Bucs Finding Ways To Lose
November 5th, 2024
Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
This is absolutely mind-blowing but a guy who does NFL stats work for all league broadcast partners and is a researcher for the NFL claims it to be so.
From the beginning of 2015 (the start of the America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, era with the Bucs) through the first season of the Baker Mayfield era, the Bucs lost one game, a 44-1 record, when entering the fourth quarter leading by a touchdown.
That’s nine seasons covering the span of some really awful defenses. Then again, during The Lost Decade (2009-2018), leading by touchdown or more was rare.
So how are the Bucs doing leading by a touchdown or more this year entering the fourth quarter? They’re 2-2, including last night’s loss to the Chiefs.
In other words, the Bucs are having a hard time closing out games. To be more exact, the Bucs defense is giving up the booty late.
For a defensive-minded head coach to see his defense gag away wins, that’s a bad sign.
Buccaneers when leading by 7+ points entering the 4th quarter
2024: 2-2
2015-2023: 44-1@NFLPlus— Blake Warye (@bwaryeofblake) November 5, 2024
November 5th, 2024 at 9:10 am
Great defense plan in the first half. As USUAL no in game adjustments when it stops working. How many times did the Bucs stop the Chiefs on 3rd down??? Once again our wonderful D/C cost the Bucs a win
November 5th, 2024 at 9:11 am
Reality check for our HC/DC: Your defense sucks. Accept it and stop thinking they are like the 2002 Bucs or even the 2020 Bucs. You have no Edge rushers, no ILB, an extremely weak corps of DBs. This mess is on you and Licht.
November 5th, 2024 at 9:12 am
Embarrassing!! why wasn’t anyone spying Kelce, 14 catches are you kidding me!! Deandre Hopkins made Hayes look like a pee wee player. Winfield is still playing hurt no gang tacking whatsoever Whitehead must be smoking so good green ho looks like Davis did last year, very lost in space! Go Bucs!!!
November 5th, 2024 at 9:12 am
Todd is a sub .500 coach for a reason. Walk like a duck, talks like a duck……..
November 5th, 2024 at 9:12 am
Go for 2 and the win. .play it safe bowles loses anotherone.
November 5th, 2024 at 9:15 am
This one was hard, been supporting Bowles since he made his run last year, but this was a heartbreaking loss. It isn’t his ability to motivate his defense, or his ability to scheme – it’s his decisions a critical moments: not calling a timeout against Detroit in the playoffs, not letting the offense – Liam’s quick passing & running game go for it on 4th down, calling a timeout and NOT going for it with seconds on the clock on the road with a chance to WIN IT – just shows a defensive coordinators mentality…
Even if we’d lost while going for it, it still would have shown growth, a head coach has to have a feel for his offense & know that his defense, while playing better – wasn’t going to stop Mahomes IF he wins the coin toss in OT… it just doesn’t inspire his team. The fact that he spent so much time with Arians and never came away with ANY of the “no risk it, no biscuit” mentality?
I like Todd Bowles, he’s a great DC, but his not taking that next step, no offensive killer instinct, no offensive feel.
Oh, and I don’t want to lose Liam Coen.
I’m not off the Todd Bowles boat yet, but unless something changes, that boat may be setting sail soon.
November 5th, 2024 at 9:16 am
I’ve watched a lot of football in my life, and I’ll admit that I’m dealing with some personal challenges outside of football—F cancer—but this season has been one of the most difficult to watch that I can remember. Buccaneers have the greatest offense i have ever seen them have, but a defense that can’t stop a paper sack in the wind. It’s just hard to watch week after week. Never in my life has football affected my sleep until this season these losses are just MIND BOGGLING….
November 5th, 2024 at 9:17 am
I’m probably in the minority on this site but the Bucs lost to an undefeated defending Super Bowl team…. That they took to OT. Second guessing is a way of life and hind sight is what we do. That said, if the Bucs beat the 49ers next week going into their bye, fans have every reason to be excited about the rest of the year.
I’m seeing a team that isn’t giving up. Defense disappointing? Hell, yeah. Offense exciting? Oh yeah!!
Get a win, baby, on a West Coast team that was supposed to be a powerhouse this year. Shut all the analytical experts up. Then make the playoffs for a fifth consecutive year with an extremely young team with a lot of options going into 2025. How can you not be excited to be a Bucs fan?
