Prime Time Schedule Suits Bucs’ Weaknesses
May 15th, 2025
So the Bucs are 1-6 under Todd Bowles in short-week games during regular-season play, and they’re on 1-5 run in night games.
Some fans think that’s a coincidence. Joe does not.
Bowles largely has a veteran staff and Bucco Bruce Arians is a phone call away. So is Bill Parcells. Fix it, Coach!
Find a way. Take a boat ride with your captains and don’t get off until there’s a fresh plan.
The Bucs’ last short-week loss (less than seven days between games) came last season at home to San Francisco following a crushing Monday night overtime loss to the Chiefs.
The most recent night game? Well, in the regular season it was a loss at the hands of a bad Dallas team on the road.
Joe is not counting playoff games during the 1-5 run at night, but the Bucs lost their last game — a home playoff game — at night.
That brings Joe to the Buccaneers’ glorious 2025 schedule. Joe likes it. Nice balance. Decent bye week. Getting the Falcons in Week 1 on the road.
But Joe also likes how the Bucs got only four night games in prime time with three on the road (Texans, Lions, Rams). Hey, if you’re not good at night and can’t find a fix, then you’re best off playing those games on the road. The fourth night game is home late in the season against the Falcons on a Thursday night.
Thursday night road teams struggle, so Joe likes the fit. The Bucs lost on a Thursday in Atlanta last year.
As of now, the Bucs have only three short-week games on the 2025 schedule — home for the Jets, at New Orleans and that Falcons home matchup. Those should not be rough opponents for a scenario that gives Bowles and friends fits.
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May 15th, 2025 at 3:47 pm
I seem to remember the old Bucs having an abysmal record in cold weather below 40 degrees , but they kind of made that go away when they became a good football team and I think these Bucs will exorcise their night terrors much the same way.
May 15th, 2025 at 3:50 pm
unbridled optimism love it and agree
May 15th, 2025 at 3:50 pm
Joe says:
“Joe is not counting playoff games during the 1-5 run at night, but the Bucs lost their last game — a home playoff game — at night.”
This makes zero sense. Is it because it would make Bowles record even worse in these games if you counted the playoffs?
Also,
“Hey, if you’re not good at night and can’t find a fix, then you’re best off playing those games on the road.”
So a loss in these night games are ok if it’s on the road?
It kind of sounds like we’re dancing around the real issue.
May 15th, 2025 at 3:54 pm
They have 4 night games and honestly, most of that has been because they weren’t quite as good as their opponents. They were on the verge. This year is different. They’re going to be a great team this year. I’m not worried about the night games.
I am worried about the short weeks. The coaches need to make some adjustments and change something because it’s been an issue and what they’ve been doing clearly is not working.
May 15th, 2025 at 3:56 pm
Atlanta has an easier schedule. Bucs-ATL are must win games.
May 15th, 2025 at 3:57 pm
Hmmm 🤔. I think somebody changed their name again 🤣
May 15th, 2025 at 3:57 pm
Night games are usually against good teams and good coaches. Is that a coincidence?
May 15th, 2025 at 4:04 pm
GoneGator Says:
“Hmmm 🤔. I think somebody changed their name again 🤣”
Shunned – Dwight Schrute
May 15th, 2025 at 4:33 pm
In the end, if it’s the Typical DISASTER under Bowles, I believe they look elsewhere.
So far, it’s OBVIOUS that Bowles isn’t the man to get us to the Big Show. If he makes that clear again (It’s Bowles Contract Year! Of which they HAVE NOT Extended him at this point), then I believe they are parting ways.
I also believe that they will try to get him to stay on as the DC or Co Head Coach, or some unusually thing, but his pride won’t allow it. He doesn’t allow a DC now so …..
I also believe if he could just focus on being the DC that he’d shine once again. But it’s been to much to ask of him to run the whole show successfully.. it just hasn’t happened and this is year numero 5. So he gets One Last Shot to prove otherwise and this IS IT!
May 15th, 2025 at 4:37 pm
And if we All hear “Just One More Time” how He DOESN’T Know how to get them to COMMUNICATE….. THAT WOULD BE 5 YEARS IN A ROW OF LOUSY COACHING NOW WOULDN’T IT!
May 15th, 2025 at 4:41 pm
Todd signed his 5 year deal in March of 2022. Follow along closely now – 2022-2023-2024-2025-2026 is 5 years-THIS IS NOT BOWLES CONTRACT YEAR.
May 15th, 2025 at 4:53 pm
Yep, I absolutely despise the Bucs getting night games. They just don’t perform at their best. I’d be happy if they played every Sunday at 1PM.
May 15th, 2025 at 4:54 pm
Bucsfan Says:
“Todd signed his 5 year deal in March of 2022. Follow along closely now – 2022-2023-2024-2025-2026 is 5 years-THIS IS NOT BOWLES CONTRACT YEAR.”
Thank you!!! So many people do not get this, even those that run the show.
May 15th, 2025 at 4:57 pm
Obvious One Says:
“it just hasn’t happened and this is year numero 5.”
It’s year 4 of the Bowles HC contract. 2026 is year 5.
May 15th, 2025 at 5:18 pm
Joe says:
” A loss at the hands of a bad Dallas team”
While the Cowgirls weren’t a good team by any means, they were playing there best football at the time and had won 3 of there last 4 games going into that contest including a big division win over the “deadskins” 34-26. So to the Bucs credit they couldn’t have caught Dallas at a worse time.
