Todd Bowles Explains How The Defense Can Stay Sharp
November 6th, 2025
Keeping the defense sharp.
The past three games the Bucs defense has played really well, especially the past two.
The Bucs are allowing 15 points a game. If a defense can continue that in the NFL, its team ought to rack up a lot of wins.
The Bucs held San Francisco to 19 points. Then the Bucs went up to Detroit and with perhaps the most loaded offense in the NFL, held the mighty Lions to 24 points.
That may not seem like much but in the six previous Lions’ home games (including a playoff loss to Washington) the mighty Lions averaged 37 points a game.
Then the Bucs nearly shut out the slimy Saints on the road, holding New Orleans to a measly field goal.
With the offense terribly sputtering the past two games, that defense is going to give the Bucs a chance until the offense’s troubles can be figured out.
So what can the Bucs do to continue this strong defense? Bucs coach Todd Bowles said yesterday it’s just a matter of playing good fundamental football.
“Doing the little things right,” Bowles said. “At this point, everybody has seen what you’re going to do, you’ve seen what they’re going to do.
“It’s a matter of executing and who executes more.”
The safety play is dynamite with Antoine Winfield (looking like his All-Pro self) and the emergence of Tykee Smith. Jacob Parrish might be the “Defensive Rookie of the Year.” Just look at his numbers.
And one thing Joe noticed in New Orleans is that Benjamin Morrison is playing with growing confidence. He’s playing faster and for Joe, that means Morrison is getting comfortable in Bowles’ defense, and the NFL in general.
There was a lot to like about the Bucs’ defense the past three games. They may need that top-shelf play until the Bucs get offensive pieces back.
.@Patriots @Buccaneers @DrakeMaye2 leads a top 10 offense into Tampa this weekend. They have executed very well in the 6W streak. This is big for both teams and these are a few staples of the Pats Offense. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/8JuKZcGJZu
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) November 6, 2025
November 6th, 2025 at 5:34 am
Even with the defense’s stellar play the last couple of weeks, the Bucs’ offense is going to have to pick it up if we expect to win against the Pats. They’re good. No doubt. If we can just put up 27-28 points, I think a W is in our future. Hopefully, Baker is healed up (or at least feeling better) and Grizz and Todd have developed a good game plan for Sunday. GO BUCS!!!
November 6th, 2025 at 5:41 am
Wow Joe, no mention of the top 3 performers on the defense right now: Vita Vea, YaYa Diaby & Jamel Dean. They’re all having banner years. Take away any 1 of the 3, and this’d be a radically different defense.
November 6th, 2025 at 6:23 am
We will see what Baker looks like in Pats game, because if it is the same Mayfield we saw in the last two games-Bucs are guilty of withholding a Baker injury from the weekly report.
November 6th, 2025 at 6:30 am
“”We will see what Baker looks like in Pats game, because if it is the same Mayfield we saw in the last two games-Bucs are guilty of withholding a Baker injury from the weekly report.””
They’ve been guilty of withholding extent of player injuries from day 1. There’s so many examples of that it’s ridiculous.
November 6th, 2025 at 7:04 am
defense rules – Joe’s always propping up Dean and admitting his surprise regarding Dean’s sudden ‘greatness’. But what’s new this year is we’re good up the middle, like a baseball defense. Vea at Catcher, Parrish at SS and Winfield/Smith in CF. We were already pretty good on the corners. The middle was our weakness last year, underneath over the middle. Now with the middle patrolled by a healthy Winfield, Tykee (my POTY) and Parrish, the hole is somewhat plugged.
November 6th, 2025 at 7:34 am
execution is key!!!!!
BUCS HAVE A CHAMPIONSHIP DEFENSE!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
November 6th, 2025 at 8:06 am
“With the offense terribly sputtering the past two games, that defense is going to give the Bucs a chance until they can figure out what’s going on with the offense.”
Hopefully the bye week afforded the offense time to figure it out.
November 6th, 2025 at 9:09 am
Defense Rules Says:
“Wow Joe, no mention of the top 3 performers on the defense right now”
Wow DR, no mention of THE top performer on defense right now?
That would be Tykee Smith….