November 5th, 2024 at 9:18 am
Excited for what the playoffs… Super Bowls or BUST!!!
November 5th, 2024 at 9:23 am
With al due respect Joe…..
That is one of the most dumb stat I ever read……Seriously
November 5th, 2024 at 9:23 am
I might be in the minority here, but I’d rather struggle for 10 years and win another Super Bowl than keep being stuck in that “just good enough” spot where you’re competitive but never win the big game. The NFL is all about one thing—lifting the Lombardi Trophy. That’s why Jason Licht isn’t making big trades right now. He sees this team isn’t a Super Bowl contender with Toulet Bowles and wants to preserve draft capital to build for the future instead.
November 5th, 2024 at 9:27 am
I didn’t watch or listen to the game. My interest is fading fast.
When I came here this AM to see the results I was not surprised.
TODD BOWLES IS NOT A WINNER !
November 5th, 2024 at 9:27 am
Chiefs and other teams have major injuries and they find ways to win but not this staff. Like someone here already said Bowles doesn’t know how to adjust when his game plan starts to faulter
November 5th, 2024 at 9:29 am
And exactly how much help did KC get from the refs as usual? No false start. Face mask when there was none and more.
November 5th, 2024 at 9:34 am
The season is still salvageable. Fire Bowles promote Coen and let’s see what happens.
It’s time, FIRE BOWLES
November 5th, 2024 at 9:50 am
Bowles coaches like someone driving a car with who has a foot on the gas pedal and a foot also on the brake pedal.
Bowles will never win a Super Bowl driving a team with that type of mentality.
It’s time to replace him at the end of the season.
November 5th, 2024 at 10:06 am
Bucs Finding Ways To Lose
November 5th, 2024
^^^^^
Inexcusable play from top shelf players
Inexcusable calls from officials
Inexcusable lack of goal line cameras
Inexcusable decisions by the head coach
Bucs win games they should lose and lose games they should win.
Keep on moving folks, nothing to see here.
November 5th, 2024 at 10:12 am
Jason! Bill Belicheat on line one.
November 5th, 2024 at 10:16 am
We are the total opposite of the Cheifs
November 5th, 2024 at 10:30 am
Lol Says:
Todd is a sub .500 coach for a reason. Walk like a duck, talks like a duck……..
^^^^^^
UH UH. NOPE. BAD USE OF METAPHORS.
“Walk like a duck, talks like a duck ….” And you’re the unanimous #1 Team in CFB dominating the Big10 in just your first year in the conference.
Try “chicken” or Seminal or Gator.
ScoDucks!!
November 5th, 2024 at 10:32 am
I am done with Bowles.
I was not a fan when BA quit late, other HC credible candidates were already off the market, and the Glazers were MOL forced to go with Bowles. Plus, DEI was the hot ticket at the time.
I said I’d give him a chance, and I did.
I no longer support Bowles. This season is lost with his putrid D and stubbornness.
November 5th, 2024 at 10:38 am
They are a reflection of their HC, a loser (per his resume)!
November 5th, 2024 at 10:44 am
Bucs finding a way to lose? No. The head coach finds ways to lose. Should have been fired after the playoff game against the Rams. But nooooo! He is promoted instead because the gullible Glazers got suckered but Arians.
November 5th, 2024 at 10:53 am
Perhaps the Glazers should give Bowles an ultimatum: beat the Niners or get relieved of duty during the bye week. Of course, the Glazers will stay pat until January before they launch anyone, that is how they roll However, that would put a fire under the coach would it not? I mean, the Glazers expect progress from last year and that should mean 10 wins in the regular season and at least one playoff win. The way Bowles is coaching, no game on the schedule is a guaranteed win. Carolina just proven they can beat a bad head coach in Dennis Allen, they could do it to Bowles not once but twice like the ATL did. This is a mirror image of last year, games lost due to bad defense and incompetence of the head coach and DC. You know the Glazers did not choose to hire Bowles they were forced to promote either Bowles or Leftwich after Arians retired. That could be a factor to consider if Bowels does not get to 9 or 10 wins which seems extremely likely as any team left n the Bucs’ schedule probably think they can put 30+ on Bowles D….
November 5th, 2024 at 11:02 am
An NFL HC has to give his team a chance to win and time and time again Todd Bowles has shown that he’s an anchor on the Bucs team. Poor game management and mediocre schemes on defense.
