“Unfathomable” Collapse
December 16th, 2025
Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
This is not the sort of surprise Bucs fans were expecting or bracing for.
Oh sure, Bucs coach Todd Bowles has a midseason swoon every year. And then after four or five games the Bucs bounce back and finish strong.
Now? Well, the Bucs have yet again had their midseason swoon. U
nlike in previous seasons, Bowles hasn’t found a way (yet) to get the pirate ship righted and pointed in the right direction.
Even with the cavalry arriving Thursday in Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan, while the offense looked so much better, it was still the same ol’ Bowles defense that, when needed, can’t stop a backup on a losing team out of the playoff hunt.
Bucs fans have absolutely erupted since. And Joe cannot blame them. Looking from her perch in the greater New York City area, Judy Batista of NFL.com lists the collaspe of the Bucs as one of her top surprises as teams jockey for playoff positions.
And still, the Bucs are not yet out of the playoffs.
The Bucs’ collapse. The three-game losing streak that swallowed November was understandable. The Bucs were battered by injury, and they were facing three of the best teams in the league. What is “inexcusable” — Todd Bowles’ word from Thursday night — is losing a 14-point, fourth-quarter lead to the Falcons, who have already been eliminated from playoff contention and who were penalized 19 times, on a night when superstar wide receiver Mike Evans returned and had 132 receiving yards. That followed a similarly unfathomable loss to the New Orleans Saints, also at home. The Panthers also blew a chance to take over first place Sunday with their loss to the Saints, so the Bucs still hold the lead in the division. The Bucs play the Panthers next week and in Week 18, so everything is still in front of them, but time is running out for Tampa to pull out of its tailspin.
Joe doesn’t think anyone guessed the Bucs would implode from within as badly because of injuries and more.
You know there is a problem when your starting quarterback, your possible Hall of Fame linebacker and team icon, and twice your head coach, all in a span of six weeks, unloaded on the team for a lack of killer instinct, lack of attention to detail and lack of good ol’ fashioned want-to.
How do you fix that and the No. 30th-ranked pass defense all in the final three weeks of the season? That would be a helluva coaching feat.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:06 am
Picking up Darren Waller for my fake team for the Miami game because…. defensive guru Bowles.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:08 am
sorry todd but you gotta go…the tribe has spoken
GO BUCS!!!!
December 16th, 2025 at 9:10 am
I just don’t see them making the playoffs. Wish I did, but dont.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:11 am
Everyone makes excuses for their failures. Everything starts at the top & flows downhill. It is very apparent what is happening to tbe Bucs. Failure in almost every aspect except offense despite the hindrance of the OC.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:17 am
What a failure Bowles has become. Never gets the defense to improve. They seem to get worse every year under him. 2-10 on Prime time. That’s pathetic. He needs to go. He’s a one trick pony and gets schooled by OC’s weekly. The last straw was Kirk Cousins absolutely abusing Bowles for the 3rd time in successive meetings.
Regardless of how this season ends he needs to be fired immediately following the last game.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:21 am
I am still believing in the Bucs being in the playoffs! Not giving up.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:24 am
Go 6-0 the next 6 games…and all is forgiven…lol
Rally up!
December 16th, 2025 at 9:25 am
Anyone watching this no defense, defense over the last 3 years knew that this was not an unfathomable collapse. In fact, we expected it.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:25 am
Winning doesn’t right the ship this time it just means the team is talented enough to win against the mediocre teams left on their schedule. The problem is off the field and in the meeting rooms or the practice field. That can’t be fixed in the draft or via trade or free agency. Secondary coaches should be gone with the special teams coach at minimum if Glazers are crazy enough to keep Bowles and let this trash defensive scheme continue
December 16th, 2025 at 9:26 am
He had to collapse to get back to .500. No surprise here. i called it on the money.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:26 am
I predict the Bucs will not win another game this season and rebuild and go 3-14 next season and the 1st pick in the 2027 NFL Draft the Bucs select Arch Manning
December 16th, 2025 at 9:28 am
I just read where the Vero Beach Fighting Indians lost the Florida state football championship to Lake Mary in an epic choke collapse resembling the Bucs. You have to check out how they lost. Bucs fans will be so proud of their coach.
