Did Close Games Save Todd Bowles?
January 24th, 2026
Joe’s heard the one-score game narrative for years.
It’s usually framed as a reason to believe a losing NFL team is close to getting over the proverbial hump.
It’s almost foolish. Most NFL games are decided by one score. Losing one-score games is no reason for optimism. It’s better than getting your doors blown off, but playing it close and losing makes you, well, a loser.
Jorge Diaz, the former Bucs starting guard (1996-1999), thinks keeping games close is a big reason Todd Bowles is still the Bucs’ head coach, so he told The Rock Riley Show on WDAE radio today.
Riley asked Diaz why he thinks the Bucs retained Bowles after firing several key assistant coaches.
In addition to saying he thinks Team Glazer likes the team culture and the overall Bowles way, Diaz pointed to the tight games.
“The team never stopped competing and if you look at the margin of loss, it wasn’t like this team was getting blown out,” Diaz said. ” … So it was really interesting when you look at the big picture.”
Diaz also thinks Bowles agreed with Team Glazer and the front office that significant coaching changes were needed, so their unified approach is intact.
Did the 2025 Bucs morph into the Father Dungy Bucs of the late 1990s? Diaz went there. He noted the Bucs’ approach late in the season became “keep it close and pull away late,” except the Bucs did have enough offense for that strategy to succeed.
Diaz said Bucs struggles were tied to the many offensive line injuries but he wouldn’t give the team a pass. The O-line “is a beautiful dance by five large me,” Diaz said, “and that is hard to do when you’re mixing and matching every week. … but you can’t make any excuses.”
Diaz also praised the “amazing job” of Graham Barton at left tackle in place of Tristan Wirfs in Weeks 1 through 3, and he added that undisciplined play and Emeka Egbuka’s dropoff were major factors in the second half of the season.
It wasn’t just offense, Diaz said, noting the Bucs’ defensive collapse in Buffalo and poor special teams play overall.
January 24th, 2026 at 1:40 pm
How stupid. Show me a coach who loses close and I’ll show you a Loser. BA would put teams away, blow out the teams you’re supposed to beat. Not Tood.
🤡
January 24th, 2026 at 1:40 pm
If Baker hadn’t thrown those drive killers at the game end it would have been a lot cleaner decision
But flip side to that coin is they probably win and keep Todd
My main concern is he appeared to lose the locker room – they can love him and still not be inspired
They have an experienced playcaller now that frankly made Bowles look silly
Licht must go all in on defense and leave no excuse for the alleged guru – do or die
January 24th, 2026 at 1:41 pm
“The team never stopped competing and if you look at the margin of loss, it wasn’t like this team was getting blown out,” Diaz said. ”
Oh Great Googly Moogly and they did against the Bills…. what were the by down by 10 against the Bills and Bowles told Mayfield to take a knee later
That really isn’t good coaching or if it is, it certainly is not inspiring
For whatever reason though Bowles is still with us….. Marvelous!!!
Probably because of the ‘Rooney Rule’!!! I hate the Rooney Rule, it sucks!!!
Also, I have been trying to get this answered,…. are the Bucs going to make Bowles hire a DC? There are several out there that are pretty good
McDermott could sign a one year deal, while he figures things out
Or Gannon, he might go to the Packers though
Or Morris would not be a bad idea, but I would want him as the Secondary Coach…. really though,…. it should not be about titles of the coach that is hired, it should be about helping the Buccaneers be successful and working together as a team!!!
January 24th, 2026 at 1:49 pm
I guess, you can’t use the word Sux on here fully spelled, oh well… my original comment will be on later…..
However, just to get the question that I asked on my original comment that will be seen later
Will the Buccaneers hire Defensive Coordinator???? I don’t think Todd Bowles should be the DC going forward!
January 24th, 2026 at 1:50 pm
MY opinion (for what it’s worth): Defenses around the league had the blue print for pressuring Mayfield (injured line), that combined with Bakers injuries were a recipe for failure. The defense, well…………You know.
January 24th, 2026 at 1:51 pm
First, Joe Bucs Fan is simply the best Bucs website of all time. Bowles and Licht both overestimated our talent in our front seven. In addition I think Dean, Winfield, and Mccolum got paid and do not like playing zone as much as Bowles dictates. There effort was marginal at times. Dennis also knew no one was behind him and played uninspired too many times.
