What Was Todd Bowles Thinking On The Final Play To Mike Evans?
January 5th, 2025
Faith in assistants, players.
Look, Joe knows Bucs coach Todd Bowles, at his core, is an old-school defensive guy. He played for Joe Gibbs. Worked for Bill Parcells.
In a one-score game with the playoffs on the line, and only needing a kneel down to ice the win, would Parcells or Gibbs have allowed their quarterback to throw a pass, historic individual record on the line or not?
Hell, no!
All it would take is one slip up and the slimy Saints would be in position to doom the Bucs’ season.
So when Bowles was asked about the final play, a short pass to Mike Evans so he could reach 1,000 yards, and giving Liam Coen and Baker Mayfield the green light to throw, Bowles confessed this was on his mind.
“I didn’t want an interception,” Bowles said.
LOL Spoken like a true old-school defensive coach. But at least Bowles was open-minded and trusted his coaches and players with the green light to try and keep history alive.
Don’t think Bowles seriously discussed or thought of taking a knee? Remember, this is the same coach who, when Tom Brady was leading the Bucs on a game-winning drive in the final minute against Cleveland in 2022, pulled the ball out of Brady’s hands to play instead for overtime.
Bowles said after that game his reasoning was Brady could have thrown a pick. To that point in the season (Nov. 27) Brady had a grand total of two picks.
So Joe wants to thank Bowles for trusting his coaches and players enough to help Mike Evans make a little history and extend his streak to 11 years.
MIKE EVANS. 1,000 YARDS ONCE AGAIN. pic.twitter.com/V4S7S8APUX
— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2025
January 5th, 2025 at 8:06 pm
Todd takes a knee… gets run out of town or Baker pulls a Jameis & disobeys
January 5th, 2025 at 8:11 pm
It was cool to see Liam Bowles Baker get in an huddle. Ya know there was only 1 purpose and I have to say Bowles you made the call of calls…Thanks
January 5th, 2025 at 8:13 pm
Mike had 80 yards when Bucky scored. If Bowles would have refused the offsides call last week taking 6 yards from Mike up 24 points in the 4th quarter it wouldn’t have been an issue.
January 5th, 2025 at 8:15 pm
Bowles has increased win total each year and has never not won division. He has also picked 2 awesome OC’s in a row, and possibly 2 OC’s who become HC’s after their first year calling plays. Trust in Bowles people!
January 5th, 2025 at 8:17 pm
That was a perfectly designed play to get Mike at least 5 yards with virtually no risk.
January 5th, 2025 at 8:17 pm
So retrospectively, the Bowles move of declining the penalty last week made the way things happened with Mike getting that last catch even more dramatic and special. Funny how things work out.
January 5th, 2025 at 8:18 pm
If Mike caught the ball when it hit him in the hands or didn’t drop other passes this year it wouldn’t be an issue either.
January 5th, 2025 at 8:19 pm
Like Mike said, Bake missed him on a pass that would have gotten him the yardage earlier, also last week there was a play he and Mike missed on, forget last weeks six yards (well we can now), think about the games we waited to late to get Mike involved
January 5th, 2025 at 8:21 pm
I think feeding ME 13 the ball for a 5 yard reception was the right call !! This Buccaneers team is on fire !!
Go Bucs !! Beat the Commanders!!
January 5th, 2025 at 8:31 pm
Deep respect for Todd for doing this. He drives me crazy most times but that was awesome of him!
January 5th, 2025 at 8:44 pm
Fire Todd Bowles
January 5th, 2025 at 8:45 pm
He didn’t want to do it.
January 5th, 2025 at 8:47 pm
Did ya see the look on his face after Cohen walked up to him to ask… He for once, had quite a bit to say there!!!!
January 5th, 2025 at 8:52 pm
I could watch that over and over and over again and never get sick of it. What a great finish to an ugly game. Hope they are ready for Daniels next week. Certainly going to be a tough game.
January 5th, 2025 at 8:53 pm
Glad evans got the record. It was a cool moment at the stadium. Playing for stats seems ridiculous but if it can help galvanize the team, obviously it did and the fans then screw it.
January 5th, 2025 at 8:55 pm
If it was on the road Bowles would have taken a knee, but I think he was worried about his personal safety leaving the stadium if he did that there.
Anywho, glad he got out of the way and let Evans and the fans have a big moment.
January 5th, 2025 at 9:19 pm
DBS, your initials fit your comment well. Dumb BS.
January 5th, 2025 at 9:26 pm
The boost that play gave the entire team going into the playoffs was worth the risk. Plus it sends the message to the players that effort and loyalty will be rewarded.
January 5th, 2025 at 9:31 pm
Respect. Bowles could have told them to knee it but he didn’t.
January 5th, 2025 at 9:35 pm
Kudos to Coach for that. He would have had a mutiny on his hands if he didn’t take the minuscule chance to get Mike his yards…..which wouldn’t have been necessary if he didn’t have a brain cramp against the Panthers last week.
