Inexcusable Red Zone Defense
January 3rd, 2026
Appalling defensive stat.
How in the world can this be justified by a defensive-minded head coach?
If the following isn’t enough for Team Glazer to see to it that the Bucs have a new defensive coordinator when OTAs begin in a few months, then Joe’s idea of what is tolerated from an NFL head coach has to be completely thrown out the window.
Since the Bucs began their losing ways after the bye, the Bucs’ red zone defense has simply been gutless and horrible; that’s all there is to it.
In fact, one could argue, by way of BSPN Research, the Bucs don’t have a red zone defense the past two months the way opposing offenses have had their way with Todd Bowles’ red zone defense.
Stat to know: The Buccaneers’ defense has allowed a score on 21 of 22 opponent red zone drives over the past eight games (16 touchdowns, five field goals). — ESPN Research
Even a mediocre coach can, after a few games, usually figure out an adjustment to stop the bleeding. Apparently, Bowles has not. Or to be more direct, cannot.
How is that tolerable? Every time but once an opponent the past two months entered the Bucs’ red zone, they scored. For two friggin’ months!
Joe is damn near speechless. There is zero way to brush this off as a coincidence or bad luck. It’s not like the Bucs’ injuries have ravaged the defense.
The Bucs must have a new defensive coordinator for 2026, whether that’s with or without Bowles as head coach. Bad enough he doesn’t give a damn about an edge rush and even worse, he regularly has pass defenses among the worst in the league.
Now, Bowles’ red zone defense can’t stop anyone for the past two months. (Except for one drive.)
Joe isn’t sure if lousy Lovie Smith or Mike Smith’s red zone defenses were that bad, let’s call it like we see it. There is zero reason for the Bucs to continue into the 2026 season with the same defensive coordinator. That’s it. Enough is enough!
Inspire change!
January 3rd, 2026 at 9:46 am
Keep these stories coming. They’re based on facts and metrics, not emotion. You get results in pro sports or you get packing. Get packing, coach(es).
January 3rd, 2026 at 9:46 am
Mike Smith>Todd Bowles. Mike Smith made it to an NFC championship as HC for the Falcons.
January 3rd, 2026 at 9:48 am
Totally agree. Most of the injuries have been on the offensive side. Yet they mostly have gotten the job done. Remember when 32 points was enough to secure a win????. When the offense has failed it is due to having to play catch up because of all the points given up by Todd’s defense.
January 3rd, 2026 at 10:04 am
I can’t possibly see how he keeps his job. There’s not one strong point on the team right now.
January 3rd, 2026 at 10:08 am
I hope the Bucs light it up on offense today and go up by 3-4 scores by the 4th quarter.
Baker and all the WRs kill it and Bucky gets a bunch of sweet runs.
Then, I’d like to see, what I expect to see, is ReTodd’s exotic 😂 defense sh!t the bed and we’re bounced out of the playoffs and he and his entire staff get canned shortly afterwards.
Bring on the change!
January 3rd, 2026 at 10:13 am
I’ll be tuning in to the radio. No way I’m missing Gene’s last game. Plus, one less tv viewer.
January 3rd, 2026 at 10:13 am
Lovie did so too with the Bears.
At least Smith had one year of OK defense with the Bucs (2016).
January 3rd, 2026 at 10:15 am
Licht, Bowels & baker! Have to go…… no matter what the outcome!!!
January 3rd, 2026 at 10:16 am
It’s the overall Todd Bowels
I surfed into a clip of Cannels addressing the importance of today’s game… it was coaching inspirational no BS taking care of business.
Meanwhile Todd drones on like that one college professor who put the auditorium to sleep 😴
January 3rd, 2026 at 10:20 am
Horrible defense, laughingly bad. It’s Mayfield’s fault.
January 3rd, 2026 at 10:31 am
Brian Flores HC & Nate Scheelhaase OC
January 3rd, 2026 at 10:31 am
Bowlzo’s defense used to limit opponents to field goals in the red zone. This year it’s touchdowns most of the time. I’d sure like to know what the heck happened at the bye. They became a totally different team.