There needs to be a reckoning and either Bowles needs to do it or someone else will. We we’re extremely lucky to have so many close games which was due to the level of competition we played.
We could have had 3 or 4 games like the Rams embarrassment but were spared by the other teams playing down to our ineptness.
January 24th, 2026 at 2:00 pm
No close games did not save Super Todd. Incompetent ownership did.
January 24th, 2026 at 2:18 pm
Redzone Says:
“If Baker hadn’t thrown those drive killers at the game end it would have been a lot cleaner decision ”
Or…if the defense had kept opposing teams from scoring at least once…
January 24th, 2026 at 2:19 pm
@Couch Fan
1000% plus I’m sure Grandpa Bruce had some part in it as well.
January 24th, 2026 at 2:21 pm
He was retained only because of money and Arians.
January 24th, 2026 at 2:31 pm
Congrats Todd.
The D gave up four 40+ yard plays and 28 pts outta the bye but hey only lost by 5.
Then 44 points to the Bills.
34 to the Rams.
Then you played the league bottom feeders and needed 2 wins outta 6 games. Only got 1 but kept em close.
Todd tries to keep games close. It’s the only reason Baker and the offense are in position to blow it late with a turnover when a coach with killer instinct would have had the team up by 10 already. Smh.
January 24th, 2026 at 2:31 pm
During that 4 game losing streak that cost the Bucs the playoff…
Baker vs the Saints: 122 yards passing, 1 INT, has the ball in his hands with 2 mins left and a chance to win the game, and promptly goes 4 and out, throwing at Cade Otton’s feet on 4th and 4, when Otton was at the first down marker, wide open, and there was zero pressure on Baker. Baker cost the Bucs the game.
Baker vs the Falcons: The Bucs are up by 8, with 8 mins left, they’re at the Atlanta 45, any score puts the game away… and Baker throws one of the worst INT’s you’ll ever see any QB throw. EVER. That leads to a Falcons TD, they miss the 2pt conversion, so Bucs still lead by 2. Next drive, 3 mins left, everyone in the world knows if the Bucs punt, they lose the game. What does Baker do? Baker has a wide open e2 for a 1st down, a pass I can literally throw – any QB from middle school up can throw – and Baker flat out misses it. Baker cost the Bucs the game.
Baker vs the Panthers: Baker throws for 145 yards, and another 4th quarter INT. End of game, under a minute let but still plenty of time, Bucs have their TO’s, they’re already in FG range which ties the game. Baker, under pressure, scrambles, has two wide open WRs to his right, instead he tries to force the ball to Evans, who had stumbled on his route and wasn’t open. As Baker scrambles, Mike turns up field while Baker has the ball in his hands still, but Baker doesn’t see it, throws an INT. And yes, the video replay shows Mike already going upfield while Baker still has the ball in his hands. Regardless, the issue on this wasn’t him not seeing Evans turn upfield – the issue is he had two Bucs players completely wide open to his right and instead tried to force the ball. Another loss on Baker.
Baker vs Miami – Baker was absolutely terrible in this game. Had 10 non-garbage time points vs 3 turnovers. With everything on the line, Baker blew it, cost the Bucs the playoffs with his 4th terrible game in a row.
January 24th, 2026 at 2:32 pm
Wow…Steelers hiring Mike McCarthy as head coach…well that’s 2-3 years of them not competing.
January 24th, 2026 at 2:35 pm
The law of averages is alive and well in the NFL. look at the number of close games Washington won in 2024 and rode it all the way to the NFC Championship game and the big fall off in 2025. Likewise, look at all the close games Chicago won this year and rode it to the divisional round. Expect a falloff from them next season. The Glazers like the fact that the current regime is able to develop draft picks. Notice Licht’s draft record took a major upturn starting in 2019 when most of the current regime came on board. Past coaching regimes were reluctant to play and develop young players because there is a risk involved. The Bucs were in cap hell after the Brady years and had to rely on undrafted players and draft picks to fill out the roster, yet they were able to field a competitive roster and win the division 3 out of the past 4 years without the Glazers having to come out of pocket for major free agent signings. I think that carried some weight with them. Like the Glazers always said, “You thing long-term and they will think long term. You think short-term and they will think short-term.” If there was a rush to sign a bunch of expensive free agents and the Bucs faltered like they did this past season, there would have been a cleaning of house.
