Todd Bowles Says There’s A Reason For His 4-0 Record On Opening Days

September 10th, 2025

A couple of strong trends exist in the Todd Bowles regime.

His teams lost often at night and are perfect on opening days.

While the Bucs had a rocky opening to Sunday’s game — offense and defense — the Bucs settled in, settled down and came back to win on the road. That bumped Bowles’ record to 4-0 on opening days. Huge win.

Speaking on the Buccaneers Radio Network, Bowles said he has annual pre-Week 1 fears that are nice to wipe out in a hurry.

“My biggest fear is going into the season is going 0-16, 0-17,” Bowles said. “So to get the first one out of the way against a division opponent, same game we had last year against them. It was full of excitment, went down to the wire. This time it went our way.”

Asked to give a reason for his Week 1 successes, Bowles had an answer and it stunned Joe, who thought Bowles would punt.

“It’s preparation. The guys prepare well. We try not to overthink it,” Bowle said. “We make sure they are fundamentally and technically sound, technique-wise their sound and we go out and we play hard. And that’s really a credit to them..”

Great to hear. But if there’s a reason for Week 1 success, then there’s a reason for Bowles being 1-7 in night games over the past two seasons.

Joe hopes Bowles figures out that riddle before Monday night’s game in Houston.

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15 Responses to “Todd Bowles Says There’s A Reason For His 4-0 Record On Opening Days”

  1. JimBobBuc Says:

    Has anyone ever asked Bowles about his night record? Baker too?

  2. Crickett Baker Says:

    Should set up another night practice, at least—maybe even Sunday night. I am so glad I get to watch a game! I am looking forward to a good one, and I hope to share it with the world as well.
    BEAT HOU!

  3. Jmarkbuc Says:

    His answer about preparation is yada yada yada.

    But I’m glad we got the win.

  4. Hodad Says:

    At least be practicing indoors. That’s where the next games being played anyway.

  5. BucU Says:

    1-7. That’s remarkable.

  6. larrd Says:

    I wonder if any coach has ever tried practicing at night every night all week before a night game.

    I assume opponents prepare before the first game of the season. A non-answer answer.

  7. heyjude Says:

    The night games record scares me. But Houston’s game really isn’t that late. We got lucky because it is at 7:00 p.m. TX time, which is 6:00 p.m. our time. We shouldn’t have any problems. And there shouldn’t be jet lag. From yesterday’s Joe posts, it was included that Baker mentioned he didn’t like night games. That scared me too. It’s a mindset. They have to keep thinking it’s an earlier game.

    Agree with Crickett, set up 7:00 p.m. practices before Monday. Change their daytime routines this week. Arians had the night practices.

  8. Durango 95 Says:

    Losing night games? What’s to figure out? You told us yesterday that Baker needs an intervention. Sounded like you knew what you were talking about. Guess that must have disappeared down the memory hole.

  9. Aqualung Says:

    Glad we were playing Rah, who is stubborn and decided even though his Penix was penetrating the Bucs soft pass defense like a jackhammer through the air to begin the game, he decided they should be manly and establish the run. Thanks, Rah.

    If the Texans run the ball more than 15 times on Monday night they’re stupid.

  10. orlbucfan Says:

    “My biggest fear is going into the season is going 0-16, 0-17,” Bowles said.
    ————————————
    Well, speaking of the da@@ed devil. Wonder where Bowles got that phobia from? Well, it is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. LOL. Now, if Grizzard gets comfy, and Lady Luck, as in LITTLE to NO serious injuries, smiles on us, I think Todd Bowles will be one proud HC. Look at the talent across the board on this team. Bucs have (rarely) won on MNF so it’s doable. Go down and scalp the Texans, Bucs!!

  11. Jmarkbuc Says:

    If you have even the slightest fear about going 0-17..you might be in the wrong profession.

  12. Stpetematt Says:

    Isn’t Bowles 3-0 in week 2 also? So let’s continue *THAT* trend instead of the night games one, lol!

  13. GhostofBrady Says:

    Stroud has been struggling since last year. He was rather putrid against the Rams. If Stroud balls against Bowle’s defense AGAIN, especially at the end of the game, this could set an early marker for things to come. Bowle’s Tampa 2 inherently prevents the Bucs from closing out close leads. The natural holes in 2-minute offense is glaring. Baker should really consider taking it down to under 25 seconds before scoring on any last possession clinching drives. The defense failed again last week in holding a young QB from breaking our hearts. We were only saved by a missed very makeable kick.

  14. DrunkInYbor Says:

    We will slaughter the Texans Monday night. Bucky! Bucky! BUCKY!!!

  15. Rod Munch Says:

    I’m a lot more concerned with the record in your last game of the season.

 

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