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Todd Bowles Vs. Josh McDaniels

November 9th, 2025

Coaches duel.

Years ago Joe heard former NFL suit and former coffee fetcher for Bill Walsh, Al Davis and Bill Belicheat, Michael Lombardi, say when you’re betting or handicapping a game, always look at the matchup of coordinators.

It seems noted NFL analyst Greg Cosell of NFL Films believes the same thing.

In his weekly appearance on the “Ross Tucker Podcast,” maybe the best series of football-only pods on the interwebs, Cosell said that he learned years ago from an NFL coach that spent over 35 years in the league that the game was all about coach vs. coach, not unlike what Lombardi said.

So for the Patriots, you have veteran offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels locking horns with Bucs coach Todd Bowles, the Bucs’ default defensive coordinator.

Cosell likes McDaniels. But Cosell really, really likes Bowles who he thinks may be the most creative defensive coordinator in the game, specifically how he works with defensive backs.

For Cosell, that is the game within the game: How can McDaniels identify Bowles’ unique, strange and effective blitzes and catch Bowles off-guard?

Likewise, what crazy stunts and blitzes will Bowles break out to not just surprise McDaniel, but confuse Patriots quarterback Drake Maye enough for him to throw picks?

Joe has to give McDaniels (and Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel) credit for how they are developing Maye. Before McDaniels linked up with Maye, he rode Tom Brady’s coattails into two head coaching jobs and failed spectacularly both times.

Until recently, Joe had always thought McDaniels was a typical Belicheat lackey. Once these guys get away from Belicheat, they fall flat on their faces. Usually.

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2 Responses to “Todd Bowles Vs. Josh McDaniels”

  1. Jeffrey Becker Says:
    November 9th, 2025 at 1:38 am

    Gruden’s everywhere lately

  2. Pickgrin Says:
    November 9th, 2025 at 1:45 am

    Get ’em Todd

    Force that young QB to let go of a few balls he wishes he had back….

    Not really buying the coach vs coach match-up being the all important factor in any game though….. Players have to make the plays no matter how complex or simply they are drawn up.

    It REALLY helps to have good players – and coach Bowles has some really nice chess pieces to work with in his back 7 when it comes to blitzing. David, Dennis, Winfield, Smith and even Parrish are all very good blitzers who know how to pressure the QB and get him on the ground. So unexpected blitzes can come from literally anywhere on the field when you have to go against this Buccaneers defense.

 

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