Todd Bowles Torched For Punting
November 18th, 2025
Awareness? Ego? Or both?
Sometimes, a football coach needs to separate himself from his players for the good of his team.
And, a coach needs awareness, an ability to recognize how a game unfolds. No game is predictable. A game has ebbs and flows, ups and downs, momentum swings back and forth. Every quarter has a different feel.
Being able to recognize all of the above in the moment often separates the great coaches from the good, the good from the average, the average from the bad.
Adjust on the fly.
Sunday, Todd Bowles had a terrible sense of awareness and feel for the game that maybe cost the Bucs a valuable win. No, his defense wasn’t playing good ball. In fact, they were playing terrible football, the worst of the season.
The offense, specifically the run game, was having its best game of the season. Bowles failed to recognize both. And it cost him.
Sure, he also failed to recognize his kickoff team couldn’t tackle. That wasn’t going to be fixed midgame. Bowles admitted to Joe after the game he “talked about” kicking the ball out of bounds on kickoffs as Buffalo averaged 39 yards a return.
Instead of just “talked about” doing something, Bowles chose doing nothing. How’d that work out?
Veteran NFL reporter and columnist Tyler Dunne, who runs his own NFL substack site “GoLongTD.com,” watched in disbelief how Bowles apparently made himself believe the Bucs could actually get a stop on Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen, who was in the midst of a record-setting day (haven’t we had our fill of watching quarterbacks set personal records against a Todd Bowles defense?). In the previous three Buffalo possessions the Bucs coughed up a combined 16 points.
The Bucs, with their best running game of the season, had a third-and-two from the Bucs-39. They decided to throw to a No. 5 receiver and then punt, even though both of their running backs were averaging five yards a carry against a soft Buffalo run defense.
The result was predictable, apparently to everyone at the stadium and the millions watching on CBS. Except to Bowles.
Buffalo scored and the ballgame is over.
In truth, the Bills won this game with 7:38 remaining when Bowles inexplicably opted to punt on fourth and 2. His Bucs trailed, 37-32, from their own 39-yard line. For some reason, he thought the odds of Tampa Bay stopping an unstoppable quarterback were higher than gaining two yards.
A throwback to McDermott cowardice past. (He’s grown immensely in this department.)
Buffalo made Bowles pay with an eight-play, 85-yard drive that iced the game and ought to register as an epiphany for the 2025 Bills. When Allen’s feeling it, two yards from any part of the field are attainable.
Harsh but not inaccurate words. Notice Dunne did not call Bowles a coward. Rather, Dunne wrote the decision to punt reminded Dunne of cowardice from the past of a different coach.
Feel free to connect the dots.
This, to Joe, wasn’t really cowardice, but a profound lack of awareness and maybe ego.
My players will get a stop. My defense will get a stop.
Awareness, often, is just as important as coaching ability.
And one could add the most important lesson Joe has learned covering the NFL: Never, ever, underestimate the power of egos within the league.
If Bowles had gone for it on fourth down, he would basically be admitting in a very public way his players and his defense weren’t good enough to get one stop and get the ball back.
Killer instinct, huh?
November 18th, 2025 at 7:10 am
New poll, would you be willing to miss the playoffs this year if it meant that Bowels gets fired?
November 18th, 2025 at 7:15 am
@Jugheadfla1: You know quite well that the Glazers do not handle a change in coaching until after the season………
November 18th, 2025 at 7:15 am
Anyone that answers yes to that isn’t a Bucs fan at all.
November 18th, 2025 at 7:21 am
Look…we got beat by the best team in the AFC…with a MVP QB…we lost this game because of special teams…they don’t go for it on 4th a few times if they weren’t ALWAYS on our side of the 50…fire the special teams coach…at this point anything is better
November 18th, 2025 at 7:22 am
Great article and well said Joe. You hit the nail on the head…lack of awareness and feel for the game. I often wonder why TB makes crazy decisions, like running the ball eight times…I guess like you said…ego.
November 18th, 2025 at 7:24 am
This is a Fireable Offense when the season is over and his job as a coach is evaluated. His strength is supposed to be the Defense. Our Defense stinks against the Pass and it has been that way since TB left. Bowles has lucked out getting Baker and OC’s that were good. What has he done as a Head Coach? Not much. He is way too conservative with his thought process. Punting the ball with only 2 yards to go to a MVP QB that had been killing them all day? What was he thinking? I’m sorry but I can defend Todd no more. He needs to go at the end of the season and bring in an Offensive guy. Buh Bye Todd. You have reached your ceiling with this team. Go Bucs!
November 18th, 2025 at 7:25 am
Ok, time’s up. If any coach is that delusional to actually think “my team will get a stop” when they haven’t all game, then that is an admission he has stopped coaching and is a fan. No, Todd, the can’t get a stop. You’re too close to the forest to see the trees. JL, it’s time to end this charade. There has been no improvement over the years of his stint as HC. You have to step in and make a change, now or after this mess of a season is over.
November 18th, 2025 at 7:26 am
A defensive genius Bowles is not. Bowles has shown that he is unable to craft a defensive game plan week in and week out with the players he has vs. the team they are facing. He does sometimes come up with good defensive plans but sometimes is merely mediocrity.
