Always Follow The Bobby Bowden Theory
November 9th, 2025
Philosophy doomed Bucs.
Why did the Bucs lose to the Patriots today? You could point to a two-minute span when many fans were going to get a beer or use the throne.
Back when legendary coach Bobby Bowden ruled Florida State, he rarely took the opening kickoff when his team won the coin toss. Most folks then, and still today, believe taking the opening kickoff is smart.
Bowden disagreed. Why? His belief was, if you were losing at halftime, you had a chance to get back in the game quickly scoring late in the first half and then after receiving the opening kickoff of the second half.
Also, Bowden believed if a team had a halftime lead and received the second-half kickoff, that team had a chance to pull away with a score.
That’s exactly what happened to the Bucs today, in a bad way, in a 28-23 loss to New England.
New England quarterback Drake Maye connected with Stefon Diggs for a touchdown on the last play of the first half. Then, on the second play of the second half after receiving the kickoff, New England running back TreVeyon Henderson scored on a 55-yard run.
So basically within the blink of an eye, the Bucs went from leading 10-7 to losing 21-10. The Bucs never recovered.
That was a 14-point swing.
That was the ballgame.
Bowden’s theory worked in his heyday 30 years ago. And as the Patriots proved this afternoon, it still works today.
November 9th, 2025 at 4:51 pm
Winfield getting burned by Diggs on 4th down was big
November 9th, 2025 at 4:53 pm
Vrable is just a better coach and had his team ready to play today. 13 loses last year and has his team playing like they’re going deep in the playoffs.
November 9th, 2025 at 4:54 pm
Point taken. But the counter-point is the Bucs took the ball first, marched right down the field, and scored a touchdown. So there is the whole start fast argument by taking the ball first and scoring, right?
November 9th, 2025 at 4:54 pm
I hate the loss, but simply put, New England was the better team today.
November 9th, 2025 at 4:55 pm
Oh definitely. You could see it coming.
November 9th, 2025 at 4:55 pm
Bowels of Bowles Defense gave up the booty. The team never returned to work after the bye week. Bucs will lose the next 2 if Grizz doesn’t get creative.
November 9th, 2025 at 4:55 pm
Deans’ replacement lol
November 9th, 2025 at 4:55 pm
Yeah but the Bucs went out and scored on the opening drive, while the Pats got the ball in the rain and looked like trash.
November 9th, 2025 at 4:55 pm
The Pats executed to make those 14 points. When the Bucs had the opportunity to make their plays- they didn’t.
November 9th, 2025 at 4:56 pm
Bear Bryant said don’t give up a bunch of 50-yard plays.
November 9th, 2025 at 4:57 pm
Bucamania Says:
November 9th, 2025 at 4:51 pm
Winfield getting burned by Diggs on 4th down was big
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Winfield played that as well as you could, he was all over him with great coverage – Diggs is just a lot bigger and made a great catch to get his send toe down. The offensive players get paid to.
You’re probably one of those bums in the stands yelling to cut John Lynch when he got ‘burned’ by Barry Sanders or Randy Moss.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:01 pm
I think Zyon needs to be replaced more than Dean. Zyon was getting picked on all game.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:01 pm
Ok munchie. The old ‘those guys get paid too’ line. That’s loser talk.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:03 pm
Wirfs also doesn’t look like before, you can definitely tell he’s dealing with some injury issue.. did he give up another sack today?
November 9th, 2025 at 5:04 pm
Bowden was a dirty coach, but he may have been on to something here.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:05 pm
The schedule is tough for the next two weeks. The team is still missing key players.
This is when Baker and Wirfs and David and Winfield need to lead.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:07 pm
The last play of the first half on 4th down killed us.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:08 pm
Hope I’m wrong because I hate being pessimistic but I can just feel the mid season slump coming on. Baker is not comfortable, holding on to the ball way too long and receivers struggling to get open and our defense is soft as charmin. I hv seen enough of Morrison. Dean is obviously way better. If Dean goes down then bring him in but he is killing our defense.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:09 pm
‘basically within the blink of an eye, the Bucs went from leading 10-7 to losing 21-10. The Bucs never recovered.’
Having an absent defense didn’t help!
November 9th, 2025 at 5:12 pm
How many big plays did the Patriots make today on Todd’s defense. At least four.
Two long TD runs, long TD pass for TD and long pass play on grid down. Todd’s genius defensive calls are a joke. Last wee’s heroic best rusher Anthony Nelson was defending the pass. All Todd is good for is excuses and loses.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:17 pm
Bucamania Says:
November 9th, 2025 at 5:01 pm
Ok munchie. The old ‘those guys get paid too’ line. That’s loser talk.
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So I’m right, you’re one of those dramaqueens in the stands that stands up and yells that everyone needs to be cut and fired every time the other team makes a play.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:18 pm
The Bucs had the opportunity handed to them by the defense early in the game to go up multiple scores and the offense failed to execute.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:19 pm
I had this down a a loss anyway. The Pats are just a little bit better than the Bucs. On the other hand, we have won a few games this season that I thought we would lose but ultimately, 10-7 or 11-6 will probably get the job done this year. We should not feel to badly about today, especially given all the injuries.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:22 pm
I don’t think I watched the same game as most of you. I thought that the defense gave them enough opportunities to win. It was 21-15 for a while but the offense couldn’t score and take momentum
November 9th, 2025 at 5:33 pm
Offense was trash. The defense gave up too many big plays
November 9th, 2025 at 5:58 pm
Who on this defense is missing that would help? Nobody. The run defense is crap. Passing? Teams exposed Zyon a long time ago. They picked on him regularly before. Dean back. Reddick has done nothing. Please don’t try to tell me Kancey. How in the world do you give up 2 major runs and a long pass in the same game?
November 9th, 2025 at 6:12 pm
I just wanted to repeat what I said TWICE (in order to emphasize), going into this game as part of MY keys to a ‘winning’ game-plan for today… “MIDDLE-8. MIDDLE-8.” It’s all about the “MIDDLE-8,” stupid. And, I 💯 totally AGREE… Always, Defer.
November 9th, 2025 at 6:18 pm
Winfield Junior should’ve PUSHED HIM outta bounds on that play… You CAN Do That. HE should’ve known. 💯 he HAD TO push him OUT. And, HE FAILED to do that on that play.
November 9th, 2025 at 6:20 pm
Our lbs are too slow shifty speedy rbs is the bucs krytonite we just don’t have the horses to cover that the is the sad truth…I would love to use Simmons the Desmond Watson clone to rush outside of galling packages to see what he has because he was vince wilfork disruptive
November 9th, 2025 at 6:24 pm
Big-plays on defense is what killed us agsin, but they STILL held them good enough to win. Dennis has HORRIBLE feet and instincts. Took ANOTHER horrible angle on that one big run. Awful. Did not stand a chance. Looked TERRIBLE.