Yet Again, A Backup Quarterback Burns Bucs
December 28th, 2025
Latest Todd Bowles killer.
Joe has to give Bucs coach/defensive coordinator Todd Bowles some props here. No, really.
Bowles adjusted at halftime and his defense realized they were facing a quarterback who was making only his second start of his career.
This season when facing backups, Bowles’ defense had allowed an average of 313 passing yards. From backups!
And rookie Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers looked to be on his way to hit that average as he had 144 yards passing and two touchdowns in the first half.
Bowles’ defense recovered in the second half, but it was too late.
Joe is really tired of national announcers (today, it was Jonathan Vilma of FOX) crowing as if Bowles’ defense is a Rubik’s Cube that quarterbacks struggle solving. Really? Only once since Bowles showed up in 2019 have the Bucs not had a passing defense ranked in the 20s.
And Ewers, the former Longhorns starter, didn’t seem confused one bit by Bowles’ defense — until the second half when Bowles apparently make a change and Ewers only had 28 yards passing.
It’s time for folks to treat Bowles for what he is: a mediocre defensive coach whose defense is easily solved by rookies and veteran backups, alike.
Good defensive coaches eat backups for lunch and their defenses chew them up and spit them out, unlike the Bucs’ defense, which falls into a fetal position at the sight of a backup.
December 28th, 2025 at 4:21 pm
Yeah, 20 points is way too much to overcome. It’s all on the defense.
December 28th, 2025 at 4:21 pm
Wow Joe finally realizes what Bowles actually is, the definition of mediocrity.
December 28th, 2025 at 4:21 pm
Ask Reddick and Braswell and JPP and anyone else allegedly rushing the QB how these rookies and castoffs keep setting records against Tampa.
December 28th, 2025 at 4:22 pm
Bowles has to go. OC too !!
December 28th, 2025 at 4:22 pm
Baker is a backup QB thats why he loses to backup QBs. Couldn’t score over 17 points in the modern NFL with all the weapons at WR. Pathetic.
The defense did ok but the offense kept putting them back on the field.
December 28th, 2025 at 4:22 pm
When you have 10 seconds to throw everytime someone will finally get open. No pressure no blitz getting home and QBs can just pick these guys apart
December 28th, 2025 at 4:22 pm
No don’t give him credit for anything TODD TOILET BOWELS IS TRASH
December 28th, 2025 at 4:23 pm
Soft zone and d line in coverage man….let our guys do their thing… No tempo on O and a million screens… Today was the first time I saw the entire team look like they gave up
December 28th, 2025 at 4:23 pm
Buc in VA Says:
December 28th, 2025 at 4:21 pm
Ask Reddick and Braswell and JPP and anyone else allegedly rushing the QB how these rookies and castoffs keep setting records against Tampa.
——–
It’s called zone defense.
No idea how or why Bowles see’s this garbage zone defense get destroyed every week and keeps playing it. If Bowles gets fired, that should be the reason why, for his refusal to stop playing zone despite having a billion examples of it failing.
December 28th, 2025 at 4:23 pm
We can not be surprised. This is BOEWLES and GLAZERS
December 28th, 2025 at 4:24 pm
Rod Munch is the Todd Bowles of commenters.
December 28th, 2025 at 4:24 pm
Bowles….Glazera
December 28th, 2025 at 4:25 pm
The Buccaneer Defense Sucks
1. Todd Bowles should be fired
2.) Made to walk home!!!!
December 28th, 2025 at 4:25 pm
Munch…you have too much faith.
December 28th, 2025 at 4:26 pm
Joe in Michigan Says:
December 28th, 2025 at 4:24 pm
Rod Munch is the Todd Bowles of commenters.
——-
I’m not boring and lifeless.
December 28th, 2025 at 4:26 pm
This team doesn’t deserve to be in the playoffs. This team is good enough to lose at the end. If the Bucs lose their last game, Bowles will be .500 with the Bucs. End the mediocre product on the field
December 28th, 2025 at 4:26 pm
Wait…
So Todd isn’t a defensive mastermind?
December 28th, 2025 at 4:27 pm
This defense is as putrid as the coaching of their HC!
December 28th, 2025 at 4:27 pm
I don’t care WHY the defense under Todd Bowles sucks, it just does. It sucks.
For the first time ever, I’m now saying, We need a new coach. This isn’t working.
December 28th, 2025 at 4:27 pm
Fans on the run
Fans on the run
December 28th, 2025 at 4:28 pm
Fans on the run
Fans on the run
Fans run
December 28th, 2025 at 4:28 pm
“Dean’s shoulder has been bothering him all year” see ya bud
December 28th, 2025 at 4:29 pm
Bye, Bye Bowles
December 28th, 2025 at 4:29 pm
let’s just wait until after next week and fire the entire coaching staff and Licht who is responsible for drafting these horrible players.. Licht has to go, with the exception of the few Brady years he has done nothing for the team except get late round guys and let them start instead of finding decent veteran players. Reddick, JPP seriously? Is Suh next?
