The Decision Of The Game
September 8th, 2025
A first-quarter gamble pays off big.
Joe sat in the Falcons’ raucous dome yesterday very late in the first quarter and was almost in stunned disbelief.
Trailing 7-0 at the Tampa Bay 36-yard-line, Todd Bowles did not punt on 4th-and-1 — and Baker Mayfield dropped back to pass.
The Bucs offense had done a whole lot of nothing to that point. Atlanta had forced 3-and-outs on the Bucs’ first two possessions and the Atlanta crowd was going nuts on what was now the Bucs’ third possession.
Maybe Bowles had a bad feeling about his defense? Or maybe this was just evidence of an evolved head coach?
Regardless, Mayfield dropped back to pass (screenshot above) and by the time he released the ball, he hit a barely-open Mike Evans. The conversion led to the Bucs offense settling in and mounting a 16-play, 61-yard drive that ate 8 minutes and 7 seconds off the clock. Chase McLaughlin’s 48-yard field goal ended the drive to narrow the gap to 7-3.
A lot of rust (not enough) had been knocked off the Bucs offense and Tampa Bay scored touchdowns on 3 of its next 6 possessions, with a McLaughlin field goal miss in between.
Joe’s not sure where the game goes if the Bucs miss that 4th-and-1, or if they punt.
Bowles made the right call.
September 8th, 2025 at 12:02 pm
Go Bowles! He’s our man! Bowles Bowles Bowles Bowles! Ahhhh yes victory dopamine Monday. Go Bowles!
September 8th, 2025 at 12:10 pm
I watched that Bills-Ravens game last night…a true heavyweight slugfest. Made the Bucs-Falcons game look like a slap-fight between bitchy high school girls.
September 8th, 2025 at 12:27 pm
Great call. I feel like for his 1st game our new OC did a good job.
September 8th, 2025 at 12:28 pm
Crazy that the bills didn’t bench there starting players against the ravens because they were losing at the end of the fourth quarter what type of coach does that in games …….plays his starters till the end to try and win a game
September 8th, 2025 at 12:31 pm
Scared me becasue of the way the defense looked. They were picking us apart.
Gutsy call though and not one Todd has been known to make.
Go Bucs!
September 8th, 2025 at 12:34 pm
evidence of an evolved head coach joe!!!!!
September 8th, 2025 at 12:34 pm
The last 5 minutes of that ravens/bills game is an absolute clinic on time management and use of time -outs.
September 8th, 2025 at 12:37 pm
Troubling take-away is that the Bucs still starting out sluggish causing slow starts and Bucs defense still not stopping opponents….
Luck or whatever, at least the Bucs won!
September 8th, 2025 at 12:38 pm
That was most likely a game winning decision for Coach Bowles and may be like you say Joe, a sign of his head coaching maturity. Maybe a “No Risk it No Biscuit “ attitude. It shows a lot of confidence in the Mayfield – Evans connection.
Go Bucs !! Beat the Texans !!
September 8th, 2025 at 12:41 pm
I’m glad it worked out but holy crap that was a gutsy play to call! Mike wasn’t open but he’s Mike, so he caught it anyways!
September 8th, 2025 at 12:41 pm
Not too surprised Todd went for the 4th and 1. He did the same in the Vikings opener in 2023, which was a game not too dissimilar than yesterday’s.
Aqualung was shocked, stunned, that the play was a dropback pass, and Evans was doubled. But this is what your studs do, they make the play when necessary and that was yesterday’s margin of victory. Baker. Mikey. EE. Shep. Antoine. Vita. All made critical plays at the right times. Reddick’s sack was yuge at the right time and a thing of beauty.
Not sure what has to happen for the DBs to close their fargin hands around the ball particularly when it’s fluttering like a wounded dove. But it was a win, and the kind of game the Bucs lost last season.
Go Bucs.
September 8th, 2025 at 12:43 pm
Bowles epiphany. Trust your team.
That Bills game was incredible, and I agree and smiled with AMI’s comment.
September 8th, 2025 at 12:50 pm
Gutsy and shocking call from Riverboat Bowles! Yes, coaches can evolve too.
September 8th, 2025 at 12:51 pm
Agree, thought the same as soon as I saw it live. Winfield saved the game also. So did Egbuka.
The game needed saving because of a last minute makeshift offensive line. Not satisfied yet with the explanations that have been revealed thus far. Something just seems off. What the “heck” ?!?
September 8th, 2025 at 12:55 pm
el hefe ….point well made !!!!!
September 8th, 2025 at 12:56 pm
Nice to win ugly games. 1-0
Let’s watch film and upgrade the game plan. We have the tools.
Let’s grab the Bulls by the horns and eat some Gator tail.
Calm down Traskies.
Go Bucs!!!
September 8th, 2025 at 12:56 pm
They have a new game manager/ clock manager type guy, right?
September 8th, 2025 at 12:58 pm
The coach is listening to the advisor. More money well spent!
