Todd Bowles “Outmatched” The Dixie Chicks
September 13th, 2025
Still has it.
Joe hopes Bucs coach Todd Bowles can similarly throw Houston’s offense a curveball like this.
Many Bucs fans, including Joe, understandably wonder what happened to the Bucs’ run game last Sunday at Atlanta.
Bucky Irving only had 37 yards. Shoot, Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield had a game-high 39 yards rushing. That’s not ideal. But hey, a win is a win. Eat a W!
If you think the Bucs had a tough time getting the run game in gear, imagine what the poor Dixie Chicks must feel.Atlanta had a grand total of 39 yards rushing.
Atlanta quarterback Michael Penix was four yards shy of leading the Dixie Chicks in running. And he’s not a runner like Mayfield can be.
And yes, one of the best backs in the league, Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson, was healthy.
Per D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Robinson said the defense Bowles crafted for Atlanta totally caught the Dixie Chicks by surprise and Atlanta spent most of the game trying to scheme up their offense to counter it.
In short, Bowles rendered Atlanta’s gameplan useless.
“They came out in a look that we haven’t seen,” Bijan Robinson said. “Our playbook got shorter, and we were trying to run other plays to outscheme them. We prepared for something completely different. It wasn’t about effort or anything like that. We were just outmatched in that game.”
Just when Joe starts to wonder what kind of craftsman Bowles is with defense, because Joe is so frustrated with the Bucs’ pass defense, along comes a game like last Sunday to demonstrate that Bowles sure knows what he is doing against the run.
Hopefully, Bowles can pull off a like-minded trick against Nick Chubb on Monday night.
Here is the video of Bijan Robinson saying the Falcons rushing attack was "outmatched" against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week. pic.twitter.com/wSEOyhGAb1
— Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) September 13, 2025
September 13th, 2025 at 7:43 am
The way ATL started on the first drive with a TD then Bucs went 3 and out I was convinced it was going to be a rough day. The turning point was when Todd went for it on 4th down. Failing to convert that, things could have went downhill fast. What decision and executed play that was. I noticed Hard Rock has ME13 anytime TD on Monday for +135 I’m tempted because I now he is bringing alot of people to the game and wants to put on a show in Texas.
September 13th, 2025 at 7:57 am
The biggest issue was Dennis getting exploited on the passing game allowing over 100 YAC. That to me is the number 1 thing to clean up on defense. Teams will looking to exploit those easy yards all year long.
September 13th, 2025 at 7:58 am
Jeremy, I agree. That 4th down call early in the game was the spark that got the Bucs rolling. Good on Todd! As the Joes have pointed out, this isn’t the same ultra conservative Todd that we saw the first couple of years.
September 13th, 2025 at 8:01 am
Glad we stopped their run game. They were still able to drive 91 yards for a possible lead until Winfield broke up that pass at the two. I’m not worried about the offense. The same things that killed us on defense last season almost doomed us Sunday. Allowing long drives, unable to get off the field. A shakey pass rush, and our MLB getting abused for long gains over the middle. I can count on Baker, Barton, Bucky, Evans, Egbuka, Godwin. Can I count on YaYa, Reddick, Dean, Dennis, Braswell? More questions on defense if you ask me.
September 13th, 2025 at 8:10 am
Well, now. I guess Bowles can scheme. And coach.
September 13th, 2025 at 8:13 am
Wow! After reading this, I’d really like to know what was schematically so different other than the presence of Dennis and Tykee Smith at safety…
September 13th, 2025 at 8:14 am
I’m not seeing Bowle’s genius. Made a rookie QB look like a 10 year vet. Sold out to stop the run. That’s nothing groundbreaking. And remember, this is more of an indictment of Raheem Morris’ sheer and utter incompetence than Bowles’ “brilliance.”
September 13th, 2025 at 8:14 am
Also, I fully expect Evans to score in Texas.
September 13th, 2025 at 8:18 am
Totally confused ATL and yet barely escaped with the win. That’s what makes me nervous.