The guy is all hype, he is the first one that needs to get the axe.
I will never why an NFL would hire an OC who has never called a play in his life. It’s crazy to think that my old HS coach has more experience calling plays. Oh wait , my Pee Wee coach had more experience than Grizz. lol.
December 28th, 2025 at 4:29 pm
There are absolutely zero playmakers on defense currently. None. I can’t remember a turnover by the defense in a key situation the last 2+ months.
December 28th, 2025 at 4:29 pm
Freaking finally! I’m so tired of oh look at this Todd Bowles defense. Oh these exotic looks from a Todd Bowles defense. He’s been getting shredded for years! I’m just tired of this season. All this talent and Nothing! I don’t even want him to be the HC anymore. I was fine with him getting a new DC. No, get rid of this staff. I’m done, I’m absolutely tired. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is Mike’s last year with us. He’s the only one on offense showing any kind of passion.
December 28th, 2025 at 4:30 pm
HC Grover Says:
December 28th, 2025 at 4:25 pm
Munch…you have too much faith.
——
The Bucs won the SB playing an aggressive man-to-man defense.
But after Arians retired, Bowles no longer had anyone on his case to be aggressive. So Bowles turned to his super soft ‘safe’ zone defense and lived on his aggressive rep made years earlier. The Bucs lead the NFL in zone last year, and will probably be close to the top again this year. When the Bucs go to man, assuming it’s not cover 0 blitzes right before halftime, they tend to look much better, get sacks and turnovers – yeah, they’ll give up plays, but generally make some plays as well. But when they just sit back in that lifeless zone defense, everyone moves the ball at will with no resistance. Just calling different plays makes the defense look 100x better.
December 28th, 2025 at 4:30 pm
I love Bowles as a person
……but not so much as a Head Coach
December 28th, 2025 at 4:30 pm
Wow another rookie Qb, out shines our Qb…. Oh I forgot baker is hurt…..LMAO, what a poor excuse for a Qb!
December 28th, 2025 at 4:30 pm
The FISH clobbered these BUMS….Fire all of them Tampa Bsy Bums
December 28th, 2025 at 4:31 pm
Winny Testaverde Says:
December 28th, 2025 at 4:29 pm
There are absolutely zero playmakers on defense currently.
———
How do you make plays when the scheme literally has you just stand around in a soft zone and wait for something to happen before reacting? The scheme literally is designed to be safe, not to make plays – and it does neither well.
December 28th, 2025 at 4:31 pm
Once again happy that @Joe finally says what I have been saying for years now…
And another example that the right reputation can take you a loooong way…
By the way, not sure Todd adjusted or Miami, surprised by their 17 points at half-time, tried to give a W to the Bucs but were blindsided by our offensive incompetence….
December 28th, 2025 at 4:32 pm
You could have written all these articles before the game.
December 28th, 2025 at 4:35 pm
It’s been happening for years, so it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone! Sure hope the Glazer’s retain all these brilliant offensive and defensive coaches! 😆
December 28th, 2025 at 4:41 pm
Fire the entire coaching staff.
December 28th, 2025 at 4:42 pm
Radio is now 19 games under 500 as a HC
December 28th, 2025 at 4:46 pm
He was a great DC when we won the Super Bowl. He had his hiccups but adjusted and we won and shut down KC in the Super Bowl.
Today, he’s lost his coaching and teams have figured it out. It doesn’t help that we have the worst ST coach in the history of the nfl and a OC that’s waaaaaaaaaaaaay over his heard. 3 years in a row with a different OC is not ideal for any team.
Add that we have had bad bad luck with OC turnover, injuries and a GM that sits on his ass at the trade deadline and has no idea how to draft a QB, TE or DE.
A season to forget…..ironically happened on the 50 year anniversary.
December 28th, 2025 at 4:48 pm
A few obvious observations: one, Tykee Smith does not pursue at all. Either that or he runs a 6.66 40 yard dash. I bet that fat guy from Florida could pursue better. 2, these guys cannot tackle in the open field whatsoever. 3, kickoff coverage? Whisky Tango Foxtrot? 4, Reddick was several yards down field an awful lot in coverage and so was Diaby. I’d bet dollars to donuts they put that slacker Smith as a rusher instead. The zone blitz was a big deal when Bowlzo was a safety in Pittsburg…he is sixty some odd years old Tykee Smith is devoid of hustle. Lost count of blocked field goals, but isn’t that our 5th blocked FG of the year or is it 4th? Wow! This team stinks! Bowlzo must go!
