Mike Tanier: Hard To Take Bucs Seriously When Coach Offers To “Surrender”
November 18th, 2025
Harsh words.
A lot of oxygen was burned, words typed and voices grown hoarse this past offseason about how the Bucs don’t get respect from analysts and media outside of Tampa.
But after watching the debacle Sunday against the Bills, it’s clear to Joe that if you combine the nonsense seen on the field and from the sidelines, that’s why folks don’t revere the Bucs as an NFL powerhouse.
Almost every time the Bucs are on national television, whether it is a primetime game or against a real opponent when a network pipes the game into the majority of households in the country from coast to coast, like this past Sunday, the Bucs find ways to lose.
Good teams, Super Bowl contenders, don’t trip over themselves on a regular basis on a big stage.
Joe’s good friend, NFL humorist/columnist Mike Tanier, was appalled by how Todd Bowles decided to punt on fourth-and-two from the Bucs-39 halfway through the fourth quarter while trailing by five, willingly wanting to see his defense collapse against Josh Allen.
Back-to-back losses to the AFC’s Patriots and Bills won’t have much tiebreaker impact for the Bucs. Chris Godwin and Bucky Irving should soon return from their injuries. But the Bucs wasted two early turnovers by their defense and a 140-total-yard, three-touchdown effort by running back Sean Tucker on Sunday, against an opponent that appeared determined to help them stay in the game. Factor in Bowles’ surrender, and it’s hard to take the Bucs seriously as anything but postseason cannon fodder.
Tanier, unlike Tyler Dunne, used a very, very, very harsh word to describe Bowles’ decision. Much worse than “surrender.”
And Tanier isn’t wrong about Bowles surrendering. He either was caught in a deer-in-the-headlights moment and froze, or his proud ego couldn’t bear to admit his players and his defense were incapable of stopping Allen — which they were incapable of in the second half.
A dude walking around with a white cane could see this. Folks watching from Maine to California could see this. But Bowles apparently didn’t want to see this.
So, giving the ball back to Allen at that moment, sure, Joe can see how “surrender” is an apt word. The game was voluntarily thrown away.
Killer instinct, right?
So you wonder why people outside Tampa Bay don’t give the Bucs respect? Because the Bucs too often play bad football and make dumb in-game decisions in big games against big opponents, just like you’d expect from a team that always wins a garbage division but proves a few times a year it’s not good enough or smart enough to hang with the big boys consistently.
November 18th, 2025 at 9:01 am
Ground Hog Year!
November 18th, 2025 at 9:06 am
Didn’t he receive a contract extension this year??
November 18th, 2025 at 9:08 am
Lane Kiffin
November 18th, 2025 at 9:11 am
Toilet Bowl needs to GO!!
November 18th, 2025 at 9:15 am
The players and talent of the roster is all the keeps this team going.
Bowl’s is NOT the guy to get this team to another Super Bowl, he is the guy holding them.
Why no pressure on opposing QBs? Because the D Coordinator/AKA Head Coach has his pass rushers dropping into coverage.
November 18th, 2025 at 9:16 am
Sad really! Lovie2.0. Go Bowles?
November 18th, 2025 at 9:17 am
Well stated Joe.
The only prime time games we can ever win with certainty are Super Bowls.
We are the Bucs and we do weird stuff.
November 18th, 2025 at 9:18 am
The surrender reference could also be when Bowles pulls BM6 out of the game with 36 ish seconds left. Teams do score fast and kick onside kicks, recover and score again . Doesn’t happen often but it does happen. Bowles is a quitter always has been. He sets a bad example for his players. Then he has the nerve to say the game is 60 minutes… We need to finish games.
November 18th, 2025 at 9:23 am
GREAT to see people FINALLY stop blowing hot air to inflate Bowels undeserved rep and see him as mediocre as he truly is…
Doesn’t have a winnable coaching ability or instinct…
The Bucs and fans deserve BETTER!
November 18th, 2025 at 9:24 am
I have been saying for years bowles needed to go ! He needs to be fired this team
Will go nowhere with him running the team!
November 18th, 2025 at 9:28 am
Todd Bowles is who he is and is certainly not in the image of the Detroit Lions. They remain a strong playoff team whereas the Bucs are on the outside team looking in.
He won’t change and the Glazers will stand by and do nothing. They will have enough ammo to make a change next year. It all depends on how loud the fan base and management can force a change.
Will it happen? I don’t know but the force for change better be loud and clear.
November 18th, 2025 at 9:29 am
I think the problem is his ego. Like Lovie Smith, he stubbornly will not adjust. The Glazer put up with Lovie for 2 years but will they launch Bowles? Too bad this conversation did not come up last year and Todd could have retired and Coen promoted. Now there will have to be a search and it is likely the Bucs will be competing with the ATL, TN, the Giants, Miami and possibly a few other teams like Washington, Arizona and the Jets. Bucs will not be the top landing spot from that list. Nonetheless Bowles has to be held accountable but will only be held accountable if the Glazers are accountable….. Are they accountable??????