September 13th, 2025 at 8:19 am
Here’s one of the better RBs in the league saying by design, not even with the ball snapped, they had to scrap sections of the playbook IN-GAME because the defense lined up a particular way.
Not to mention the reps they used to figure that out not being worth much anything other than a try, while the clock ran.
Wild to hear this from Bijan Robinson publicly, but I respect the transparency and the insight that comes along with it.
We needed that with an offense that only managed 7 yards in 6 plays combined on its first 2 drives. As ATL went up on us early and could’ve been trying to run us ragged with an early lead.
September 13th, 2025 at 8:25 am
Exactly what Hodad said!!!
September 13th, 2025 at 8:29 am
Koo Koo outblundered Bowles…that is all.
September 13th, 2025 at 8:45 am
we would have beat them in ot also
September 13th, 2025 at 8:54 am
Good job Bowles! We got the WIN.
All I know is Raheem had the deer on a headlight look whenever the camera was on him.
1-0
Let’s make more adjustments and head to Houston.
Go Bucs!!!
September 13th, 2025 at 9:20 am
No matter how it played out , it was a very important in division , road victory !
Let’s got another Monday
September 13th, 2025 at 9:20 am
This makes my heart happy. Whenever people question Bowles, just remember his defense in Super Bowl LX, this quote, and that the players are crazy about him.
Good time to be a Bucs fan.
September 13th, 2025 at 9:42 am
Wowsers! After listening to Robinson, I can see why he’s considered a blue blood RB. I looked at a few other team blogs, and saw the word “rust” repeatedly written. Morris started his pro coaching career with Defense. He’s not sheer and utterly incompetent, Negative Nellie Jeff. You obviously weren’t around when he was one of Dungy’s assistants. Luck and rust were big parts of game #1. We’ll need to outplay the Texans, too, MN. Fingers crossed. 2-0!!
September 13th, 2025 at 9:43 am
@Hodad
“…Allowing long drives, unable to get off the field.”
Sorry, I don’t agree with the sentiment of “Exactly what Hodad said!!!”
Hodad, Aqualung, OneilBuc, Couch, you are aware the other team gets paid too, right? Robinson, London, Penix, Pitts, etc. And ATL has some talent too, right? And you followed the game, so you know they shut down our running game, yet we still prevailed.
Do you know the vast majority of teams in the NFL, including the Chiefs coached by the best in the league, run a “bend but don’t break” (zone) defense? Why? Because the NFL is designed to produce scores, NOT man-to-man defense; can’t hit too hard, can’t hold onto WRs, etc. So teams play zone coverage to minimize damage and keep the offense in front of them.
The Bucs shut down one of the best RBs in the NFL, to the point Robinson admitted ATL had NO ANSWERS. I wonder if the was coaching and scheming? Penix impressed me. YET we did an exceptional job on that goal line stand – yes, he eventually scored, but its pretty damn impossible to stop a good QB that many times on the one yard line. I admit I do not remember how many shots they got, but that drive had 17 plays to it.
Yes, I also would like to see stiffling man pressure D. That is just not todays NFL. Personally, I think Bowles did an outstanding job on ATL – even Robinson said so. Too bad the so called fans in here never give him any credit.
September 13th, 2025 at 9:48 am
ATL were 100% focused on stopping Bucky and they did a good job. I expect the Texans to repeat ATL’s plan against Bucky, and Carbs needs to have the new OL ready. Still, White and Tucker ran well so they might get more touches this week.
September 13th, 2025 at 10:05 am
give bowles time hes good. thursday night games i have little confidence or games vs offense gurus. the more he faces a team i think helps him also
September 13th, 2025 at 10:32 am
I think this not quite fair. You do recall our kicker leaving 4 pts off the board, which would have changed the end to that game somewhat.