January 24th, 2026 at 2:38 pm
Im so sick and tired of fans saying he is a nice guy. Fans don’t pay and go to the game because he is a nice guy. That’s the problem with this country. Best man for the job! I
January 24th, 2026 at 2:42 pm
In addition to saying he thinks Team Glazer likes the team culture and the overall Bowles way, Diaz pointed to the tight games.
“The team never stopped competing and if you look at the margin of loss, it wasn’t like this team was getting blown out,” Diaz said
^^^^^^^^
The above is more evidence that many of the commenters don’t read past the headline.
Diaz seemed to be spewing the company talking points. What a load of excrement his statements are.
January 24th, 2026 at 2:43 pm
He keep it close. So now yall figger it out.
January 24th, 2026 at 2:44 pm
Jorge Diaz … ‘In addition to saying he thinks Team Glazer likes the team culture and the overall Bowles way, Diaz pointed to the tight games.’
Looks like Jorge gave 3 reasons for why the have stuck with Todd Bowles (at least thus far). I agree with him about ‘team culture’, but not totally sure of what he meant by ‘the overall Bowles way’. That’s led us to a 35-33 regular season record in his 4 years here, but 8-9, 9-8, 10-7 & 8-9 wouldn’t win many HCs a 5th year on most other NFL teams … the needle’s pointing in the wrong direction.
And ‘tight games’ aren’t necessarily anything to brag about. The Bucs were tied with or led our opposition in the 4th quarter in 4 of our 9 losses (Bills, Saints, Falcons, Panthers). IOW for 3 quarters plus we’d held our own, then we blew it in the 4th qtr. THAT doesn’t earn you bragging rights. Had we won just 2 of those 4 unacceptable losses we would’ve finished 10-7 again, gone on to the playoffs. Had we won all 4 (perfectly doable), we would’ve finished 12-5, gone on to the playoffs, and we MIGHT still be playing today.
January 24th, 2026 at 2:46 pm
Munch…Bake is the perfect BOWZO QB
January 24th, 2026 at 2:48 pm
Saying that reminds me of my time in Hartford with the Whale.
We had a pretty good team. Built for playoff hockey, big and tough with solid goaltending.
Our coach was a maroon. By all accounts a great dude when he was a player but as a coach no one could stand him. Early in the season, veterans had a meeting with the GM and said this guy has to go. The GM said he’s not going anywhere and traded this vocal vet (a leading scorer).
Anyway, late in the year we needed to win 1 game out of our last 6 to make the playoffs. We proceeded to lose every game, in no small part because no one wanted to spend extra time around this HC.
Coaching matters!
January 24th, 2026 at 2:53 pm
On behalf of Mr. Bowles, I thank Mr. Munch for demonstrating that if it weren’t for Baker Mayfield, Todd would have been Coach of the Year and no one in Tampa Bay would want him to leave.
January 24th, 2026 at 2:54 pm
Rod Munch… I stopped reading right here.
“Baker throws one of the worst INT’s you’ll ever see any QB throw. EVER”
You mean the one where Evans stopped his route for scramble drill and the bad timing/miscommunication led to a pick!?
I saw 30 worse picks this season alone and watched 5 years of Jameis buddy. You see that Brosmer INT in Seattle where he went full Will Levis? You see Josh Allen panic and throw us an INT at his own 5 yard line?
You see Stafford throw 3 picks vs ATL? You see Darnold throw 2 vs the Rams and still win?
Baker sucked but don’t be ridiculous. I don’t think I have seen Baker throw a pick 6 in a Bucs uniform (that was his fault cough Otton cough). Throwing a pick at the opposing 45 should not be a death sentence. When you have a terrible D and scared HC, then things go sideways.
January 24th, 2026 at 3:39 pm
Come on is there really a question on Why the Bucs kept Bowles
If your truthful you know Why?
AND the Bucs are stuck with this guy
So Lakeland and the other Bowles Fans can make excuse why we aren’t winning
Because the fact is if you want Bowles here you are for the person not the Team
January 24th, 2026 at 4:03 pm
“The team never stopped competing and if you look at the margin of loss, it wasn’t like this team was getting blown out,” Diaz said
^^^^^^
If there was a good culture in the locker room and the team never stopped competing, then what is the explanation for these things :
1. Zyon was bored.
2. Bowles called the team out.
3. Baker called the team out.
4. Lavonte called the team out.
Some players never stopped competing but some others did stop competing.
^^^^^
[In addition to saying he thinks Team Glazer likes the team culture and the overall Bowles way,]
That must be so.