January 5th, 2025 at 9:57 pm
Yes, way 2 trust Baker n Coen n Mike n Bucs, coach Bowles, thx—–besides, u didnt want 2 make Baker go off on u like Brady did when u told him he was through 4 day n Gronk needed a catch 4 a record n a half mil -Brady won that argument n he got that pass 2 Gronk!!! Qb1’s take care of guys n the WHOLE BUCS team does 2!!!! Go Bucs go Baker
January 5th, 2025 at 10:08 pm
What is with all the freaking IFs? IF Bowles hadn’t wiped out the gain against Carolina by wisely taking the penalty..IF ME13 hadn’t dropped as many balls, all receivers drop balls, CG and Otton have both gone through the dropsies. Did ME lose any yards to a catch wiped out by a penalty.
Again IF the freaking frog had wings he wouldn’t scrape is butt on the big rocks!
IFs are meaningless…reality check…The Bucs just won their 4th consective Division title! Luck or not!!! Baker Mayfield just had his second career year in a row after the Munchmeister has spent the better part of two seasons telling us what an inconsistent player Bakers is and how he would regress to what the Munchmeister called his normal or mean level.
So Rod are you man enough to simply say…I was wrong?
January 5th, 2025 at 10:14 pm
@ Let’s Go,
I’m glad the Bucs keep winning the NFC South championship but winning 8 or 9 games when playing in the weakest division in the NFL as the Bucs did the previous two seasons doesn’t impress me much.
I believe Bowles is fairly safe at the moment but it wouldn’t shock me if the Glazer’s made a change. They want to win another Championship and if they feel a change could increase their chances then they may pull the trigger.
January 5th, 2025 at 10:17 pm
Truth hurt you Kev?
January 5th, 2025 at 10:32 pm
Evans achieved a historic record worthy of a great player who needed the help of his coaches and teammates (and Saints). I’ve watched the Pat’s do many great things, and I’m blessed to see it continue with the Bucs.
January 5th, 2025 at 10:36 pm
BTW. the Pat’s almost always came into the playoffs with swagger, attitude, confidence, and trust in each other. What the Bucs did for Evans are what champion caliber teams do. These are the things that give a championship quality like the Pat’s had, and makes other teams scared to play them,… Commanders are toast.
January 5th, 2025 at 10:42 pm
Bucsfansinc31996, Bowles has improved. The Bowles of 2 years ago who took the ball out of Brady’s hand and played for overtime would have made Baker take a knee. The Bowles of 2 years ago would have had the 2024 Bucs have an 8-9 or 9-8 record. A 10-7 record is pretty good. I do agree though that he could have done better and get another win or two.
January 5th, 2025 at 10:57 pm
I’m not a Bowles fan, but I agree with the call and respect that they did it. Mike Evans deserves it. First time a terrible call was the right thing to do. Let’s go Bucs!
January 5th, 2025 at 11:02 pm
I think (lord have mercy) Rod Munch is right. Bowles feared for his personal safety. I think though that he is also realizing that morale goes a long way and you can bet they’re walking in to next week with a really good feeling.
The D can shut down when they bring pressure more often. They can penetrative and rush the O and cause turnovers and punts.
I’ll say this again though: Baker didn’t miss Evans. Evans was slowed down, either by his own turn or by a hold that wasn’t called. It was as Baker threw, and after he could do anything to change it.
I still think it’s a long shot, but to be honest, this team has what it takes to win a super bowl if they manage to play their best every game. Going to be tough, but I said early they have to learn to win close games, and that’s what they did today. I’m excited for the playoffs and for next season.
Last thought: I think ME is a little unhappy with Baker despite what he said.
January 5th, 2025 at 11:08 pm
BTW, while Evans and his team mates are gushing over his 1000 yard record, Tyreek Hill is crying over missing 1000 yard and the playoffs and want out of Miami lol.
January 5th, 2025 at 11:31 pm
stpetebucsfan – Dummy, Baker WAS inconsistent last year – that’s why no one offered him franchise money and he got a very middling contract. Also, pretty much all year, I’ve talked about how much better Baker has looked in this offense and how he has been more consistent.
Man you Baker Boi(s) are insane. I’ve mostly complimented Baker his year, and even when he had some bad games due to WR’s being out and due to Sucke starting at rackle, I’ve said you shouldn’t be counting those performances. Man are you people just mentally weak. If Baker was anything like you nutjobs he’d have quit years ago.
January 6th, 2025 at 12:02 am
A big time tool bag on this here site
January 6th, 2025 at 12:42 am
Ballsy call by Todd to go for it on 4th and 8 with 10 minutes left !!!
January 6th, 2025 at 1:06 am
Glazers told him to do it–he probably got a phone call in game, when the Bucs had time left on the clock and the game was a wrap. He was told to make it happen.
January 6th, 2025 at 1:21 am
This team loves and plays hard for Bowles. I think most of the fans support him too. It’s just the fair weather loud ones that always cry out for him to be fired. I think Cohan will stay on as OC and could use some more experience. Todd wants the chance to make another run at the SB next year if they don’t win it this year. Fill a few spots on the D and hopefully go into the playoffs more healthy. He will retire after next season and Cohan can take over as HC and hand pick his own DC. He will only be 40.
