Todd Bowless: Bucs Better Be More Worried About Josh Allen Than Wearing Winter Coats
November 12th, 2025
Weather is for losers.
The weather forecast for Orchard Park, N.Y. on Sunday is a high of 42 degrees with showers. That’s about as gross as it gets.
(At least if it were a little colder, you’d get snow, which is far, far better than rain and 40.)
But Bucs coach Todd Bowles didn’t want to hear anything about the weather for Sunday’s game. Today in his weekly press conference, Bowles winced when he was asked how November weather in Buffalo might mess with the Florida-living Bucs.
“You go to Buffalo in November, you’re gonna get that weather,” Bowles said. “You come to Florida in the summer, you’re gonna get heat.
“I mean, if we worry about the weather, we’re not gonna win the ball game.”
That’s a fair point. Bucs teams in the past, when they traveled to a game and took the field with the weather in the 50s, wearing masks, they were done before kickoff. Mentally, they were checked out.
(Joe will never forget seeing Donovan Smith running out of the locker room wearing a ski mask in 2017 in Green Bay with the weather in the 50s. And he played college ball at Penn State for crying out loud, where they play snow games late in the season! Would it shock you to learn the Brett Hundley-led Packers beat the Bucs that day?)
But Joe noticed something two years ago in Green Bay. Maybe the old adage of a Florida team winning in the cold of the north is dead?
That’s when the Bucs went to Green Bay in the dead of a January Wisconsin winter day and outlasted the Packers to win the NFC title game.
Then, two years ago, on a day very much like what is forecast for Buffalo this Sunday, Joe saw almost the entire team head to the heated bench and looked to be buried in coats and jackets, cxcept for six players. Tristan Wirfs (Iowa), Aaron Stinnie (James Madison, Va.), Robert Hainsey (Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Pa.), Cody Mauch (North Dakota State), Luke Goedeke (Central Michigan, Whitelaw, Wisc.) and Baker Mayfield (played four years in Cleveland).
All six of those guys were standing on the sidelines for 10-15 minutes before kickoff, waiting to go in, wearing no outerwear other than their white Bucs’ uniforms.
All six either were from the north or played on a team that was in the norhg. That rainy, cold northeastern Wisconsin day didn’t affect those guys one bit. They were ready mentally and physically and the Bucs kicked the Packers’ tail up and down the field.
So just based on that and how Bowles has tried to mold a tough team, Joe doesn’t think the weather will be an issue for the Bucs at all. The Bills being an issue? Oh, yes, that’s a different story.
This team ain’t your daddy’s Bucs getting wiped out in the snow.
As Wirfs told Joe after that win big win in Green Bay and dealing with the elements, “We’re cornfeds, baby!”
December 1, 1985
THE LAMBEAU "SNOW BOWL"
A foot of snow falls prior to kickoff, and another half-foot falls during the game.
The #Packers outgain the tropical #Buccaneers 512 yards to 65 in a 21-0 victory — one of #NFL history's classic weather battles. pic.twitter.com/7h2LfAJBPY
— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) December 1, 2023
November 12th, 2025 at 5:05 pm
Allen is going to SHRED Todd’s antiquated scheme. Bucs coaches are the laughing stock of the league.
November 12th, 2025 at 5:11 pm
I am not sure why everyone is so interested in yesterday’s game. What happened years has no impact on what is going to happen this weekend. Stop beating a dead horse. I don’t believe that the Buc’s will go very far in the playoff’s. The coach may be a very nice person but the current state of affairs in football is behind him.
November 12th, 2025 at 5:12 pm
Jeff you gotta calm down.
November 12th, 2025 at 5:12 pm
Baker had a perfect passer rating that day in Green Bay. I see a repeat😊
November 12th, 2025 at 5:13 pm
9-8 here we come!
Oh goody!!!!
November 12th, 2025 at 5:14 pm
If yo don’t want to play in Green Bay in January….win some games…
November 12th, 2025 at 5:16 pm
I’m not a gambler, but if I was, I would put my money on the Bills.
November 12th, 2025 at 5:21 pm
Lots of brilliant, well thought out, expert level analysis here. (The preceding comment was brought to you by sarcasm. Sarcasm. It’s what’s for breakfast.)
November 12th, 2025 at 5:29 pm
Heading to Buffalo tomorrow! Any of the crew going?!
November 12th, 2025 at 5:37 pm
So, looking at the division schedules…the Falcons and Panthers are pretty much done.
Panthers (5-5) will likely beat the Falcons (3-6) this week (I hope they don’t…but then their schedule becomes super tough.
Saints (2-8) are off this week, then have a super easy schedule…unless they tank for the first pick. The also still have to face us one more time. hehe.
Conceivable, they could win 6 more games…but I really, really doubt that will happen. Maybe 1-2 at most.