But surely no money was bet on that game.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:31 am
Canales can collapse just like Bowzo. He who collapse last wins. Suppose Panters lose to Bucs then Beat Seahawks and Bucs lose to Fish? Then 8-8 teams play final game.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:31 am
Bud Lichts magnificent culture…
That emperor has no clothes.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:33 am
heyjude, I’m with you bud!
December 16th, 2025 at 9:33 am
It’s really pretty simple.
Players know that the OC blows The DCs scheme is ridiculous and the ST coach is horrible.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:36 am
HC Grover Says:
December 16th, 2025 at 9:31 am
Canales can collapse just like Bowzo. He who collapse last wins. Suppose Panters lose to Bucs then Beat Seahawks and Bucs lose to Fish? Then 8-8 teams play final game.
^^^^^
There’s a wager for you. DejaVu all over again (credit to Yogi)
December 16th, 2025 at 9:41 am
“Joe doesn’t think anyone guessed the Bucs would implode from within as badly because of injuries and more.”
—–
Yeah? Is that the reason why they imploded? Injuries.. The injury excuse is an annual thing. No possibility it could be something else? Wish the Bucs could be like other teams in the league. You know, the ones that don’t get injuries or the ones that do get injuries but don’t use that excuse as a crutch for failure. Wonder how those other teams are able to do that.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:41 am
HC Grover Says:
^^^
That’s brilliant ! I hope that happens. If it does by some chance it will be the indictment of the NFL and Roger we need. To me it would prove that Roger and the owners really do believe the fans are stupid.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:48 am
I don’t how these sites work. I don’t have a long association with the contributors to this site, including the talking heads. I was a Cleveland fan for 50 years. I followed Baker; not because I think he’s the greatest thing since sliced bread, but because I see that old-school fire for the game. And when it gets down to it, that is what it started out as.
Here’s what I see, from a history stand point.
Brett farve was a gunslinger. And a baller. And he had interceptions. But he had a defensive that could take up the slack when that happened. What does that tell you.
Comments?
December 16th, 2025 at 9:53 am
People be real, this Bucs team won’t do crap in the playoffs anyways
Asides from year’s collapse……this is now going on year 4/5 years of just BAD defense at the end if the season.
All the NFL teams knows how to easily beat the Bucs…..they all just find open holes in 7 to 8 yards buffer the Bucs DBs give to the opposing teams EVERY Sunday…and you know what?????, the Bucs players are FED UP with Todd Bowles coaching schemes on Defense…..so of course Bucs players have tuned Todd Bowles out……….
The Glazers need to fire Todd Bowles, because he’s worn out his stay in Tampa
December 16th, 2025 at 10:02 am
So unpredictable this team is, they could finish strong or implode dramatically(already starting). Seems that’s why we tune in. Hope is all we have.Fire over confident mistake prone clueless opposing qb loving Bowles! Immediately.
December 16th, 2025 at 10:12 am
It’s not just the second half of the season
The season began with 3 last minute come from behind wins
At the time we and the major talking heads saw that as a strength MVP QB talk
In retrospect it was actually the play of a average to below average team.
Injuries were understandably used as an excuse/ explanation for the rest of the season
I am just a numb observer unable, self protection, observer.
Been in the stands since the first preseason game in 76
Finally let the ST’s go about 10 years ago when my sons were not able to take over the account as I had planned.
December 16th, 2025 at 10:16 am
Has anyone noticed Bowels has gained a ton of weight?
He is bigger than Andy Reid now.
It’s hard to get guys to respect your call to discipline if you don’t show it yourself.
I’m not really sure what happened, but the Bucs are ALWAYS 1 or 2 years behind the curve.
We missed out on Liam Coen. PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!!
The only good news is that with this offense, surely a offensive minded guy would JUMP at the opportunity.
December 16th, 2025 at 10:37 am
Fire Todd
December 16th, 2025 at 10:38 am
You guys just aren’t getting it. Todd Bowles is a genius. By losing to New Orleans, he tricked the Saints into thinking they have their next franchise quarterback in Tyler Shough. Then this genius loses to the Falcons, nearly guaranteeing they stick with Raheem Morris for one more year. He traded wins he didn’t need now for 4 easy wins next year! The genius Bowles is playing 4D chess while the rest of you are playing mere checkers.