December 28th, 2025 at 4:50 pm
Bowles defense adjusted when? A sack or two. The majority of the game the were getting embarrassed again by a rookie.
December 28th, 2025 at 4:50 pm
Joes,
And I’m being literally serious here: Please post a three-part poll of confidence in; 1) Bowles, 2) Lizzard (I know he has a G but he has no “G-money”), and 3) Licht.
I’m sure the Glazers would be shocked to see fans voting so poorly for their Terrible Triumvirate.
Unless it costs you your job, Joes – why not post those 3 polls? We all wanna know.
December 28th, 2025 at 4:52 pm
Cya todd
December 28th, 2025 at 4:52 pm
And what the charlie heck was Baker doing?
December 28th, 2025 at 4:54 pm
BUT, BUT, BUT – We won time of possession (again) and total yards! Shouldn’t we have won the game? Is there something wrong with the scoreboard? Maybe if there wasn’t that NFL rule not allowing adjustments until the second half? Just think what would have happened if we had adjusted in the first quarter. We could have/ should have neutered the rookie qb. I’m pretty sure the HC could have made that move much earlier. Todd has to go!
December 28th, 2025 at 4:55 pm
-Clean House including GM and Head Coach
-Hire Joe Brady
-Trade for Burrows ( a long shot…but not impossible )
-Trade Hairdresser Hot Rod Mulch to Sports Clips…where he can talk sports to a captive audience
-The organization is revived, the O-Line is healed and the young receivers thrive
December 28th, 2025 at 4:58 pm
@D-roc…um…read the comments. We ARE your poll. From reading the comments you will see that the pitchforks and torches are already out.
December 28th, 2025 at 5:02 pm
“ Joe is really tired of national announcers crowing as if Bowles’ defense is a Rubik’s Cube that quarterbacks struggle solving.”
Kind of like how local media crows as if Licht is an all-star GM?
He’s hit on 4/11 in the first round and 6/18 in the second.
He’s drafted zero Pro Bowlers in 5 years.
December 28th, 2025 at 5:11 pm
TB is a good DC but he can’t handle both.
December 28th, 2025 at 5:15 pm
Common denominator = Bowles. It’s not rocket science, every offensive HC is out scheming him regardless of who they have at QB. You can’t possibly believe the Dolphins are offensively more talented than our defense. Bowles can’t scheme, he never could.
December 28th, 2025 at 5:16 pm
@Fred: Roger that. Agree. I was just re-stating the obvious with different wording.
Amen.
December 28th, 2025 at 5:24 pm
Yessum Todd’s defense sux
December 28th, 2025 at 5:40 pm
Did people forget the epic collapse of the eagles a couple years ago? This locker room is full of entitled players thanks to Bowles, they’re finished and playing a trash team won’t fix that. A star safety for example should be traded, mediocre talent should not be resigned, guys need to be cut. Clearly they don’t have enough hungry players
December 28th, 2025 at 6:14 pm
We have the worst D in the league. 💯
It’s been terrible ever since Bowles cost us our repeat Superbowl in 2020/2021. Ever since that zero blitz against the Rams in Brady’s masterful comeback, our D has been terrible.
December 28th, 2025 at 6:27 pm
There is no doubt we give NFL backups their names and starts . We always get beat by them. Miami’s QB looked like all world.
December 28th, 2025 at 7:38 pm
I realize that i am stupid i watch people have carreer years against the bucs but i never put down prop bets. it would have been a sure bet that whoever started for the dolphins was going to hit the over. this is crazy.
December 28th, 2025 at 8:29 pm
The coach is just stubborn. Blames his players by saying they didn’t execute. He just won’t admit that his scheme sucks leaving everyone open and “hoping” to make a tackle. And if there is a tackle, it’s always after the first down is made. On offense, runs the same stupid 2 yard runs up the middle behind 2 poor guards. Throws the same stupid screens that haven’t worked for 2 years. You can’t blame the OC when everyone knows the head coach is influencing all the calls. We are shooting ourselves in the foot….and Bowles is holding the gun.
December 28th, 2025 at 10:04 pm
I hate to say it, but this backup or rookie QB “hold” on the Bucs is nothing but superstitious nonsense. It has occurred over multiple head coaches, multiple defensive coordinators, multiple different defensive alignments. This isn’t a “Bowles can’t beat a rookie or backup”. It’s not a “that coordinator can’t beat a rookie or backup”. This is a team that, for whatever reason, struggles against a lesser known QB.
December 28th, 2025 at 10:35 pm
Defense held up. Come on they gave up 20 pts. 28 yds in the 2nd half. Sorry Joe this one’s not on the defense. The defense is garbage but played better today. They got no help from this trash ass offense. Best WRS room in the league and we can’t score points. Bucs ran good to yet we do more 3 n outs then the dam saints. Can’t keep putting the defense out there yet they did and they held their own.