January 24th, 2026 at 4:04 pm
Something’s fishy. We’ve got some open spots on our defensive staff. I think Todd would look way better as a defensive coordinator if he had a few upgrades to his front seven. And last year, especially that last 5 or 6 games, our defense held a pretty good points against and at least good enough we should have won another game or two. What’s fishy? I think they’re fixing to hire a defensive coordinator and they are leaving those4 or 5 openings for a new DC to fill. Just a hunch.
January 24th, 2026 at 4:25 pm
I agree that the so-called close games are no reason to keep Bowles and it is an indictment on his poor performance as DC because they consistently choked late (like 3rd and 28). But it wouldn’t surprise me in the least that this was a factor for the loser Glazers and Licht and even Arians.
January 24th, 2026 at 4:28 pm
Saskbucs Says:
January 24th, 2026 at 2:54 pm
Rod Munch… I stopped reading right here.
“Baker throws one of the worst INT’s you’ll ever see any QB throw. EVER”
You mean the one where Evans stopped his route for scramble drill and the bad timing/miscommunication led to a pick!?
———
Uh, I literally list the game – says vs Falcons.
I address the Panthers 4th quarter INT in the next paragraph, you know, where it says vs Panthers.
January 24th, 2026 at 4:46 pm
I understand the frustration with Bakers play at the end of the season, but it never should have come to that. Once mayfield got hurt and his production dropped, they should have rested him and let him heal. But Licht and Bowles decided Bridwater was the best option for a backup. They practically force baker to play be ause he was still better(while injured) than Bridgewater.
That falls on the front office and Bowles. If we had a competent backup that allowed mayfield to heal, baker would not be getting any hate. Injuries really do affect players, especially when they are forced to play with them due to incompetent coaching and front office.
January 24th, 2026 at 4:47 pm
I think there are non football reasons for not firing Bowles. Several playoff coaches got fired.
January 24th, 2026 at 4:52 pm
Hey Buc3,I feel the same way that you feel but it’s about, baker
January 24th, 2026 at 4:56 pm
So much BS to cut through.
1. “In addition to saying he thinks Team Glazer likes the team culture and the overall Bowles way, Diaz pointed to the tight games.” Pure propaganda!
2. “Did the 2025 Bucs morph into the Father Dungy Bucs of the late 1990s?” No way and no how. The Dungy teams had solid defense, not melted Swiss Cheese.
3. “he added that undisciplined play and Emeka Egbuka’s drop-off were major factors in the second half of the season.” Did I miss something? Does Egbuka throw passes to himself? I don’t remember him dropping passes as much as not getting the ball thrown where he could catch it. Baker flat sucks!
The spin machine has gone into hyper drive and we’re a day away from the Conference title games. 3rd and 28.
January 24th, 2026 at 5:22 pm
I just want to know how Bowzo the Clown was able to convince Licht and Glazers how his defense was NOT the main problem but the offense was. Yes there were some glaring issues with the offense but to say it was worse than the defense (Toddy Boy is suppose to be a defensive guru) is ridiculous.
January 24th, 2026 at 6:38 pm
4 of our last 5 games were losses
In those 4 games we lost by a combined 11 points.
In those 4 games, we had 6 turnovers to 2 takeaways.
5 of the 6 turnovers were in the 2nd half.
Our defense generated 12 turnovers in our first 8 games. They generated 11 in our last 9.
The offense gave the ball up 5 times in our first 8 games. They turned the ball over 11 times in our last 9 games.
Not complicated stuff
January 24th, 2026 at 8:19 pm
Bowles has proven that he isn’t a winning NFL coach. Two of his four seasons with the Bucs were LOSING seasons, and he was terrible with the Jets, too. For whatever reason, the Bucs decided to punt on the 2026 season by keeping him.
January 24th, 2026 at 9:28 pm
I don’t know anymore about this team. I cancelled my season tickets. They better get on it and start drafting better players, and stop all the nonsense, otherwise they will be last in the division that’s improving.
January 24th, 2026 at 11:26 pm
Personally, I think the Glazers are caught up in the Man U manager fiasco. That and their overhead is getting unwieldy with all of these salaries that are getting paid with no impact. Arians? The Man U manager that just got canned before his contract. That extension that Jason Licht spearheaded for Todd Bowles blew up in his face. I am thinking that Licht’s fate is directly tied to Bowles’ success or not in the upcoming season.