Game Turned When Bucs Gave Up On The Run
November 16th, 2025
Quit running at worst time.
Joe typed many times before today’s loss in Buffalo that if the Bucs could get rolling on the ground, they had a great shot of winning.
Buffalo has one of the worst run defenses in the NFL. Soft as Charmin. And the Bucs proved that today.
Sean Tucker had a monster game with 106 yards on 19 carries for two rushing touchdowns (he also had a touchdown catch). The Bucs ran for over 200 yards. When is the last time the Bucs ran for 200 yards and lost?
The Bucs were pounding Buffalo, but the defense played matador defense and couldn’t get a stop. The Bucs were matching Buffalo punch for punch. The lead changed eight times.
Then, midway through the fourth quarter, the Bucs gave up on running the ball. Why?
The Bucs were running for over five yards a pop. On third-and-two from the Bucs-39, the Bucs decided it was slick to have Baker Mayfield attempt to throw to their No. 5 receiver, Sterling Shepard. Incomplete.
The Bucs, again, averaging over five yards a carry, gave up on the run — and punted with 7:28 remaining!
Why?
Did Bucs coach Todd Bowles not see his defense getting shredded? Did he really trust his defense to get a stop? Really? Talk about situational unawareness!
And why give up on the run? Are you telling Joe the way Mayfield and Tucker, and to a lesser degree Rachaad White, were running they couldn’t pick up two yards in two tries?
Or was Bowles still freaked out by the goal-line stands by the slimy Saints?
Right there was your ballgame. When Riley Dixon took the field to punt, he may as well have been carrying a white flag. The game was over.
On the ensuing drive, naturally, Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen, who had a part in six touchdowns (three thrown, three on the ground), scored from nine yards out to give Buffalo a 44-32 lead with just under three minutes left.
It was time to warm up the airplane.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:26 pm
The meaning of insanity: Not going for it on 4 and 2 thinking the defense that did not stop them all day was suddenly going to get it done.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:27 pm
The game turned when Todd Bowles defense walked off of the bus.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:29 pm
Yep….the Bowles D lost another one
November 16th, 2025 at 5:34 pm
That’s all on the head coach. Unable to understand the game.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:34 pm
I said the same thing. 3rd and 2 why pass. Also special teams coordinator needs to be fired immediately. We gave up 40 yards a return on kickoffs. Made it too easy for Bills O. They’ve been awful all year.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:36 pm
Hey, this team may be ineffective, but at least they’re gutless!
If this organization spent half the time upgrading the coaching staff as they do trying to convince the fan base that Todd is a winner, we’d have 2 more Lombardis.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:36 pm
Well, the last comment didn’t make it, so I will repeat in a less profane manner. That 3rd down call from Grizz was poor. The decision to punt by Bowels was moronic. That was your ballgame and we all knew it, so why didn’t Toad?
November 16th, 2025 at 5:41 pm
How many times do we need to watch the same scenario play out???
Don’t you guys get tired of typing the same things over and over again???
Perhaps AI has made it easier to keep putting out the same content.
Just type in Todd Bowles defense on Sunday. ChatGPT knows instantly what happened.
FIRE TODD BOWLES NOW!!!!!!!!!!
November 16th, 2025 at 5:41 pm
Bowles said it was early in 4th quarter and he felt they could get it back. He was right, we did get it back, down by 12.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:43 pm
“I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today”
Love and kisses,
The Bucs coaching staff
November 16th, 2025 at 5:43 pm
They were in buffalo territory with over 9 minutes left. Of course you punt it….geesh . It was a one possession game at that point. Agree with the failure to run it, but good would’ve been crucified if we don’t get the first there…
November 16th, 2025 at 5:46 pm
Absolutely gutless decision to punt and complete incompetence on the 3rd down pass against the Bills alignment. A draw potentially hits big there. Once other teams have a beat on what we’re doing (on both sides of the ball), we soil ourselves.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:48 pm
AGREED. And we should slow down on 2 pt conversions.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:51 pm
Game was over in the hotel this morning
November 16th, 2025 at 5:52 pm
Very nice trying to dig for an excuse. Defense and Special Teams lost this game.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:55 pm
LOL OK Coach McKay. 🙂
November 16th, 2025 at 5:57 pm
At least we don’t have to be worried about Grizz leaving for a HC job… though he should be jobless after this year.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:57 pm
100% correct. I assumed if we passed on third down the decision to go do it on 4th down was already decided. Couldn’t believe it when the punt team came out. WTF.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:58 pm
Game turned when Bucs defense was on the field. No need for any other rationalizations.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:59 pm
Please..Stop it. 30 something pts is enough to win in this league. Game turned when series after series, our Sorry A.. Defense could not get off the field. Thats all itt was coupled with a very poor specail teams play. My God guys, Our defense really does stink.
November 16th, 2025 at 6:02 pm
When I saw the punt team come out on 4th and 2…I new the game was over….Billls got the ball and never looked back…big mistake…Bowels defense was just horrible….and they took it down used the clock and scored…Game Over…what a crappy coach he is….we can’t cover anyone.
November 16th, 2025 at 6:06 pm
Not sure why on that play, Bowles did not go for it, eeven I knew the defense had no chance of stopping the Bills at that point. It was like it was over then.
November 16th, 2025 at 6:07 pm
Ok, I’ve (we’ve??) seen enough. Time for regime change. Doing the same thing in the same way is pure insanity.