However, I do find it interesting how a seasoned DC seems to regularly fold during the final 2 minutes of games while rookie OCs (3 now) seem to rise up. Imo, it speaks to the over complexities of TB’s D that guys can’t just play and respond quickly in these fast paced high pressure situations. We often need individual heroics (AWJ’s pd) to save the day. Guys are playing with Bowles in their head. Meanwhile, the offense locks in in let’s guys play.
Idk, I’m a fan of Kiffin’s philosophy. If you need to pound in a nail, use a hammer. Don’t try to get cute and beat on that nail with a screwdriver. You’re just gonna damage the screwdriver (hence brittle secondary)
September 13th, 2025 at 10:39 am
Again, I will say it, because I don’t get it. Pundits and our opponents say Bowles is a defensive guru. Always praising him mightily, while we seem always to disparage him.
September 13th, 2025 at 10:42 am
Also, I agree with Bijan, they were confused. But more competent coaches often crack the code at halftime and Bowles is consistently slow to adjust and counter their counter. This speaks to TB’s opening day success and annual skid. He confuses opponents early, they adjust, he gets beat down 4-6 games before he counter punches.
Look, I wanna love the guy, and tbh I actually think he is a better HC than DC at this pt in his career, but I really wish he would stop trying to be so cute with the smoke and mirror pass defense and get some brutes on the edge
September 13th, 2025 at 10:46 am
“Always praising him mightily, while we seem always to disparage him.“
Now question how much do you think the average fan of any team knows of X’s & O’s in comparisons to people who are paid to draw up, apply, and execute the X’s & O’s
Bijans’ take as a player holds more weight than any fans opinion(mind included) on our defense, because he’s on the other side trying to beat it and can give the devil his due as a competitor, not an observer.
September 13th, 2025 at 10:50 am
Take that, Bowles haters.
September 13th, 2025 at 10:59 am
For the same reason we side-eye our squirming in church and ignore someone else’s brat throwing a tantrum the pewter over…we feel invested and always want our loved ones to be successful. Also, we watch every second of every game. Opponents watch film for positional need and the 1 game they play us. Pundits only watch highlights (and it seems like only highlights of recognizable names), unless they are calling the game
September 13th, 2025 at 11:01 am
Kid* …. pew*
September 13th, 2025 at 11:04 am
Joe, wassup?? While I enjoy wasting my time on this site. I do not enjoy you wasting my time blanking my posts. No politics, no insults, no cursing…. no bueno
September 13th, 2025 at 11:15 am
Bucky would have done much better with the proper OL.
Given the lack of effort Lines are permitted in training camp, they are hardly ever truly ready for the first game. One side always comes out on top in every game though.
That, on top of the changes to the OL lineup, contrubuted to play that was not stellar.
Both lines will improve over the next couple games.
I just hope we go undefeated for once. That would be a dream come true.
September 13th, 2025 at 11:18 am
ChiBuc, if you’ve been here a while, you know it is all automated. Don’t take it personall it could have been certain words or syntax. Or…the system could have delayed your post from showing for a few jinutes.
September 13th, 2025 at 11:23 am
Don’t know how Rah got so confused. If you want to beat the Bucs just throw it at Dean, or 7 yards deep over the middle.. or both.
Works every time.
September 13th, 2025 at 11:31 am
@ Senor Harry: That same group of malcontents you mentioned would still find fault (and did during 2020) if we beat teams weekly by 48-0.
September 13th, 2025 at 11:39 am
I’ll take the win but the pass defense was garbage again
September 13th, 2025 at 11:40 am
Bowles was cagey on offense, too, by masking their intentions regarding the OL. I have to wonder if that led to any gameplan problems for Atlanta.
September 13th, 2025 at 12:33 pm
Yep, Bijon and his mates sure looked bewildered on that 3 play 65 yard TD drive to open the game. Wouldn’t be a Todd Bowles defense if the opponent didn’t open with a TD drive.
Thankful for the double deployed genius.
September 13th, 2025 at 12:39 pm
So…Baker and the entire Falcons team both had the same amount of rushing yards. Heh.