November 5th, 2024 at 11:03 am
Bowles in a nutshell/sack:
Unnecessarily aggressive vs Ravens at the end of the game…leading to Godwin’s final play as a Buccaneer perhaps.
Deciding to play for the tie vs a generational QB talent on the road…not to mention risking injures etc by going OT.
* Awful clock management as well…1st & Goal from the 1 yard line…absolutely no rush with a timeout left. Instead…burn final timeout leaving 27 seconds for the Chiefs with 3 timeouts of their own.
Absolutely maddening…could have saved the season…instead sunk it as well as his coaching career if The Brothers Glazer use their juevos.
November 5th, 2024 at 11:04 am
Bucs fought all the way. The defense played better ( sacked MaHomes several times). Did we get burned ? Yes but we burned them as well. Bucs were in position to win this game !
Pretty excited about the 49 ers game this Sunday ! They are not going to continue beating the Bucs ! Not this time !
Go Bucs !!!
November 5th, 2024 at 11:04 am
Todd Blows coaching not to lose makes him a loser
Go for the win, always lean on your strength, the Bucs strength in 2024 is the OFFENSE i know it hurts Todd but lean on your strength which is not your awful defense
November 5th, 2024 at 11:05 am
Citrus you missed a great and exciting game. I thought we played very well for the most part. We went into overtime with an undefeated team! You people are too darn negative and I am fast losing my ability to enjoy reading comments here. Why don’t you pick apart the Chiefs for the mistakes they made, costing them to maybe lose this game on a coin flip?
November 5th, 2024 at 11:09 am
We are 30th in defense only the Jags and stinking Panthers are below us. Dennis Allen was just let go, Canales may be gone by the end of the year I would be surprised if they win another game. Bowles should be gone by the end of the year but theres no guarantee he will be if he can sueeze out another 8 or 9 win season. But 8 or 9 win season probably won’t get to the playoffs. Falcons have a 2 game lead and hold the tiebreaker.
November 5th, 2024 at 11:27 am
You play to win the game…Not look to take a tie to OT.
November 5th, 2024 at 11:27 am
You just know every player on the 49ers offense is walking around with raging hard-ons knowing they are playing this Todd Bowles led defense next week. Listen to the fans team Glazer…get him out of here !!!!!!!
November 5th, 2024 at 11:28 am
They were heavily favored! Most of you guys predicted us to get stomped. Constantly disrespected by your own fans. Some real 💩 fans in TB…. Why would anyone want to play for the Bucs with fans like yall?
November 5th, 2024 at 11:33 am
The NFC South is being led by the over achieving Falcons and the Bucs are underachieving. The Bucs have a very low chance of winning the division even if they can get back into winning some games. With 8 games remaining it’s possible for them to go 5-3 but more likely 4-4. Atlanta will finish with at 11-6, they will continue to overachieve because they are taking chances and Cousins is playing great.
The Bucs have a stronger roster than the Falcons but the Bucs are far more poorly coached and make a lot of mistakes due to many players not pulling their weight. Potentially the the Bucs have 4 All Pros with Wirfs, Mayfield, David and McCollum as well as All Rookie players with Irvin and Smith. Otton may be in consideration as a Pro Bowl alternate. The players are there but the lack of discipline and breakdowns falls on HC.
Bad decisions and wasting good players on an overall error plagued team as an entity. Missed opportunity to improve from the past 2 seasons with Bowles failing to get consistency from his team as a whole. They continue to disappoint especially the 2 Atlanta and Denver losses. Home losses like those are inexcusable with this roster.
November 5th, 2024 at 11:36 am
From day 1 of the Bowles era I have been making a point weekly that he’s a career loser and to expect more of the same.
Week after week guys have been fooling themselves. Constantly voting confidence in him.
Last night was another example of the difference between winners and losers. Winners are aggressive, losers are passive.
2 yards from upsetting an undefeated 2x SB champion and our loser chooses to trust his leaky, weak defense.
That’s what losers do.
November 5th, 2024 at 11:41 am
Let’s pump the brakes on the season being over. Looking at the schedule before the season started most would have said 5-5 at the bye week would be realistic or even optimistic. Now, the 49ers game is a must win. But somehow, despite themselves, they have for the most part hung in with the “good” teams. Injuries must slow down, and coaching decisions have to improve, but 11-6/10-7 is absolutely attainable.