January 3rd, 2026 at 10:33 am
Preach!
January 3rd, 2026 at 10:38 am
Hopefully by 7 p.m. tonight Bowels can begin to fade into forgotten Bucs history!
January 3rd, 2026 at 10:41 am
Fire Todd
January 3rd, 2026 at 10:52 am
bowles supporters want to attack baker and ignore everyone has been bad. whats wrong with bucky he gets a pass? mike evans let a perfectly thrown 1 yd td pass vs panthers go through his hands. emeka playing lousy is he the 4th wr now? winfield overpaid. all 3 phases are bad. coen transformation of lawrence being ignored. bowles knows his stuff but is a bad coach too narrow minded in his ways
January 3rd, 2026 at 10:54 am
Let’s be honest about it. Bowles was lucky to get this job in the first place as the handpicked one by Arians. Buh Bye TODD!
January 3rd, 2026 at 10:56 am
Adios, Todd. I hope he and Gizzard are not the only one to go. Any GM that drafted AND DEFENDED (kept) JTS and Braswell should go too.
January 3rd, 2026 at 11:01 am
Let’s talk about BA for a minute, since he’s integral to this whole situation.
He goes on The Pat Jackass show and says he has no idea what’s wrong with the Bucs.
But he’s a paid consultant? I would assume that means he consults with people in the organization about what’s going on. But that’s just me.
BA should be out the door first, followed closely by Bud Licht and the Pillsbury Bowles man and his staff.
January 3rd, 2026 at 11:05 am
Hard headed, old school coach that’s set in his “my way or highway” coaching approach! Pack your bags coach! Have a good retirement!
January 3rd, 2026 at 11:19 am
I’ll be watching today’s game lying in the comfort of my bathtub. My Doctor insisted that I install a bar there, due to my age.
January 3rd, 2026 at 11:23 am
Bye Bye Bowzo
January 3rd, 2026 at 11:28 am
Grizzard doesn’t need to be fired, just demoted back to wide receivers coach. Last year’s room was the best in the business. It could have been even better with the addition of Egbuca. And look at last year’s 3rd down plays…unheard of success. Don’t get rid of a great mind just use him effectively.
January 3rd, 2026 at 11:31 am
So again Joe, what is most likely to happen this up coming week? Bowles moves into the front office, Bowles fires several coaches and get rid of some players but keep his job or, Bowles is fired and the Bucs start new coach search?
January 3rd, 2026 at 11:43 am
Team Glazer does not work in the public eye. Never have. Never will. Sometimes, Joe thinks Team Glazer makes decisions based on the opposite of what the general consensus is.
One of the Joe’s is beyond confident Bowles is toast, no matter today’s outcome. The other Joe (typing here), knowing Team Glazer’s unpredictable ways — and other things Joe cannot share — is much less confident Bowles will be dismissed — though he should be.
January 3rd, 2026 at 12:00 pm
These articles just provide details on what we all know from watching is a really horrific 2025 defense. There are many posters here who want to hang this mess on an injured, Baker Mayfield, who will end the full season 28TD, 10NT, notwithstanding injuries for most of the season to O linemen an receivers. A three to one TD/INT is great by anyone’s measure.
January 3rd, 2026 at 12:01 pm
The real question is- can we win IN SPITE OF those turnstile guards?
January 3rd, 2026 at 12:04 pm
Let’s have a fully defensive draft (plus 1 guard or swing tackle) and see how we look next year with our O-line healthy. And with more usable depth. Really disappointed Dean isn’t playing in this game. Obviously, he plans to leave. Good riddance if he’s faking an injury.
I would have loved to have seen David Walker out there this year. So sad.
January 3rd, 2026 at 3:15 pm
Our suckage is all inclusive….. Offense, defense, special teams.
We can (Joe’s that is) post defense sucks articles til the cows come home, and excuse or ignore the offenses play week after week but it won’t change the fact that this disaster of a season is a result of inconsistent and just bad play by the whole Krewe.
As much as some of you want 1 villian to blame for everything, it’s really not that simple…. But carry on – bah bah 🐑 🙈