September 8th, 2025 at 12:59 pm
I might be the only fan that don’t care too much of the yards the defense gives up if they stopping them from scoring tds and relying on field goals! 🤷🏾♂️ I love this defense and the players “bend don’t break football” keeps scores manageable and we have the offense to take over. Keep it up coach!! 🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️
September 8th, 2025 at 1:03 pm
LFG , good to see growth at any position, but especially at head coach.
September 8th, 2025 at 1:06 pm
Apparently all you have to do us give up your body to have a fumble reversed.
September 8th, 2025 at 1:08 pm
Mike you are right we should LFG or laugh fricking good
September 8th, 2025 at 1:12 pm
The Tez catch situation was a fiasco and they were slow to call a timeout nearing halftime, I thought. But the fourth down call turned out well and Bowles kept the boat afloat after the disastrous opening drives.
I thought Parrish’s tackle for loss helped turn the tide. He blew up the play!
September 8th, 2025 at 1:12 pm
HerbieBuc. I’m with you. And let’s get the running game back on track.
September 8th, 2025 at 1:18 pm
I must say the offensive line shakeup shook me up a little, making me wonder if something is going on with Wirf’s injury.
I can imagine thinking Heck is okay for a game or two but if it’s going to be a season-long situation you want your best available lineman at left tackle.
Any news or explanation on that front?
September 8th, 2025 at 1:25 pm
We were even playing some press coverage
September 8th, 2025 at 1:34 pm
It amazes me how fans are so willing to believe that Bowles can take this franchise anywhere. Years of evidence prove that he cannot. Dream all you want but deep down we all know how this season will go – and how it will end.
September 8th, 2025 at 2:07 pm
Gutsy call. Also glad he didn’t try to run Bucky in that situation.
WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE RUN GAME?
Does Grizz know? Does he have a fix? Bucs are hosed long-term if they can’t get the run game going. We should expect A LOT of pressure next week.
September 8th, 2025 at 2:14 pm
I think it’s the latter, Joe. Younger head coaches will make that call more often than older coaches. He’s not Bruce Arians, but I have to believe he’s come around to seeing the value in having a “no risk it, no biscuit” approach in key moments. I’d love to hear Arians’ thoughts on the game.
September 8th, 2025 at 2:15 pm
I don’t care too much either. Yards != points.
September 8th, 2025 at 2:31 pm
Showing your team you trust them makes for a successful team.
September 8th, 2025 at 2:52 pm
I was surprised as well, it was uncharacteristic and it was aa throw–which was even more crazy. Usually Godwin was the one used for the “must get” yards.
September 8th, 2025 at 3:08 pm
I think he should have challenged the ball placement. It never showed a replay, but I think he got it on 3rd down.
Also, to those who think the Bills vs Ravens was a “slugfest”. Did you see the final score? I’d hate to have either of their defenses, lol. It gave me flashbacks to that wild Bucs vs Colts game when Peyton came back from 21 down with like 3 or 4 minutes left.
September 8th, 2025 at 3:12 pm
I also think the time clock manager stepped in and had Bowles call one with 2:30 left in 2nd half. He seemed content to let it run down to 2 min, think he had 2 TOs. TOs don’t put time back on the clock. Good hire.
September 8th, 2025 at 3:14 pm
@OR Buc — Were the defenses bad or were the offenses just unstoppable? I guess we’ll see. With the game on the line, the Bucs D allowed an 18-play drive to a QB making his fourth start, that included two roughing-the-passer penalties. Either of those offenses from last night would have boat-raced us yesterday. (As the Ravens did last season.)
September 8th, 2025 at 3:17 pm
@Davenport
I sure get it but then I’m a student of history. Not too many of us out there. It’s stunning, I agree.
It’s akin to going to a place to get your Hair cut because IT’S Time! You can’t go at Any Other time (that isn’t your best or favorite spot) and it’s Sunday morning… And it’s The Only Shot you’re going to get for another couple of weeks due to your schedule (work, family, meetings out of town, etc.) but time isn’t an option. So you go to the “Generic Joe’s” instead of your tried and true Premium Joe’s.. This GOOFBALL BLOWS IT! Butchers your hair so bad that you realize you might as well dropped a Bowl on your head and cut away yourself. .. It’s BAD……
Time goes by and you kept putting that hair cut aside (you find yourself once again against the clock) guess what….. You being a forgiving person, and a good bit of time has gone by, well you kinda Forgot “Exactly” how disturbing IT REALLY WAS. (Kinda like the lost decade is being forgotten far too easily)
You make “EXCUSES” to YOURSELF”. YOU even make Excuses for the hair Butcher, “You even “Convince yourself” that the chances of that happening again is so small… In fact, that person couldn’t Possibly still be working there. No Way! Right…
Well guess what..(YOU walked back in).. Guess who’s there and no one else… And who’s to blame? (You walked back out Regretting your usual bad decisions)
I mean is it You for going back to Hells, hair torture chamber or is it the person who isn’t qualified to cut hair?