November 5th, 2024 at 11:43 am
How many games does the Defense give up 30+ points before the DC is fired?
November 5th, 2024 at 12:00 pm
Time to move on
November 5th, 2024 at 12:04 pm
Crickett Baker Says:
November 5th, 2024 at 11:05 You people are too darn negative and I am fast losing my ability to enjoy reading comments here.
^^^^
I’m not being negative. I’m being rational. If you have read my posts for the past 2 years you SHOULD understand my reasoning for leaving the Bucs and the NFL behind. Don’t fret, my comments will soon cease. My points have been made. My theories have been supported.
November 5th, 2024 at 12:20 pm
We have a defensive minded coach, but the only reason we win games is because of our offense…. That’s wild. I know the injuries on offense hurt us, but baker and Liam are still balling out. You would think the defense was the side missing its two best players, but nope Winfield, Lavonte, vita, Kancey, Diaby, McCollum are all out there 🥴 Todd Bowles typical 8-9 season incoming
November 5th, 2024 at 12:23 pm
Even in the game thread, some of the knowledgable contributors were protesting that stupid Bowles timeout in the closing seconds which gave too much time to KC and Mahomes had the Bucs gone for 2 points.
Same with not going for those 2 points. It was plain stupid. Would you rather give KC and Mahomes 27 seconds, or the OT period to beat you? If Bowles had a brains, no timeout, and a 2 point attempt was the solution. There would have been almost no time on the game clock had the 2 point play succeeded. Just really, really stupid time and game management.
November 5th, 2024 at 12:29 pm
moral victories are for losers
November 5th, 2024 at 12:36 pm
Why, oh why, didn’t Bowles go for 2 at the end of regular time? We could have gone ahead with seconds left. Going for overtime gave KC a 50/50 chance to get the ball first in OT. Our defense was gassed after playing so hard early on.
November 5th, 2024 at 12:39 pm
I must be on the wrong blog. Haven’t heard a negative word today on Mayfield. Neither have I heard what a gutsy performance he had last night against a top rated defense minus his top 3 receivers. The Hate Brigade will be kind right up until the next INT. Can guarantee you all that there will be another INT. Mayfield has great confidence in his ability to throw into tight windows. Bucs team has lots of problems but Baker Mayfield isn’t one of them.
November 5th, 2024 at 12:40 pm
FIRE TODD BOWLES!
November 5th, 2024 at 12:45 pm
Other teams go out mid-season and acquire guys to help them win. Not us. We pray we will be Ok. Got news for all of yas. God is busy this time of the year. So we on our own. Here we go. Another wasted yr. On the couch watching all the other teams compete to get to the superbowl.
November 5th, 2024 at 12:48 pm
Ohbucsfan, I am part of that minority. The game I saw was hard fought. The Bucs were overmatched by a superior team. We were well prepared and well coached this time. We just do not have the firepower on offense. Our defense fought to the bitter end. Hard facts are just that.
Go Bucs!
November 5th, 2024 at 12:58 pm
I know it won’t happen, but it would be awesome if we would hear from Licht…but I’m sure he would not come out publicly against his head coach, regardless. I do like and respect our GM and owners, but sometimes their silence is frustrating….
November 5th, 2024 at 1:23 pm
First Name Greatest Says:
November 5th, 2024 at 11:04 am
Todd Blows coaching not to lose makes him a loser
Go for the win, always lean on your strength, the Bucs strength in 2024 is the OFFENSE….
Patrick mahones is 8 and 2 in overtime games when he gets the ball. Todd just wanted to be able to blame the coin flip.
November 5th, 2024 at 1:37 pm
Perfect trade at the deadline today Todd Bowles to Green Bay for Robert Saleh!!!!!!
November 5th, 2024 at 1:42 pm
What a shock. Vita & Kancey seemed to be some of the few who showed up in the game. Yaya had a couple of nice TFL, too! Please say goodbye to Bowles after this year because he cant keep forcing the offense to score 40 every week with the way he’s running the D. He’s got the CBs so far off the WRs to where they’re in Hillsborough county & the WRs are in Pinellas county. The WRs must have a restraining order on our secondary because obviously we can’t get within so many yards of them.
November 5th, 2024 at 1:43 pm
Bowles does live by the saying IF IT AIN’T BROKE DON’T FIX IT.
