Statement Game For Todd Bowles
October 24th, 2025
Todd Bowles has done a hell of a job getting the Bucs to 5-2 while navigating several injuries on both sides of the ball and incorporating rookies, including a first-time playcaller.
There are no six-win teams in the NFC. Bowles deserves an ovation.
The NFL is a real-time kind of league. For a majority of coaches and players, one day you’re riding high and the next day the national hype machine bounces you from the club. Fans and local media will shift, too, though not as fast.
And now the Bucs are heading to New Orleans to face the sad Saints, a 1-6 team with third-tier quarterback play and a-trying-real-hard defense that might find its way to being average soon.
New Orleans has allowed an average of 24 points through the past four games. The NFL average is about 22 points allowed per game.
The Saints do not have a good kicker but their return game — punts and kickoffs — is dangerous.
They’re a poor football team, but one that is playing hard and is not a mess like the Jets or Dolphins.
Simply put, Bowles has to win Sunday. He must tbeat back whatever caused a midseason swoon for his previous three Bucs teams. There is no excuse to lose to New Orleans. Joe tried to think of one but had no luck.
Joe has heard some fans say Sunday’s Bucs game is the slimy Saints’ Super Bowl: The Saints hate the Bucs as much as the Bucs hate them, and the Saints believe they can compete after leading Tampa Bay in the fourth quarter of Week 18 last season — in Tampa.
Joe countered by saying this is more of a Super Bowl for Todd Bowles. If the Bucs win, Bowles officially became a better coach by beating back a potential midseason implosion.
If the Bucs beat the Saints on Sunday, Tampa Bay could lose its next three games after the bye week (Patriots, Rams and Bills) and still have a 6-5 record entering the soft stretch of their schedule.
Joe is not adopting a loser mentality, only noting how critical Sunday’s division game is. If the Bucs can’t beat the Saints, well, that just can’t happen.
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October 24th, 2025 at 7:33 pm
Bucs have to win and Grizz needs to get the play calling act together. Just hope the defense can stand up and the linebackers don’t fall apart.
October 24th, 2025 at 7:39 pm
The Bucs got their usual seasonal ugly wake up call last Monday night. I’m glad I missed it especially with what happened to ME13. I would have been apoplectic with disgust. This same crap went down for CG14 twice in his career, and he’s younger than Big Mike. Detroit didn’t need all this ref baloney to win. If I was a Lions’ fan, I wouldn’t broadcast it sound here. The Bucs will win Sunday. Screw the refs. GO BUCS, 6-2 AT THE BYE!! Shove it NFL.
October 24th, 2025 at 7:54 pm
Yes, this is a Bad Saints Team. Let’s go in there look good in all 3 phases and have a nice flight home with the Bye in their sights. Pound the Saints, Our Putrid Pass Defense has very little chance of getting trashed by this Saints Team but I’m sure they’ll manage. Just get the W! Go Bucs!
October 24th, 2025 at 7:56 pm
They need to run a jumbo package on offense with 2 tight ends more often if not all the time because of shortage àt wr. That will open up more usage of Otten and other TE’s. Also protect QB more and will disguise run pass plays.
October 24th, 2025 at 7:57 pm
In Typical Todd Bowles aka “It’s a Bucs Life” kinda game fashion……. they’ll blow it……
Remember folks, the Bucs still have many players out from injuries…..
…….. and the sky will fall….. stay tuned folks
October 24th, 2025 at 8:08 pm
We also need a motivator to fire up the team at beginning of game! You could see how fired up Detroit was compared to Bucs in first half. We can’t match their intensity. Bring Ray Lewis as our defense coordinator lol.
October 24th, 2025 at 8:09 pm
Anthem,
I hope you’re wrong but I totally understand where you’re coming from.
October 24th, 2025 at 8:29 pm
This game has me more nervous than Bowles placed on a vegan diet. Taints and fans will come out super charged ( and super tipsy for some with the late afternoon start time ). Let’s not forget Buc agitator Taysum Hill is back and running around as a QB/H-Back/TE. It will be far from easy in The Big Easy/Sewer City.
October 24th, 2025 at 8:34 pm
I predict BucsAnti will not show his face here next week but he will show up the next Bucs loss for his usual Trolling.
October 24th, 2025 at 8:39 pm
Our defense is relatively healthy & needs rot step up. We need to run on them with screens & passes to TEs…..
Bucs. 24-17
October 24th, 2025 at 8:41 pm
In order for the Bucs to win their offensive line needs to show up.
October 24th, 2025 at 8:43 pm
Anthem generally only shows up after a Bucs loss. He loves to celebrate them.
October 24th, 2025 at 8:46 pm
Definitely a must-win game. No excuses.
October 24th, 2025 at 9:26 pm
Gotta have it. Need to be 6-2 heading into the bye. Falcons are winning this week. I don’t think Bills are in for a cakewalk in Carolina either.
Then the way I see it, largely depending on Goedeke, Godwin and Bucky after the bye…
Pats – W
Bills – L (I wanna say W but conservatively without knowing health)
Rams – L
Cards – W
Saints – W
Falcons – L
Panthers – W
Dolphins – W
Panthers – L
11-6 … I didn’t see 6-2 in my preseason predictions but 11-6 was the prediction and it’s on track. Hopefully Bucs are healthier and flip at least one of those Ls.
October 24th, 2025 at 9:28 pm
For the record, I expect the Bucs to win heading into every game cause I know their best stuff is top of the league but trying to be realistic.
October 24th, 2025 at 10:20 pm
We really weren’t that bad at Detroit. When we took the second half kickoff and drove down to score to make it 14-10 I thought we’re gonna win this thing. But it was only 14-9. Mentally that one point was a factor. Whoever made that decision to go for 2 should be demoted. That was a momentum killer. Just a thought.
October 24th, 2025 at 10:40 pm
Absolutely spot on with this article.
October 24th, 2025 at 10:50 pm
That would be Baker and some key D turnovers….but Todd still needs work….just saying.
October 24th, 2025 at 11:10 pm
I expect a bounce back after last week’s outing. Despite the score, they got absolutely pummeled. The team has a ton of talent. Injuries are not an excuse with the depth of talent on this team. That itself should be enough to overcome injuries. So If injuries are impacting it would be attributable to other things. Facing a tough stretch after the break so the players know what needs to be done. They should roll the Saints however that does not seem to be part of this team’s DNA. At 6-2 that would be more than respectable.
October 24th, 2025 at 11:48 pm
At Seattle W
49ers W
At Detroit L
That stretch was just as tough as
New England
Los Angeles
Buffalo
October 24th, 2025 at 11:57 pm
The Bucs are winning inspite of a bad play caller and a terrible head coach. The injuries do hurt but if they lose to the saints then heads should roll. Bowles seems to blame players and never says, The Buck stops here with me. I also think the old stale biscuit is still calling the shots (somewhat) win this one and get healthy for some tough games coming up. Go Bucs
October 25th, 2025 at 12:28 am
Kenton, we both know who called for the 2 point conversion. And if he were demoted from defensive coordinator, that actually might be a good move.