November 18th, 2025 at 9:31 am
Bring in L Kiffen next year as HC,,, innovator at offense and can hire a real DC ,, he would be this generations Gruden to come finish the job Todd started ,,’the game may have passed Todd by
November 18th, 2025 at 9:32 am
Deja Vu all over again
November 18th, 2025 at 9:32 am
I like Todd but he depends on the defense too much and has ‘surrendered’ few times in the past. Its getting old.
November 18th, 2025 at 9:32 am
Bowles quitting on his team also reminds me of last season when the Buc’s were down several scores playing the Chiefs and BM6 brought them back and scored as the clock was winding down. If the Buc’s went for two and make it, they beat the Chiefs on national TV… but Bowles has them just tie the game and go into overtime where they lost the coin toss and the game. He has no feel for the game.
November 18th, 2025 at 9:33 am
Lane Kiffen is most likely going to Gainesville if he decides to make a move to the Sunshine State. No way he goes to the Bucs but it would be fun. Imagine the pressers and the complaints he would make when the refs burn the Bucs along with record fines.
November 18th, 2025 at 9:34 am
No to Lane Kiffen.
November 18th, 2025 at 9:40 am
The Glazers extending Bowels accomplished nothing except to make him even more complacent. Easily the dumbest ownership move of the century.
November 18th, 2025 at 9:41 am
it wasnt too long ago that BA said todd should be up for coach of the year. lol.
lol at any of the garbage “of the year” predictions when the season is a 1/3 or 1/2 over.
it wasnt too long ago that MANY were non stop hyping the bucs as a lock to win the south. now, not so much hey. dream weaver may get his shot at knocking the so called kings off their high horse.
November 18th, 2025 at 9:43 am
D E I hire to satisfy the NFL, if and when he’s gone he will not be a coach with any NFL team.
November 18th, 2025 at 9:45 am
813BucBoi is not having a good day.
November 18th, 2025 at 9:46 am
It takes two losses for all the local racists to start commenting. It is basic football – you punt from your own 39. That was the right call. What was not the right call was the 3rd down.
November 18th, 2025 at 9:47 am
The Glazers are idiots for extending Bowles in the off season first off. Now we’re stuck with a proven failure as HC / DC. We deserve better.
November 18th, 2025 at 9:47 am
The only Super Bowl us fans will see is the rerun of Super Bowl 55 as long as Bowles is the head coach.
November 18th, 2025 at 9:49 am
I’ve been, I guess, a tepid TB defender. Not saying he is great, but that he hasn’t done anything to lose his job and he is an average to good coach. Also, he’s never come close to losing the locker room.
I actually still believe he is a decent coach, but the ceiling has been reached. Nobody sensible would say to fire him before the end of the season, but if this thing ends in a one and done it’s just time. What’s funny is there are two other coaches (Buffalo and Green Bay) that could say the same thing. Remember, Marty Shottenheimer got fired after 12-4 and a first round exit.
Of course, if they run the table and we have a boat parade I will be incredibly happy to be wrong.
November 18th, 2025 at 9:52 am
One of Bowels many failures as a leader is his complacency. That complacency has been trickling down to the defensive players. That trickle became a flood during the bye week.
The offensive players view Mayfield and not Bowels as their leader. So far, they have been immune from the Bowels virus.
November 18th, 2025 at 9:53 am
Not sure that in the moment Todd Bowles realized what a fatal mistake it was. I think he is that stupid. Funny thing is we all immediately realized it. I have only watched NFL since 2015, I am a woman who never played football. I do not fully understand coverages. These words came out of my mouth when Bowles did that. “Cannot believe he just punted, there is no way we will win this game now” my husband who is an average football fan said, “What just happened? Why aren’t they going for it?” He left the TV at that point and never came back to the game. I mean it just simply was that obvious to us average fans that it was a surrender.
November 18th, 2025 at 9:58 am
Mikeinlutz That D.E.I comment is bull s…t not called for!!
November 18th, 2025 at 9:59 am
Yup.
After a promising start, Bowles has fully reverted back to his default state of being: a passive coward.
Team takes in the mentality of their head coach.
Playoff cannon fodder is the perfect description. I for one will not celebrate this ineptitude and mediocrity when we go on a win streak against a couple bottom feeders late in the season and then get embarrassed in the wild card round again.
November 18th, 2025 at 9:59 am
The surrender started at the trade deadline. Good teams get better when they have the opportunity. Licht has been lauded as a draft guru so much that he actually believes it. The picks in April won’t help this team for at least two years. This team needed help now. 9-8 and one and done in the playoffs. The signature Bowles season.
November 18th, 2025 at 10:02 am
Sorry folks.
Todd Bowls ain’t going nowhere…
Doom loop of mediocrity will continue.
6-5 here we come.
November 18th, 2025 at 10:03 am
Please tell me in the contract where it states Bowles can’t be fired? I’m sure the Gazer boys would be dumb enough to have that in a contract and leave themselves no way out.
November 18th, 2025 at 10:04 am
Well if Bowles has learned anything from the last 2 weeks it is that if he gets anywhere near the 50 yard line he better be going for it every time because his defense is not going to stop anyone at all period. So you better have long drives on offense that produce points every time.
