What Was Todd Bowles Thinking (Yet Again)?
November 24th, 2025
Baffling second-quarter stunt.
This question comes up way, way too much for a good coach: What was Todd Bowles thinking?
This question is often asked before, during and after a Bucs loss. And Joe has few answers.
Earlier Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys, not a likely playoff team, came back from 20 down to beat Philadelphia. And here we were on Sunday night, the Bucs trailing by 21 in the second quarter and Bowles decides to pull the ol’ ESPN Analytics nonsense and go for it.
In the second quarter. From the Bucs-29.
Now remember it was just last week that, with his running attack bowling over Buffalo halfway through the fourth quarter and trailing by five points, Bowles punted from the Bucs-39 instead of going for it on fourth-and-two. That basically lost the game because his defense couldn’t stop a cool breeze.
Yes, the defense wasn’t playing much better tonight than last week in Buffalo. And Bowles waved the white flag in the second quarter, which Joe found irresponsible.
The Rams got only a field goal out of that debacle. But still, in the second quarter, you panic/give up like that?
And if you are waving the white flag, then why keep your banged up quarterback in the game. Sure enough after Baker Mayfield threw a desperation pass on the final play of the half, he landed on his hurt left shoulder and hurt it worse.
Good job Todd.
Bad enough his defense is puking all over NFL football fields since the bye. Then he makes calls that bad high school coaches wouldn’t do.
Bowles in the first half went from coaching irresponsibility within two minutes to coaching malpractice.
November 24th, 2025 at 12:09 am
Can his ass now
November 24th, 2025 at 12:11 am
Zero issues with going for it since the Rams were going to score anyways. So why not try to get a 1st down, if you don’t, hold them to a FG, and give your offense the ball with enough time to score.
That’s what happened.
Bucs defense actually held up and only gave up a FG.
Baker had the ball, minute left, 3 time outs, and proceeded to do nothing with it.
But the Bucs were not going to get a stop if they punt there. Zero percent chance of a stop. It was 100% the correct call to go for it, and it did work out well on the defense side, but Baker couldn’t get it done, missed a wide open Godwin, then got happy feet and took a bad sack.
November 24th, 2025 at 12:12 am
Mayfield has left shoulder sprain. MRI tomorrow. According to BSPN.
November 24th, 2025 at 12:13 am
It’s really sad when the coach gives up at half time. The players picked up on that, and mailed it in. How do you come back from that going forward?
November 24th, 2025 at 12:13 am
If Todd Bowles was a man of honor he would resign within the next 12 hours. The damage he has caused to this football team is incalculable.
November 24th, 2025 at 12:13 am
We know the Glazers don’t fire mid-season, but there’s a first time for everything!!
November 24th, 2025 at 12:14 am
Agree Durango
November 24th, 2025 at 12:15 am
I agree with you Joe that this was coaching malpractice. So to me, the better question is: what are the Glazers thinking (yet again)? At what point is Bowles fired?
November 24th, 2025 at 12:17 am
The difference in coaching was stark tonight. Same with last week and the week before and against Philly and against the lions.
November 24th, 2025 at 12:17 am
Garbage coach
November 24th, 2025 at 12:17 am
When is enough finally enough. Bowels = failure. DUH! Wake up Glazers,or lose ticket sales.
November 24th, 2025 at 12:19 am
BPBucsfan Says:
November 24th, 2025 at 12:12 am
Mayfield has left shoulder sprain. MRI tomorrow. According to BSPN.
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Good news if true, and it’s mild.
For a non-throwing arm, injury time can be 0-2 weeks – from what I see, typically 1 week missed. If it’s more severe than it can be more, but mean time is 3 weeks.
3 weeks of Bridgewater however means going probably 7-7. Still, in the NFC South, that’s probably good enough to stick around.
To bad the backup is such a worthless bum – and Ballsack on the practice squad is worse than Bridgewater.
November 24th, 2025 at 12:21 am
Only four players on the Bucs have progressed this year. Two on offense (Egbuka and Johnson) two on defense Tykee Smith and Parrish. All others regressed. It’s got to be coaching. There’s no passion, they’re soft physically and mentally. It’s a reflection of their coaches. If coaches don’t have answers players quit listening. It’s clear the room is lost. I never expected the Bucs to win the last three games. But the effort, capabilities, desire wasn’t there in any of the three games. Fire Todd.
November 24th, 2025 at 12:21 am
Can anyone honestly say Bowles has what it takes to bring a team to a Superbowl? i honestly just don’t see it no matter how many years you give him and trending the wrong way. If the answer is he’s not that guy you move on. He doesn’t have to be one of the worst coaches
November 24th, 2025 at 12:22 am
Agree with Joe, Bowles waved the white flag in Buffalo and punted and tonight was just crazy, Baker went in the tent with shoulder injury, we are down 3 touchdowns, Baker needs to be pulled from the game. Bowles throws him back in the game and now Bakers season is in jeopardy. Bowles makes awful decisions routinely every game week in and week out. #firetoddbowles
November 24th, 2025 at 12:22 am
Open question … what did you see in that first half on defense that makes you think if the Bucs punt there, that the Rams don’t easily move down the field, get a score as the clock runs out, then get the ball back to start the 3rd and score again?
Of course going for it on 4th and 1 what you do there, you expect to get the 1st down.
Additionally, as stated above, if you do not make it, and you hold to a FG, at least you’re giving your offense enough time to go down and get a TD, which actually means you’re picking up 4 points if that happens – and any offense in the modern NFL should be able to at least get 3 points. Problem was Baker not getting it done. He’s the team’s MVP right, best player, right – you expect him with one min left in the half and 3 TO’s to at least get three, which cancels out going for it.
Again, zero issues with the call – it was the correct call.
The call everyone should have a problem with is punting from the Rams 42 on the opening drive. That was gutless.
November 24th, 2025 at 12:23 am
God help us!
Hopefully he was thinking: RETIREMENT!
November 24th, 2025 at 12:27 am
BPBucsfan Says:
November 24th, 2025 at 12:12 am
Mayfield has left shoulder sprain. MRI tomorrow. According to BSPN.
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Had a MRI done on my shoulder two weeks ago. Surgery in January. Shoulder injuries SUCK. Had many injuries in my life. Shoulder injuries suck immensely. Can’t even sleep. All I can say is they suck. Ugh. Lol. Can hardly wait for January to get here.
November 24th, 2025 at 12:28 am
The Glazers love Toad Bowels.
He’s locked in for three more years after this failed season ends.
It’s one big sh@t burger and we all have to take a bite.
34-32 as the HC for the Bucs including playoffs.
Those are the facts.
November 24th, 2025 at 12:28 am
I can’t wait for Joe to tell us the general mood tonight in the locker room. Last week the players were reported to be calm and confident which is weird because they lost a winnable game and should have been angry. If they are calm after tonight, that just tells me they have quit on Todd.
November 24th, 2025 at 12:29 am
It really wouldn’t surprise me if they lost next week, too! Seriously. Until he changes some things (which I doubt) it wouldn’t surprise me. Especially since we’re dealing with more injuries.
November 24th, 2025 at 12:29 am
Our Bucs really looked bad tonight. And we got the AZ Cardinals next Sunday. Don’t sleep on them. Sure they got a lot of losses but their defense actually hits hard. Ruck up Bucs. Swab the deck and get ready for AZ. You up next TYeddy Bridgewater.