford Field. The fans there are super excited about their team but are smart enough to tone it down when their Offense is out there. Don’t think they will be easy because the Rams took them in the 4th Qtr. They are absolute animals in O/T should the Bucs get there! You got to take it to them and have a lead going into the 4th Qtr.
September 12th, 2024 at 10:57 am
I think Coach is really growing, last year he turned up the aggression (some times too much) to a level that is needed to be successful, I am alot less scared of bad coaching decisions then his first year.
September 12th, 2024 at 11:14 am
BakerFan
Noap! That 2nd int was all Baker. He got pressured and instead of throwing the ball away he threw it to the LB…on 2nd and 5 from the Bucs 15 yard line. The LB was following the WR the whole time from the snap. Go back and watch.
Baker choked, face the facts. But that’s in the past, hopefully he can redeem himself Sunday and most importantly in the playoffs.
September 12th, 2024 at 11:26 am
We’re not going back.
September 12th, 2024 at 11:29 am
GP.
Yup.
September 12th, 2024 at 11:32 am
Bee Says:
September 12th, 2024 at 11:14 am
BakerFan
Noap! That 2nd int was all Baker. He got pressured and instead of throwing the ball away he threw it to the LB…on 2nd and 5 from the Bucs 15 yard line. The LB was following the WR the whole time from the snap. Go back and watch.
Baker choked, face the facts. But that’s in the past, hopefully he can redeem himself Sunday and most importantly in the playoffs.
…..
Explain to me how those 2 receivers with their defenders were in each others space…. now if that is how it is drawn up, I will say that is a Canales screwup.
Interceptions go down as QB fault in the stats so I will live with it, but Bucs blocking has to be better this time or they will get their azzes handed to them.
September 12th, 2024 at 11:33 am
Bucs RT Luke is a no go today at practice. Not looking good for Sunday.
September 12th, 2024 at 11:40 am
In week 1 Davis was targeted 13 times and gave up nine completions for 114 yards and a touchdown. Looks like we traded him at just the right time!
September 12th, 2024 at 11:43 am
BakerFan
He threw the ball, if the WRs ran the wrong routes then why throw the ball there? Your mancrush threw it directly to the LB who followed the WR the whole time.
Baker needs to take care of the football. When he does, the Bucs usually win.
September 12th, 2024 at 12:19 pm
Bee…. love to see how you would do under such duress…. You won’t even acknowledge that the protection sucked all game…. that if Dean would of intercepted and ran the Pick 6 given to him that game would of been different. You point to Baker and say it is all his fault. Stop with the man crush crap and acknowledge others had some doing in that loss.
September 12th, 2024 at 12:35 pm
You can google it–he released as the DT has about a step from hitting him, Otten was cutting right to left, but angling DOWNfield, and the LB was inside him. Only explanation I can see is he thought Otten would be cutting STRAIGHT across and getting in front of the LB
September 12th, 2024 at 1:00 pm
Defense wins championships. Like the interception Dean had right in his hands but drops then the Lions go on to score.. Dean goes down Zyon comes in and they go up and down the field to score. Yes Defense can lose championships too. It was on both sides. This is a new season. This week is a new game. Different players.
September 12th, 2024 at 2:08 pm
Good for Bowles. No going back.
I am worried about one defensive player on the Lions, Hutchinson. He is tough. The Bucs know that too. We can win this game. Never forget being worried about McLaurin from the Commanders and we never even heard his name.
September 12th, 2024 at 3:19 pm
Aint got nothing good to say about last year. Even if he did, whats there to say if it aint nutten good.
September 12th, 2024 at 4:44 pm
Injuries are and have always been the real wild card in football games, everybody knows everything about both teams starting lineups before the game is played , now we get to see how deep and well prepared both teams are ( this week , next week it will be different again!).
September 12th, 2024 at 7:34 pm
The head coach learned, “absolutley nothing”? That is an alarming exclamation, if not disingenuous.