November 18th, 2025 at 10:07 am
Not when the game is clearly slipping away.
Not when your defense couldn’t stop a pee wee team.
Not when you are running the ball down the throat of a soft run defense.
November 18th, 2025 at 10:07 am
Great take Racistinlutz..
November 18th, 2025 at 10:10 am
Sheesh, I can’t wait until the Bucs win this Sunday to see what everyone has to say after. It’s not like he has been the only losing coach in history. And the season has been a lot better than some other teams whose coaches aren’t on the hot seat either.
Drunk Bucs Fan – Agree about Coach Bowles.
November 18th, 2025 at 10:13 am
It’s funny how Bowles gets crucified because he went for it on fourth down one week and then again he punts the next week. Honestly the National talking heads just have diarrhea off the mouth. Let’s talk about the real problem the Bucs have; SHORT YARDAGE!! This team sucks out loud on short yardage. We don’t have a play anywhere on the field. We can’t convert at midfield or against the goal line, we have absolutely no play anywhere. That is the true problem. Bowles stop going for two when you don’t need to, there is no offensive play for short yardage. So what does Bowles do? Go for it and give up great field position, because we don’t have a two yard play in the offensive playbook, or just punt and let them drive down field. I guess the easiest answer is just give up good field position and get the ball back sooner. This arrow should be pointed at Gizzard.
November 18th, 2025 at 10:14 am
I ease the pain by hate listening to Atlanta Falcons sports talk radio and enjoying the fact that they and the Saints are playing for the cellar this weekend
November 18th, 2025 at 10:14 am
Jon Gruden
November 18th, 2025 at 10:15 am
I just read an article on NBCsports about Bowles endgame decision making. They are 💯 correct and that’s the thing… There have been just way too many weird things that make no sense. And, it’s always been soooo inconsistent. Just very odd and most of the time clueless in-game decisions. Bringing Teddy in straight off the couch already halfway through training camp and preseason is just completely off the wall… And, then to not even trust him to THROW A PASS!? Totally, INSANE. Makes ZERO fricking sense. I always viewed Bowles as just a placeholder (and virtue-signal for the owners), until they found, and then, POUNCED on the ‘right’ guy. That’s exactly how HE should’ve been looked at, but then, THEY freakin’ extend HIM. Again, like most of their moves… On the cheap. He’s gotten a little better, but there is still, just way too much ‘nonsensical’ stuff. It also, makes NO SENSE to me WHY you would continue holding onto a coach, that you are forced to hire ‘specialists’ underneath him, to tell him when to call timeouts, how to manage the clock, and etc. He has absolutely, NO ‘FEEL’ or instincts for the game, and he is just too OLD for the modern game. I don’t see a lot of alpha energy out there on the field… These guys are way too comfortable. They’ve got to get someone in there to light a FIRE and ruffle some feathers. Hell, this has been a historically BAD Division going on 5-years running. It’s all “smoke & mirrors.” They are all really a bunch of frauds, and I hate to say that. That’s why everyone across the league ‘likes them’ but doesn’t respect them. They’re all too nice. It’s all a bunch of Bullspit.
November 18th, 2025 at 10:17 am
Well Joe sobering article. Unfortunately spot on. Also unfortunate we are on national tv this week against the Rams. Presently, I don’t think this game is going to boost our image, except to further prove what you so accurately stated.
Today it certainly looks we will certainly be embarrassed.
November 18th, 2025 at 10:18 am
Jets fans warned us back in the day
November 18th, 2025 at 10:19 am
Bejeezusbelt – Ya, disappointed in Grizz. Poor Baker has had several OC’s. I bet he is tiring of it all too. Special Teams coach too. Not that great for weeks.
It isn’t all on Bowles. Plus, we have had key injuries, and a lot of bad ref calls and no calls on opposing teams.
November 18th, 2025 at 10:20 am
You got folks talking about championship def.,before the bye week. No!!!
AC/DC keep your draft picks No!!!
Ohh the injury situation brilliant. After the rams loss u better win out 🤙🏾
November 18th, 2025 at 10:22 am
I mean, I already knew the reasons for why… But, that was just the (lol) ‘long-winded’ version of agreeing with Joe, about why we continue to get such very little respect, nationally.
November 18th, 2025 at 10:23 am
Hell, there’s old Sean Tucker on “Wake Up Barstool” today!!!!
November 18th, 2025 at 10:24 am
Do yall do this much complaining in your daily life? Move on. Games over let’s look forward.
November 18th, 2025 at 10:25 am
I hear people say “Todd bowl’s defense” this “”
November 18th, 2025 at 10:31 am
LV says !! Just said it All !!
I’m tellin Ya !! that thing stanks !!
I doesn’t wants to hear it later !! You done have been Tolt !!
November 18th, 2025 at 10:32 am
The old school mentality is that you punt the ball on your own 39 to at least give yourself a chance to get a stop. But that’s the old school mentality.
Fear drives that mentality – “if we don’t get it the game is over because of field position”
The reality was, barring a turn over the game was over as soon as you punted it away. So the fear of not getting the conversion should have been moot and would have been with a younger coach with an offensive play calling background.