January 6th, 2025 at 2:10 am
if coach made them take a knee there…and mike doesn’t break the record…oh the sh!t he would have caught for that…
and why…?
because you then circle back to last weekend, when towards the end of the game, he also took 6 yards away from mike on a penalty call – if you remember – as i do…
so it would have been a double whammy on bowles…
mike is shorted 5 this week, or 6 last week…either way not good for coach…
glad that worked out in the end, because you saw and felt the excitement when big mike got those final 9 yards…
awesome way to cap off the victory vs the saints…icing on the cake !
January 6th, 2025 at 3:21 am
I was upset with Bowels last week when we were up big against the panthers in the second half and no effort was made to get Mike the ball. That could have cost us today. You don’t want to go into a must win game against a team that is historically tough needing to find a way to throw to your one guy that the other team is double covering. Meanwhile there was no pressure the previous week once we had a lead.
January 6th, 2025 at 3:26 am
Anyone saying stupid stuff about Mike dropping a pass here or there is just a troll or really doesn’t know football. Mike is one of the all time greats at his position, he routinely makes plays others can’t, and literally every receiver has a drop from time to time. Absolutely stupid take from ungrateful fans.
January 6th, 2025 at 4:36 am
Kudos to Todd. You can bet that players around the league are loving him today.
Once we got the ball back, we were all holding our breaths on this. Would they or wouldn’t they get Mike the ball and what if they were intercepted. And just like out of a movie Mike got the ball! We will all never forget the feeling. I am still crying every time I watch the video.
January 6th, 2025 at 5:58 am
What a game and what a cap on the season I was running around my Atlanta hotel room screaming like they were on the field. Feeling much love here in bucks Nation let’s go let’s go let’s go and command the commanders right back out of Tampa and send them home packing for the end of their year! Oh so let’s f****** go!!!! It was kind of fun standing in front of the hotel room with Mercedes-Benz stadium insight right after game smoking a cigar. Seen approximately a total of five panther jerseys and a whole bunch of frownin ass Tweety Bird fans. Oh Sunday was a good day
January 6th, 2025 at 8:12 am
Stanglassman Says:
January 6th, 2025 at 1:21 am
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You beat me to it. Thank you, sir.
January 6th, 2025 at 9:22 am
So did Taylor, the Saints cornerback, give Evans the catch. He is seen dropping back to protect against a touchdown. In a regular situation in a tight game, that would be the right play. But you know all the Bucs want is 5 yards for Evans. Why not have press coverage on him instead of dropping back and giving him the flat?
Just wondering.
January 6th, 2025 at 9:28 am
The saints definitely played Mike soft. And kudos to them for that – not often I’ll give them props, but they deserve it.
January 6th, 2025 at 10:57 am
Short term, Bowles has the locker room and understands it and the players. It was important to the TEAM on both sides of the ball to get the grand. Long term, it shows soon to be FA that maybe this is a team I want to be on. Team goals first but individual goals are also important.
January 6th, 2025 at 11:26 am
Absolutely Zero issue with it.
Mike has been a stalwart of this team and with such a legacy at play it means more than the paltry chances this team gets a ship.
January 6th, 2025 at 11:31 am
For some fans football is a life and death struggle. Nothing wrong with that. But for most of us, it’s entertainment. Sure, there was a very remote possibility of an interception retured for a TD, a 2 point conversion, and an OT loss. But giving the fans a chance for a moment they’ll never forget was worth the risk. The Bucs got it done but it had been a frustrating, disappointing afternoon for the fans until Mayfield made it clear he wasn’t gonna let them lose. Then the final play made the day magical.
January 6th, 2025 at 12:47 pm
And IF my Aunt had ballz she’d be my Uncle. . .
January 6th, 2025 at 2:36 pm
UKBuccaneer Says:
January 6th, 2025 at 9:28 am
The saints definitely played Mike soft. And kudos to them for that – not often I’ll give them props, but they deserve it
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They played him soft? No, the Bucs ran 2 receivers out to basically do a soft screen so Mike could turn back underneath for the quick, easy throw. Also, what a disgrace to say the other team just let Mike get the catch instead of giving Evans credit for making the play. Come on, what is that all about?
January 7th, 2025 at 2:20 am
A beautiful football moment! At that moment the Bucs bonded into a special team that has the potential and the inspiration to go far, very far. We’ve all watched a lot of football games in our lives. Can you recall such a truly celebratory moment as what followed the Mike Evans catch? It was really fun to watch! What comes to my mind is the Dwight Clark moment known as “The Catch” which sent the perenially struggling 49ers off to dynasty-land at the expense of the Cowboys. That too was a beautiful moment. So, the Bucs are inspired! The team will follow Bowles and Mayfield to hell and back now. I hope they go far the playoffs. A Super Bowl victory is not that far-fetched, after all, the Bucs beat the Lions at their house earlier in the season. Go Bucs!