MANY are walking right back into “Generic Joe’s” and actually “Expecting” a different result.
It’s the Exact definition of crazy.. But it’s a Buc’s life
I’m tired of performing the definition of crazy myself and thinking that others SURELY can see that a change IS needed. The reason I care? Because my happy Sundays are on the line. I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN the LOST DECADE! And after seeing what an “Exceptional Head Coach” brings to the table ( Bruce Arians) I guess I got a bit spoiled. My eyes were pried open and I saw the Truth.
At this time we just might be rolling through the lost decade AGAIN due to the “coaching quality” the Real Difference is that Jason Licht leveled up and became a Very Accomplished GM and can “usually” find Quality All Over the place. The Real Truth Is THAT Happened for him (Licht) After Bruce Arians Opened Licht’s eyes.
Todd Bowles is a Very Very long way away from being Coaching EXCELLENCE like Bruce but it Was Bruce that got his buddy (Bowles) the shot at it again after Bowles ruined the jets, and was Thrown Out of the door there.
In any case Davenport, I get it. At this point I’m glad we were able to walk away with that Big Win. It “like usual” wasn’t impressive but as a Buc LOVER,….. I’ll TAKE IT!
It Sure Is Better than a stick in the eye.
Does anybody remember how this team played under Arians? Now THAT WAS WHAT A PRO TEAM LOOKS LIKE!
September 8th, 2025 at 3:21 pm
AMI_Chris
The defenses were bad. I promise you that Baltimore or Buffalo will not be averaging 40 points a game over the entire season.
September 8th, 2025 at 5:00 pm
@OR Buc
Man.. You had to bring up THAT game. I was in the stands that night a day I got to tell you I was Relentless on the Colts fans! (I was on the wrong side of the field)
I ragged them…. and laughed some more. I was being a real d. o. c. h. e…. Not cool I know BUT they were talking A Lot of smack! And as we Pummeled them I made them pay for it…
We were as you say 21 points ahead of them and I and my buddy decided that we might as well beat the traffic. We left with I believe 7 minutes left on the clock. And as we were on the long journey back to the truck, we were stopping at the stands to buy shirts and such. Got to the first stand (they all had radios tuned into the game) and
BAM! Touch Down Colts! I didn’t think much of it, figured no big deal because there was NO WAY, ABSOLUTELY NO WAY that it mattered and that’s about when 5 minutes hit. Maybe a bit before, maybe just a bit after but pretty much THAT five minutes began in Football lore and Football He’ll!
Got to the next couple of stands (I think we fumbled the ball or something) and BAM!
Touchdown Colts! My buddy and I looked at each other as if to say NO WAY the Bucs WILL definitely stop it and run out the clock! All the sudden its a 7 point game. Couple of minutes left.
I kinda tuned out as I continued though the sales stands to the truck and there couldn’t have been a minute left in the game (not exactly sure what happened. I Never Did go back and watcb) and The IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED! BAM! touchdown Colts…
I just was in shock that within 5 minutes, they scored 21 points to tie the game.
Was real nervous but the truck is in site and we’re at the Literal Last Stand inside And outside! I figured, THAT’S IT! Surely my Bucs will at least win this game in overtime…
And as I’m walking away from that last stand I could here the “Roar Of The Crowd” from the stadium. I thought FINALLY…. And could here the faint sound of the radio as I was slipping my key into the door. Announcing the Legendary Comeback victory the colts just did the Impossible.
And as I sat there for a Good few minutes pondering the slim chances of that happening, it seemed the Biggest thought rolling through my noggin was …
I SURE AM GLAD I LEFT EARLY!!! Because I was Relentless at rubbing it in the colts fans faces and thinking to myself Just How Lucky I WAS because I decided to leave early! The Embarrassment would have been BRUTAL! Just BRUTAL…
Shock and Awe carried me home. I’ll Never forget that game….
September 8th, 2025 at 6:28 pm
Now, who won that Bills-Ravens deal? I read Bills did. Only reason I bother is the Ravens cheat. Period. Ask Chris Godwin about it. I bet the striped yahoos had a hand in the Ravens’ comeback. Otherwise, only team I follow is Tampa Bay. Bowles helped Arians build the 2nd Bucs SB team. He’s getting awfully close to the 3rd one. He’s ready to retire. And no, he didn’t destroy the Jets. That franchise has been a walking sports disaster for years. I’m glad to see him taking chances. It means he knows how good his Bucs are.
September 8th, 2025 at 10:05 pm
Credit where credit is due. On Sunday I saw things I thought I’d never see:
1) going for a fourth and one in our territory
2) appropriate use of timeouts
3) press coverage (not enough for my liking but still)
I’ve been as critical of him as any and I was very happy. Thanks to the skipper and please keep growing and being aggressive!