“Heart And Feel, And That Is What This Game Is About”
November 19th, 2025
Expectations dampened.
So as Joe sets up this quote from former Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians, Joe has to make the following perfectly clear: Arians was not talking about his successor with the Bucs, Todd Bowles.
But the Arians quote Joe is going to use will apply to Joe’s point about Bowles.
Arians had his weekly in-season, in-studio visit on the “Pat McAfee Show” yesterday. The discussion turned to analytics and specifically trying to convert fourth downs.
It’s been the rage in the NFL the past couple of years that teams should go for it on fourth down. So much so that every time you turn on a game broadcast on a Disney/ABC/BSPN platform, you hear three or four times a game, “ESPN Analytics say go for it!”
Zero context offered. Few, if any, consequences for failure are explained.
In almost two years of watching football (it’s not uncommon for Joe to watch four football games on a Saturday and watch parts of multiple games in the same time slot), Joe has only heard once a broadcaster say, “ESPN Analytics say don’t go for it.”
Joe swears a team could have a fourth-and-40 from their own 10 and ESPN Analytics would say “go for it.”
Arians said that going for it on fourth downs in the NFL “has gotten way out of hand” and that points (a field goal) in big games is “huge.” As Arians said when he was a Bucs coach, if a coach blindly followed analytics without context, “You will get your ass beat.”
There is a reason for that, Arians said. There are way too many moving parts on a football field to go for it or not go for it based on a simple calculation.
“This game is about heart and feel,” Arians said. “That is what this game is about.”
Again, Arians was not discussing Bowles in any way.
But this is where Joe introduces Bowles into the story. This has nothing to do with analytics, but on Sunday in the immediate aftermath of watching the Bucs lose in Buffalo, it finally sunk in on Joe that Bowles, who is a smart guy, doesn’t appear to always have a feel for a game as it plays out.
For example, every person watching the Bucs-Bills game, the 60-some-thousand in the stadium, the millions watching on CBS across the nation, could see the Bucs defense was getting shredded and had little to no chance of stopping the Bills in the fourth quarter.
On fourth-and-two from the Bucs-39, despite the Bucs running down the throats of the soft Bills run defense, and the Bills scoring 16 points in their three previous possessions, Bowles elected to punt, thinking his defense could get a stop.
They couldn’t, which came as zero surprise to anyone watching except the Bucs’ head coach on the sidelines.
Eight plays later Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen, who was having a record-breaking day (haven’t we witnessed enough of opposing quarterbacks setting personal records against Bowles’ defense?), ran it in from nine yards out to put the game out of reach.
There have been way too many of these instances over the years with Bowles. Joe thought Bowles had grown out of this habit. He apparently hasn’t.
One game that jumps out to Joe is the overtime loss to Kansas City last year.
Without Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Jamel Dean, Bowles had a chance to go for two to take a late lead but instead he chose to tie the game and tangle with one of the greatest comeback quarterbacks in NFL history, Pat Mahomes, leading the then-defending Super Bowl champs on their home turf in overtime.
Just about everyone knew what was coming but Bowles.
There was also the Cleveland game in 2022, when Tom Brady was about to start yet another game-winning drive when Bowles pulled the plug on Brady in the final seconds. Instead, Bowles wanted to go to overtime.
Everyone watching feared the result. Yup, the Browns won in overtime. Afterwards, Bowles said Brady could have thrown an interception which is why he wanted to go to overtime. This, despite the fact that in the previous 10 games Brady had thrown a grand total of two picks.
And there was the playoff game in Detroit when, trailing by eight at 31-23 with Detroit having a first down at the Bucs-28 with 1:33 left, Bowles did not call a timeout and watched the Lions drain the clock to end the game.
He later said the game was over so why prolong the inevitable by calling timeouts?
There are other examples that, for whatever reason, Joe doesn’t get the sense Bowles has a good feel late in close games against good teams.
It’s almost like Bowles chugs a Slurpee in these moments.
The latest example Sunday of Bowles seemingly not having a feel or a firm grasp of the moment at hand really put a damper on Joe’s hope the Bucs could still end up in Santa Clara representing the NFC in the Super Bowl in February.