November 5th, 2024 at 1:50 pm
Maybe they should bring Mike Edwards back. Buffalo is considering letting him go.
November 5th, 2024 at 2:04 pm
The Bucs could have given the Lions and KC their only loses on the season, but Low T Todd does what losers do, and got ultra conservative and reverted back to his 1970s coaches handbook his middle school football coach game him.
Just no balls, none at all.
November 5th, 2024 at 2:18 pm
To see fans give up and hope for a midseason coach firing is crazy! If we fire bowels before the bye you might as well call the season and thats idiotic! We still are a tough team last night and all the terrible calls/no calls helped the Chiefs a ton. They barely snuck out with a win this is the undefeated defending world champs !! We don’t have 65% of our playmakers on offense and still managed to almost win this game. Todd bowels isn’t the best but this man has constantly put this team in position to win a midseason firing is ludacris! I will say at the end of the year he definitely should be evaluated and if Liam cohen threatens to leave we should make him the head coach but thats the only reason right now we still have a legitimate chance
November 5th, 2024 at 2:27 pm
Forget Todd Bowles for a second & just analyze our offense last night versus the Chief’s offense.
o Chiefs offense held the ball for 40:42 minutes … 83 plays … and scored 3 TDs & 1 FG in regulation plus 1 TD in OT. Bucs offense held the ball for 25:10 minutes … 52 plays … and scored 3 TDs & 1 FG in regulation, but never got the ball in OT because of NFL rules. TOP hugely in favor of Chiefs.
o Chiefs made 1 turnover; Bucs made none. Turnover Differential: +1 in favor of Bucs.
o Chiefs were flagged for 3 penalties (30 yards); Bucs were flagged for 6 penalties (50 yards). Penalty Differential: +3 Chiefs (penalties impacted Bucs more than Chiefs).
o Chiefs were 13-for-19 on 3rd & 4th down conversions (68.4%), but also gained another 15 first downs on 1st & 2nd down (total of 28). Bucs were 5-for-11 on 3rd down conversions, with no 4th down tries (45.5%), and also gained another 12 first downs on 1st & 2nd down. The conversion rate difference hugely favored the Chiefs.
o Mahomes was 34-of-44 (77.3%) for 291 yards & 3 TDs (0 INTs). Baker was 23-of-31 (74.2%) for 200 yards & 2 TDs (0 INTs). Relatively little difference between the 2 (both were excellent IMO).
Overall the Bucs #28-ranked defense was on the field for over 15 minutes MORE and over 30 plays MORE last night than the #4-ranked Chiefs defense. And yet, BOTH defenses gave up 24 points in regulation. The Chiefs’ offense, led by probably the best QB of this generation, made all the difference. Surprise surprise. Our defense AND our offense, given their current limitations, BOTH acquitted themselves quite well against the Super Bowl champs playing in their own house.
November 5th, 2024 at 2:38 pm
Again, if Bucs finish 9-8 Todd Bowles isn’t going anywhere. The two best teams in the NFL got all they wanted from Tampa Bay this year. Not Bowles fault he doesn’t have much defensive talent. Have heard many here go on and on about the great defenders we have. How many of our great defenders would start on the Chiefs defense? Vita Vea yes, not sure about LVD given his age, really not sure about Winfield, maybe McCollum, the rest of that group uh uh. you just can’t coach these guys into being superior talent. Where are the defensive interceptions, third down stops and fierce hits?
November 5th, 2024 at 3:22 pm
If we beat the 49ers, we will be right where everyone predicted we would be before the season – 5-5.
Beating the 49ers will be tough, they are rested from their bye and Bucs are playing after a short weak. If our defense improves incrementally like it did against the Chiefs, and our offense remains as productive as it has been. We have a high chance of winning the game.
November 5th, 2024 at 3:29 pm
They made it a game, I mean it sucks they lost but with the personal they have on both sides can you really be that mad? Go bucs!!
November 5th, 2024 at 3:30 pm
The defense is a sieve. Wide open gaps when it matters every time. Bowl should’ve been fired After each of the past two seasons, but because we made the playoffs he hung on. It’s time to for him to go. Go get Vrabell or something. Somebody who can consitantlymake good decisions when it absolutely matters.
November 5th, 2024 at 3:51 pm
This team has talent, it just has the wrong HC. If Bruce Arians was still coaching this team easily has a 6 and 3 record. Bowles needs to go!