November 16th, 2025 at 6:10 pm
No Risk It No Biscuit Defense strikes again. 6 sacks and 3 turnovers minimum or we lose.
November 16th, 2025 at 6:10 pm
Because our coaching staff is a bunch of mentally weak losers, Joe, that’s why.
Grizzard is a MASSIVE downgrade from Coen.
And Todd has called stupid coverages his entire career.
Wont even comment on ST, they should all be fired.
November 16th, 2025 at 6:12 pm
Joe, It is just another Bowles Blunder. That simple. he does it every time. Another routine par.
November 16th, 2025 at 6:15 pm
Turn out the lights, the party’s over. They always said good things must end. The party’s over and tomorrow starts the same old thing again.
November 16th, 2025 at 6:16 pm
Did we stop running? We didn’t completely abandon it, we’re playing from behind, and instead of run game late wearing out the defense, Buffalo found an extra gear that we’d run on first for no gain. Those are the worst times to try and stay committed to the run game, they just appeared to be reading it better late in the game.
November 16th, 2025 at 6:26 pm
I am sure the defense set a record that will never be broken. They gave up a point for less than every1.4 plays. I will be glad to donate to anyone who will get a billboard up that says fire Bowles and the special team coach.
November 16th, 2025 at 6:35 pm
Been a Bowles supporter his whole tenure here. After today, I’ve seen enough. Division titles are the ceiling for this head coach. Enough of d-linemen dropping back into coverage only to trail receivers and backs not even close enough to get there license plate numbers on their way to easy touchdowns. Chasing points so early in games. Sweeping embarrassment special teams under the rug with a shrug. Punting on 4th & 2 late in the 4th quarter after abandoning the run game that kept you in the game, in Buffalo territory down 5 points when your defense is waving a white flag? While the Rams are slapping 55 points on us next week, I hope Licht & the Glazers are sizing up Sean McVay’s offensive staff or the McVay coaching tree for head coach candidates. The Bowles era has run its course. It’s time to move on.
November 16th, 2025 at 6:51 pm
Why are you even referring to Bowles in this article? Like he is calling in the offensive plays to Mayfield on the headset on 3rd and 2? This is on either Grizzard for crappy play calling or Mayfield for audibling out of a run play at the last minute.
November 16th, 2025 at 6:51 pm
Bucs fans to Glazers. Please hire a Dan Campbell type of HC. We’ve seen enough of Bowles and his horrible defense and special teams since he became HC. This team and defense will continue to be soft and lifeless as long as Bowles is here.
November 16th, 2025 at 6:54 pm
No game turned because we have a terrible head coach that you at Joe bucs fan are afraid of so you just ignore. He sucks and the players continue to carry him. His defense is an absolute joke.
November 16th, 2025 at 6:54 pm
They unlocked our defense midway thru the 3rd quarter, it was over before we knew it. Too late in the season to be giving up big yards on specialty teams. Defense lost their mojo
November 16th, 2025 at 6:55 pm
But you have an MVP QB, why wouldn’t you want the ball in his hands?
November 16th, 2025 at 6:57 pm
There have been sooooo many reasons to cut ties with Bowels over the last four seasons. Do it already! Why did they extend his contract? Why????
November 16th, 2025 at 7:30 pm
SBucs13 Says:
November 16th, 2025 at 5:34 pm
That’s all on the head coach.
———–
So anyway as I have been saying for over the last two and a half years about HC Bowels..
.. Hmm….wait.
Why bother? Everyone can see it and no one is liking it.
Even the fellas @ JBF seem to have finally awoken up from their golden slumber.
Been carrying that weight a long time.
November 16th, 2025 at 7:32 pm
Buc defense has given up
850 yards
72 points
IN TWO GAMES
November 16th, 2025 at 7:34 pm
LETS FACE IT .BOWLES IS DONE ! Enough watching the same old bad judgements bybowles !
November 16th, 2025 at 8:02 pm
“Gotta coach em up better and gotta play better, while I go to the buffet and gorge myself so I can get even fatter and get a 4 XL.” Toad Bowels
November 16th, 2025 at 9:00 pm
Defense is missing what one starter and this is the product bowels keeps rolling out oof.
November 16th, 2025 at 9:18 pm
Defense stunk up the place. Not really anything more to say there.
And too many run’s up the middle on third down, predictable as heck. How about a counter, or even a jet sweep? Or a play action and throw, which would have been better. Grizzard was better early in the season, but seems to have gotten into a rut, and it’s killing us.
November 16th, 2025 at 10:57 pm
Rod Munch should be traded for 2 homeless guys
November 16th, 2025 at 11:04 pm
NEW COACH ,NEW STAFF. NEW OUTCOME IS WHAT IT WILL TAKE .BUT DO THE GLAZER BOYS HAVE THE BALLS ? I DONT THINK SO MORE YEARS OF WASTING ARE TALENT. I THINKBA LOTBOF ARE PLSYERS WILL JUMP SHIP IF BOWLES STAYS ON ! THEY WANT TO WIN .
November 16th, 2025 at 11:52 pm
Both Seattle and Tampa’s defenses gave up 414 yards of offense today. Suppose Seattle’s defense is trash and they should fire their coach as well.
November 16th, 2025 at 11:53 pm
I meant the Rams in the last post