Coaches cannot be tossing away potential wins against good teams in close games and hope to advance very far. Sooner or later, it’s a good bet that in the playoffs, a team is going to face a strong opponent with a stud quarterback and the game might just be close.
A game has ebbs and flows, ups and downs, a heartbeat all its own. Each quarter is different. Each possession, there are changes. One is flying blind without a feel or an understanding for how a game is unfolding.
November 19th, 2025 at 7:14 am
I was really hoping this season would be the one where Bowles silenced all the haters on this site. It gets tiresome seeing all their angry posts. I guess I will have to wait a while longer.
November 19th, 2025 at 7:18 am
It seems a pattern has been forming all these years, but most people pretend it’s not there. But I won’t criticize him since he’s the best coach the team has ever had, according to many on this site. I will say, though, that the emperor has no clothes. And, yes, I know he doesn’t play, but that’s not an acceptable excuse. He controls the game.
November 19th, 2025 at 7:20 am
Joe, what you are stating has been identified by many of your readers years ago. It’s obvious that Bowles is not going to take the team to the finish line. The question then becomes, is just making the playoffs good enough for the GM and the Glazers?
November 19th, 2025 at 7:22 am
Joe you put your finger right on the problem. Todd does not have a feel for the game. He believes in what he does to the point of being blinded in the moment. He’s the ant that will keep trying to move the rubbertree plant. That’s also a quality that he was lauded for last year being steadfast pulling us out of a tailspin winning the division. If he can’t do that this year, will the Glazers move on? If he does the same as last year will that be enough? I don’t think so, but I don’t own the team.
November 19th, 2025 at 7:23 am
If Parrish doesn’t grab homeboy’s helmet, at worst, they’re getting the ball back down by 8.
November 19th, 2025 at 7:26 am
I said at the start of the year that I’d give Bowles the benefit of the doubt because of injuries and exiting salary cap hell after the 2020 Superbowl win. I’ve been saying a version of this for three years, Bowles “doesn’t appear to always have a feel for a game as it plays out.”
I think that’s being a bit too kind, as there are 1-2 games each year (at a minimum) that we lose because the coach on,the opposite sideline understands the feel of the game and Bowles doesn’t. Tony Dungy was a much more established and successful coach with an intimidating defense (yes, a lot of it was because of Kiffen), and the Bucs let him go for far less egregious mistakes that cost them playoff games.
I’ll keep watching but I know who this team is and what their ceiling is with Bowles at the helm, so I will temper my expectations accordingly.
November 19th, 2025 at 7:37 am
The Glazers gave Todd and Jason an extension. Only guessing there are provisions in those contracts. If they are let go, they get paid. You can bet other teams would be right there to hire Todd and Jason. Raiders, Browns, Bengals, …
I would love to see Todd drink a Slurpee after our next win! Still rooting for him. Go Bucs!
November 19th, 2025 at 7:41 am
Deja Vu
All over again
November 19th, 2025 at 7:47 am
First things first. Had he gone and not picked it up on their own 39 , you would be b!thing because he did and turned it over at that close range. Don’t try telling anybody you wouldn’t.
Defense had 3 turnovers plus the fumble recovery on a kick. So you can only assume what would happen just like anyone. The drive could stall. Baker gets hit again and fumbles again. Yet again they try a pass like they did to Shepard ? And of course had they even scored the defense was going to give it right back.
Bowles needs to go. The defense is terrible and all he does is blame the players. He refuses to fire the ST Coach after 10 weeks of the same performance. Hopefully this is his final season.
November 19th, 2025 at 7:48 am
Same old SH!T different day
November 19th, 2025 at 7:53 am
Heyjude, only reason Bowles is a HC is because Arians handed him the job. Todd was never going to get a another shot as a HC after his failing in NY. If he’s let go here, he’s out of pro football. Lets be real. Licht isn’t going anywhere. He would get another gig. Bowles needs to get his defense playing better, or he’s gone. His new contract won’t save him. Hopes were high for this year, expectations need to be met. We’ll see if Todd can “fix it”.
November 19th, 2025 at 7:55 am
Regarding the Monday night game in KC last season, you can also toss in calling the time out as soon as you got the first down inside the three rather than letting the clock tick down to 10 or so seconds to give yourself a few shots at the end zone.