May 15th, 2025 at 5:29 pm
WeDemBoyzFromDaBay Says:
“So to the Bucs credit they couldn’t have caught Dallas at a worse time.”
If Baker is so great, why did he get beat by Cooper Rush?
Riddle me that? Same with the Bowles lead defense.
All these 2nd tier QBs making them look like a high school girls flag football squad.
May 15th, 2025 at 5:37 pm
2 -12 is Pathetic, that falls on the entire organization. Joes hammered the Bucs last year for not scoring TD’s on first possessions for months before the season started and looky how that turned out in 2024. Need to start hammering away at needing better performances on primetime and short weeks. Make it a Pride deal, question their mental toughness.
May 15th, 2025 at 6:19 pm
Bucs still have 4 games this season where their opponent is coming off a BYE week.
May 15th, 2025 at 6:29 pm
No matter the schedule, the Rams, SF, and even the Texans expose Bowles weak defense and always take advantage of his poor defensive gameplan. It’s not the schedule it’s the poor gameplan and weak defense. It remains to be seen if the Bucs have added true impact players on the D and if Bowles can find a way to stop Stafford and Purdy.
May 15th, 2025 at 6:33 pm
🔥 todd
May 15th, 2025 at 6:46 pm
Weak secondary, if Tristan Wirfs is so great why did he get beat by Tyler Guyton(rookie left tackle for the Cowboys)? Riddle me that. Just because you aren’t logical doesn’t mean the rest of us aren’t WeakSecondary.
May 15th, 2025 at 6:53 pm
Man, the superstition.
I hear on full moons in September, on days the team meal had carrots as a side dish, that we’ve never won a game 😱
“🔥 todd”
Not going to happen. He’s done an objectively good job (maybe great) with what he’s been given. IF he improves our record yet again, gets us to the playoffs and past the 1st round, which I expect, he’ll be extended and the turd hunters will lose what’s left of their minds.
May 15th, 2025 at 7:02 pm
@GoneGator – nailed it.
It’s about the 15th time he’s changed his username… And then you’ll see he won’t show his face after wins, only after losses during the season. Predictable AF.
May 15th, 2025 at 8:00 pm
Remember when they couldn’t win in cold weather…until they did.
May 15th, 2025 at 8:20 pm
Title and pic tell another intriguing tale of weakness that I am eager to see resolved this year, clock management.
May 15th, 2025 at 8:51 pm
The Bucs just haven’t;t been up to beating the better competition and teams and that’s what you face during prime time games. They don’t put good teams up against schleps, nothing mystical about why they lose them.
May 15th, 2025 at 9:06 pm
What upsets me most about some Bucs fans right now is that the team is *undefeated*. I’m not a huge Todd Bowles fan myself, but as others pointed out during the draft, who else would you rather have? He’d have to be a coordinator or someone not currently employed by another team.
That’s my main issue—Bowles may not be a great coach, but it’s too late to jump ship. We have to roll with him, at least for this year. And if you’re a true Bucs fan like I am, you should be hoping he stays until retirement—because that would mean we’re winning *every* Super Bowl from this year on.
If you’re truly a *Tampa Bay Buccaneers* fan, you should want to win no matter who the coach or players are. Otherwise, you’re just a Baker fan, a Brady fan, or a fan of someone/somthing else—not a Bucs fan, that’s for sure.
May 15th, 2025 at 9:09 pm
Every team is 0-0, full of potential, and anything can happen. This is the moment for optimism, not pessimism. If you’re already rooting against your own coach or quarterback before a single snap, you’re not really riding with the team—you’re just waiting to be “right.”
Real fans know: once the season starts, it’s all about backing the pewter and red, no matter who’s under center or wearing the headset. Let the games play out—then judge. Until then, enjoy the clean slate.
GO BUCS!!
May 15th, 2025 at 9:28 pm
I’m not a Bowles hater and think he hasn’t had the best situation here with unfocused Brady, three interior starting linemen no longer on the roster, cap hell the following season and last year’s walking wounded defense. If he can give us 12 to 13 wins with our current roster (not getting too injured) with some prime time/night wins and no mid-season slump, winning most of the close games… he will have proved himself to me at least. That’s what I’d like to see this season. I think we have the roster for it, can they stay healthy? I’m rooting for him at least. I love the culture he’s created.
May 15th, 2025 at 9:58 pm
A serious question for all. Do any of you think the talent on the team has ANYTHING to do with the result.
IE Todd coached a SB winning defense!! That defense happened to include JPP, Suh, LVD, DW45 at his best, AW at his best, two decent to good cover corners in Dean and Davis, a guy who recorded19.5 sacks! in Shaq Barrett and Vea.
He coached a horrible defense that included Vea and LVD the only two SB survivors along with a talented young Kancy and YaYa? Winfield was hurts most of the year, Dean as usual missed a bunch of game, especially the important ones! I thought Zyon came on strong as did Tykee and a couple of others.
But read the first list of players and compare them to their replacements.
Do you “experts” think that talent level has ANYTHING TO DO WITH RESULTS.
BTW “Blitz crazy” Todd only blitzed KC under 10% in both the regular season and the SB.
BOTTOM LINE: You can’t make chicken salad out of chicken sh!t!
This year it “appears” that more talent has arrived…perhaps even enough to make a real chicken salad!