The Todd Bowles “Wall”
November 24th, 2025
In reality, the Bucs are in a very similar cylcle to what they were in during the 2022, 2023 and 2024 seasons. So perhaps a fan freakout now is borderline ridiculous?
Joe doesn’t think it’s ridiculous, but it is reasonable to assert that a major midseason swoon in play after a very strong season start is a hallmark of a Todd Bowles coached team.
There are no coincidences in the NFL, Joe believes, and this current Bucs situation, a 6-5 record after a 5-1 start, is more more than a one-off. It’s familar territory.
With Tom Brady in 2022, the Bucs started 2-0, found their way to 3-5, and clinched the NFC South title with an 8-8 record before tanking the Week 18 game of that season.
In 2023, the Bucs were again 2-0 and fell to 4-7 before making the playoffs with a 9-8 record. Last year, the Bucs were 3-1, then 4-6 and 10-7 when the regular season ended.
The common thread is not the offensive coordinator or the quarterback, it’s the head coach.
Bowles teams hit “a wall.” That’s how Bucs backup QB Teddy Bridgewater described it after tonight’s national embarrassment against the Rams. Bridgewater only arrived in Tampa in August, but he referenced the Bucs’ past midseason slumps and believes fans will see a very different team next week.
History says Bridgewater is on the money. It also helps that the next opponent is the three-win Cardinals and their backup quarterback.
The Joe typing here picked the Bucs to win 10 games season. And while tonight’s quit-like effort against the Rams was inexcusable and disturbing, the big picture is probably exactly what every fan should have expected to this point.
November 24th, 2025 at 12:32 am
I don’t think the cardinals will come impressed with Bucs and in a hard fought game of backups Brissett is currently better than Teddy. Probably better coached too.
November 24th, 2025 at 12:35 am
Those are cheerful thoughts Joe!
Embrace the mediocrity and bask in it.
Nothing more inspiring than a string of embarrassing losses.
We need to just accept it and move on.
Todd Bowles will likely get a raise after tonight.
It really was that good of a performance! Yay!!!!
November 24th, 2025 at 12:36 am
enough time and games to fairly evaluate that Bowels is NOT a goods HC and the Bucs can do WAY better….. the pattern of the past 3 seasons is an indictment against Bowels showing lack of improvement and growth…..
Under Bowels the Bucs will NEVER get over the hump!
November 24th, 2025 at 12:37 am
Bowles has lost this team. There’s no turning back from that.
November 24th, 2025 at 12:38 am
That was a suicidal coaching performance.
November 24th, 2025 at 12:39 am
Hey this the first time in the Baker /Bowles era that they/we are over.500 after 11 games!!! 2023:4-7. Last year 5-6. This year 6-5. Because after TB12, we celebrate mediocrity around here and being the king of the worst division every year.
November 24th, 2025 at 12:40 am
Rams guys were running through walls, Bucs just chillin
November 24th, 2025 at 12:41 am
If mayfield misses the rest of the season we wont win another game with checkdown bridgewater