Instead we get the touchdown by throwing the ball to miller on first or second down with plenty of time left for Mahomes.
I was there and yelled as soon as he took the time out. Then on the replay Aikman was similarly perplexed as to why he took the time out immediately.
November 19th, 2025 at 7:57 am
Licht is not the problem.
November 19th, 2025 at 8:06 am
I knew from the beginning that Bruce Arians took this job so he could hand the franchise over to Bowles. Now we’re paying the price for our at home, superstar team Super Bowl victory. And it isn’t as bad as it seems, most teams take forever to bounce back after selling out for a Super Bowl. We’re just stuck with numbnutt Todd for awhile.
November 19th, 2025 at 8:06 am
Very good examples Joe of why Bowles is a terrible coach. The only thing that will right this wrong is if Bowles gets fired at seasons end. Yea – I’m aware he just signed a multi year contract extension.
November 19th, 2025 at 8:14 am
Licht certainly is part of the problem. He has built a team with a weak foundation. Coached by a guy that is more stubborn than smart.
November 19th, 2025 at 8:17 am
2 out of 3 coming out of the bye was the goal…
but i’ll be damned if we can’t at least get 1 out of 3…
coach isn’t walking the plank yet…but i’d say he just stepped up onto the plank
(jaws theme music playing lowly in the background)
November 19th, 2025 at 8:24 am
When I see pass rushers playing as coverage linebackers, and linebackers playing as coverage corners (especially LD54, wth was that)….this shtshow needs to end. Whats next? The long snapper is going to be the QB?
Just get back to the basics please and let the players talents shine where they are supposed to….their proper position! Is that asking too much Todd?
November 19th, 2025 at 8:27 am
Terrific article.
November 19th, 2025 at 8:27 am
“”I’ll keep watching but I know who this team is and what their ceiling is with Bowles at the helm, so I will temper my expectations accordingly.””
As will I. My expectations have bottomed out It’s hard enough to win games in this league much less when you have an inept HC that can’t seem to do ANYTHING right. But remember…..Todd says we’re close to putting it all together” after the Bills debacle. He’s utterly delusional and He’s worn out his welcome here.
November 19th, 2025 at 8:28 am
Willie G., has it occurred to you that no one would complain about the stupid things Bowles does if he stopped doing stupid things?
November 19th, 2025 at 8:29 am
Don’t be surprised when the Rams beat us. Carolina beats us twice and Cousins blows us out.
Oh what a glorious day it was when Licht signed Reddick. Prayer’s finally answered.
November 19th, 2025 at 8:31 am
(haven’t we witnessed enough of opposing quarterbacks setting personal records against Bowles’ defense?)
This right ^^^^^here says it all. Yes!!!!!! I am sick of it!!!!! I like Bowels, nice guy, has built a great culture inside of the locker room but the game is played on the field, defense anyone? But I digress and won’t complain. Ask yourself this, in the lost decade, how much would you have paid to 1. Have a coach such as bowels. 2. Been happy with a middling team that is always in the hunt for the playoffs. Careful what you wish for.
November 19th, 2025 at 8:41 am
Bowles will kick on 4th down 99.@#$ times with his defense not having stopped the opponent
from scoring in multiple possessions. It’s in his DNA and he is not going to change.
It will end when the Glazers finally get fed up watching Bowles give away a couple Super Bowl 🏈 chances this year and next year.
November 19th, 2025 at 8:42 am
This team was set up for mediocrity on day one this season.
Paying 20% of the salary cap to Evans, Godwin and LVD.
Wasting more cap dollars on Reddick.
Wirfs having surgery late and missing the first quarter of the season.
Goedeke has become an overpaid injury prone mediocre RT.
Kancey is highly injury prone.
Hall and Braswell look like 2nd round busts.
Even Winfield has been a disappointment after becoming one of the highest paid DBs in the league.
Vea takes too many plays off.
Our starting QB is who he is.
True – Todd Bowles is a mediocre defensive coordinator and a lackluster head coach.
Bottom line is this team is just not that great nor are they that good.
Mediocre at best…
November 19th, 2025 at 8:56 am
Tampa Bay yuccaneers