The problem is that Bowles dreams up schemes that his players are unable to maintain and even after a mountain of evidence expects that beginning with the next play, next series, next game, next srason, it will suddenly click and his defensive genius will be as evident to others as it is to himself.
Coach Bowles – put aside your hopes and dreams and put the defensive players in a position to be successful – please. Oh – and while you are at it, ST and objective situational awareness really needs your attention too.
November 18th, 2025 at 7:26 am
I may not stay up to watch… depressing trend
November 18th, 2025 at 7:27 am
This is who Bowles is and has been.
He didnt trust Brady in Pittsburgh to close out the game.
He didnt trust Baker in the WAS playoff game on 4th and goal, and opted to kick a FG to never get the ball back.
And he did it again versus the Bills.
Todd loves his kickers. This is why paying Baker $60 million a year is a bad idea if they keep Bowles. He’ll never trust his offense with the game on the line. He hasn’t improved his decision making in 4 seasons. Absolutely pathetic from a leadership standpoint.
November 18th, 2025 at 7:31 am
I’m not sure it’s awareness. I think it’s a 61 year old defensive HC’s mind set: “this is what you’re supposed to do”
Maybe I’m wrong. He’s been better in this department this year but when it mattered he reverted back to what he’s always been.
He should be roasted for this.
November 18th, 2025 at 7:33 am
My defense will get a stop.
This is why Jason Licht needs to force Todd Bowles to hire a defensive coordinator from outside the team. This isn’t the first time he has made this same decision and we lost the game because of his ego.
November 18th, 2025 at 7:41 am
As much as we fans and pundits point out the shortcomings of bowles, nothing will change. I feel bad for Baker and lavonte.
November 18th, 2025 at 7:44 am
It was the ultimate give-up slide. Bowles seems like a nice fella…but he’s on the brink of losing the team for the 3rd season in a row. Hopefully he rallies up yet again ( with Baker’s help )…or not. He does seem to have a lifetime contract a la Jason Licht.
November 18th, 2025 at 7:44 am
Why do commenters and writers on this site always whine about last weeks game? Do you think Bowles and his staff care? Do you think your thoughts mean that much? Does it make you feel good thinking you’re an assistant to the owners? lol
I’d love to see content let’s say deans injury status, or something constructive about our next game
November 18th, 2025 at 7:47 am
TBfan Says:
Look…we got beat by the best team in the AFC…with a MVP QB…we lost this game because of special teams…they don’t go for it on 4th a few times if they weren’t ALWAYS on our side of the 50…fire the special teams coach…at this point anything is better
———————————————————————————
Special teams was certainly deserves more credit for the loss than they are getting in my opinion.
As bad as the defense was playing, and it was bad, requiring them to stop one of the best QBs on the planet and the Bills when they were beginning drives close to the 50 yard line or in Bucs territory was asking a lot.
All that said, I believe Tyler Dunne’s criticism was fair.
But those calling for Bowles head are ridiculous. A single bad game in the regular season isn’t going to get any coach fired. The Glazer’s will judge him on the full season and in the playoffs.
November 18th, 2025 at 7:47 am
It would be refreshing/stunning if he fell on his sword just once…instead of explaining nonsense away.
November 18th, 2025 at 7:50 am
Deeboo, why worry about injury reports? Staff hasn’t been forthcoming with the truth on that either!
November 18th, 2025 at 7:55 am
Those bye week adjustments are working. Haven’t stopped a drive since N.O.
November 18th, 2025 at 8:07 am
The problem was the play call on 3rd & 2….you should run on that play…either a first down or 4th & 1
November 18th, 2025 at 8:13 am
not only is all of that true, he also forgot his D needed time to recover from constant sucking (wind)
November 18th, 2025 at 8:18 am
Projected as of this week
19th draft pick
November 18th, 2025 at 8:19 am
Winny Testaverde. Bowles has never directly owned any criticism for the defensive shortcomings or other issues like special teams. He trusts his players too much or relies on faulty analytics when it comes to 4th down, 2 point tries, allowing kickoff returns etc…… Todd could be delusional, unable to read a situation or just plain arrogant like Lovie Smith was. BTW, has Todd used this clock mansgement expert they got from the Jags or is he ignoring him? If Todd is following his advice, the specialist should be fired.Todd has said the team is close to putting everything together….. That is delusional or an utter lie where he insults the intelligence of Buc fans and the reporters who demand accountabilty.
November 18th, 2025 at 8:24 am
You brought up good points, Joe. A lot of us have been trying to remain optimistic.
Special Teams should have been addressed already. Very disappointing. The kick offs!
Going for 2 points over and over again was messed up. Reminded me of getting to the red zone over and over again, and not getting a TD.
Today is Coach Bowles 62nd birthday. I am guessing he isn’t having much fun yet. He isn’t perfect, no one is. And it’s not all on him. The OC, Special Teams, players, … We do have some of our best players on the injured list. Have to see how we do next week. Go Bucs!
November 18th, 2025 at 8:25 am
Winny Testaverde Says
“It was the ultimate give-up slide. Bowles seems like a nice fella…but he’s on the brink of losing the team for the 3rd season in a row.”
He has never “lost the team.” That is a lie.
.
St.Pete Salty Buc Says
“Those bye week adjustments are working. Haven’t stopped a drive since N.O.”
That is also a lie.