And that leaves the Bucs.
We play the Bills this week and the Rams next week…then we have 6 very easy games.
Even if we lose these two games, we’ll likely win 12 games this year. If we win just one of these two games…we probably go 13 wins this year (which is the number of sins I predicted).
But honestly…so long as we get in the playoffs (we will), the record doesn’t matter. What matters is getting to a playoff level of play by the time the playoffs start.
And I think there is a very good chance that happens. We’ll be coming off a long winning streak most likely. Confidence will be high. Our defense will be gelling by then. Offense should be much healthier.
This is going to be fun to watch.
Out of the next 2 games, I think this week is our best chance to win. Same record. We have some injuries, but the Bills are very banged up at key positions as well.
November 12th, 2025 at 5:38 pm
Bills are tough at home. Don’t like our chances this weekend, and less next Sunday night game at L.A..
November 12th, 2025 at 5:39 pm
Incidentally, with the Panther’s schedule getting rough, they will probably start losing…which could result in Dave Canales getting fired.
He could end up returning to Tampa next year.
November 12th, 2025 at 5:40 pm
Hodad Says:
“Bills are tough at home. Don’t like our chances this weekend, and less next Sunday night game at L.A..”
Oh, I’m not saying it will be an easy game…far from it…but I think between the Rams and the Bills, we have a stronger chance against the Bills.
November 12th, 2025 at 5:43 pm
“The weather forecast for Orchard Park, N.Y. on Sunday is for a high of 42 degrees with showers. That’s about as gross as it gets.“
Have you ever experienced lake effect snow?
42 degrees and rainy is a popcorn fart in comparison.
Worry less about the elements, and more about the opponent.
Only people that have to worry about getting cold are the players who don’t play much.
We need this win bad
November 12th, 2025 at 6:12 pm
Hopefully the offense starts in the pony package with Tucker and White on the field and Shep off the field. White running routes and Tuck rushing. Bucs can win this
November 12th, 2025 at 6:36 pm
12 and 5 here we come. This team has more class than some “fans” give it credit. I have faith in Baker and the guys.
Go Bucs!!
November 12th, 2025 at 6:45 pm
Never give up on the Bucs but this may not be a good game for them. Pleasantly surprised would be cool though.
November 12th, 2025 at 6:57 pm
We better show up there ready to stop the run or we won’t have a chance. If we do, we can definitely make a game of it.
November 12th, 2025 at 7:11 pm
It’s going to be 42. Not a blizzard. Not even icy cold. No the cold won’t be an issue. If you get cold @ 42!put on a sweatshirt.
November 12th, 2025 at 7:21 pm
42 degrees and a light rain is no big deal but combined with high winds it would be.
November 12th, 2025 at 7:27 pm
Jeff is the laughing stock of this comments section. Let’s see Jeff your record on the Bucs seeing as you pick them to lose every week would be 3-6 so at this point I would say you are the biggest loser so far. I always feel good when you pick against the Bucs cause you are wrong most of the time.
November 12th, 2025 at 7:29 pm
Wind is supposed to be 15 to 25 mph with some gusts even higher.
November 12th, 2025 at 7:31 pm
99999999Frozen tundra might wake Grizzard up to open his offense, and turn them loose9999999
November 12th, 2025 at 7:41 pm
The the six and five Buccaneers or not scared of that
November 12th, 2025 at 7:44 pm
The cold weather curse was lifted years ago.
Unfortunately the cover zero defensive curse is still alive and well.
November 12th, 2025 at 7:56 pm
@@@@@@I’m more worried about Grizzard’s dumbazzed rookie play calling and the refs than I am about Buffalo. Josh Allen looks like s2222t this year.000000
November 12th, 2025 at 8:16 pm
Have Tykee Smith spy on Josh Allen the whole game – take away his scrambling
Hopefully the offense will have it together – Bucky and Tez are used to rain and cold in Oregon
November 12th, 2025 at 8:21 pm
This is not about Bowles vs bills or Josh Allen. Bowles is not in the field playing. Like McCollum and Morison Or Dennis. Getting beat in coverage. The one area I do blame Bowles is the blitz.
November 12th, 2025 at 8:37 pm
It may not look the greatest for our Buccaneers. But it didn’t look great when they were traveling to Seattle, and they won.
When it comes down to it it’s man on man, their jimmy’s against our joes, and I believe the Bucs have an edge in talented players. Baker Mayfield is just as talented as Josh Allen. Egbuka, Tez, SS17, and the rest of our offensive and defensive squads will be playing well !! If our Bucs have a good game and execute well, we will cone home with a huge win, and will be on our way to the playoffs!! I can’t wait !! It’s going to be an another great contest!! Hold on to your chairs Bucs fans !!
Go Bucs !! Beat the Bills !!