“It’s December Football”
December 15th, 2024
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles had a message after today’s chain-whipping of the Chargers in Los Angeles.
The Bucs running the ball down the Chargers’ throats 39 times and doing a solid job stopping the run? Bowles says that’s not just winning football, “It’s December football.”
And when it comes to December football, Bowles seems to have cracked some of the code.
His Bucs are a stunning 9-3 in December games since he took over for the 2022 season. Man, what a coach Bowels would be if he could turn his brand of December football into October football.
Perhaps most important is how Bowles’ steady messaging resonates with players in December. He stays calm and on script all season and keeps preaching how staying the course — no matter what may be failing — and fixing little things will put the Bucs where they need to be.
That drives a lot of fans insane, including Joe at times, but Joe cannot discount the value of that consistency among the roster.
The result today was the best version of December football, a performance that might have been the Bucs’ most emphatic victory since, well, last December.
That’s when the Bucs, 363 days ago, went to Green Bay and hammered the Packers en route to their third consecutive NFC South title.
If the Bucs can continue playing “December football,” then Joe is confident they’ll have the NFC South wrapped up before January.
How fitting that would be!
December 15th, 2024 at 9:10 pm
Great win. Pumped for the team and us fans. Don’t wanna throw any cold water on it but I see all the Bowles defenders coming out after one good game again vs a team we should beat. Chargers haven’t played a tough schedule. They haven’t gotten wins vs good teams.
The Bowles defenders can come out if he coaches the team to a playoff win vs a legit team. As I have said before… Bowles needs to win a tight game vs a contending team before I will ever trust him to win this team a SB. Chargers today and Lions beginning of the season are his 2 best wins this season. As Joe has mentioned, our season almost ended in Carolina… Bowles still has a lot to prove.
December 15th, 2024 at 9:12 pm
Lovie Smith was correct when he said real football starts in November. They’re 4-2 since November 1st with a good opportunity to finish the season 7-2 since November
December 15th, 2024 at 9:18 pm
Impressive win, especially given the injuries. But Herbert couldn’t scramble and their WRs were weak, so it was a favorable matchup for the Bucs. The season is down to two things – don’t choke against a bad team and how do they match up vs Lions, Philly, NotRedskins, other teams they’ll see in January. Big TBDs, but today was fun to watch.
December 15th, 2024 at 9:23 pm
Bowles is not my favorite but he’s far from the worst guy we’ve had.
GO BUCS
December 15th, 2024 at 9:35 pm
Now if the team doesn;t get a swelled head and come out for the Cowboys game with low energy like they did against the Saints last season.
December 15th, 2024 at 9:49 pm
I wish people would not be so negative about Bowles as some have been even as we’ve had a successful team. Is he perfect? Like Mayfield, probably not, but who is? The point is, he’s a real winner, and you don’t dump winning coaches, quarterbacks or players for nothing to chase the next big thing: that is how you become the Browns. I hope people take that to heart.
December 15th, 2024 at 10:05 pm
I’m changing my opinion of Bowles as a HC the last few weeks. He’s surprised me and so has this team.
Amen – Go Bucs! ! !
December 15th, 2024 at 10:25 pm
Great win, but they still need to win out.
Dallas has way more weapons to deal with than a gimpy Herbert with no RBs.
I will also congratulate Bowles for seemingly knowing how to get this team firing right down the stretch. Just don’t let up now. Still have to win out to make the post season.
December 15th, 2024 at 11:58 pm
I am finally seeing the defense that I expected this year.
December 16th, 2024 at 12:00 am
This is the year. We have too many vets with sb rings. There is, know how, in this building. Health is key now. It’s so fun still being in the mix this late in the season. A seven game win streak into the playoffs. Can we do it? Go BUCS
December 16th, 2024 at 4:26 am
True that, it’s fitting, Joe. It’s fitting. The Bucs got it going. They are first-class!
December 16th, 2024 at 5:54 am
“after one good game again vs a team we should beat. Chargers haven’t played a tough schedule. They haven’t gotten wins vs good teams.
”
What? Chargers had the number one scoring defense and are a playoff team, what planet are you on saskbuc?!?!
December 16th, 2024 at 6:23 am
Mike C the commentator said they had the number 1 scoring offense
December 16th, 2024 at 8:02 am
No Jeremy, Chargers had number 1 scoring defense
December 16th, 2024 at 5:59 pm
Hey Joe, it’s Bowles, not Bowels. Fix the typo.