“Unfathomable” Collapse
December 16th, 2025
Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
This is not the sort of surprise Bucs fans were expecting or bracing for.
Oh sure, Bucs coach Todd Bowles has a midseason swoon every year. And then after four or five games the Bucs bounce back and finish strong.
Now? Well, the Bucs have yet again had their midseason swoon. U
nlike in previous seasons, Bowles hasn’t found a way (yet) to get the pirate ship righted and pointed in the right direction.
Even with the cavalry arriving Thursday in Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan, while the offense looked so much better, it was still the same ol’ Bowles defense that, when needed, can’t stop a backup on a losing team out of the playoff hunt.
Bucs fans have absolutely erupted since. And Joe cannot blame them. Looking from her perch in the greater New York City area, Judy Batista of NFL.com lists the collaspe of the Bucs as one of her top surprises as teams jockey for playoff positions.
And still, the Bucs are not yet out of the playoffs.
The Bucs’ collapse. The three-game losing streak that swallowed November was understandable. The Bucs were battered by injury, and they were facing three of the best teams in the league. What is “inexcusable” — Todd Bowles’ word from Thursday night — is losing a 14-point, fourth-quarter lead to the Falcons, who have already been eliminated from playoff contention and who were penalized 19 times, on a night when superstar wide receiver Mike Evans returned and had 132 receiving yards. That followed a similarly unfathomable loss to the New Orleans Saints, also at home. The Panthers also blew a chance to take over first place Sunday with their loss to the Saints, so the Bucs still hold the lead in the division. The Bucs play the Panthers next week and in Week 18, so everything is still in front of them, but time is running out for Tampa to pull out of its tailspin.
Joe doesn’t think anyone guessed the Bucs would implode from within as badly because of injuries and more.
You know there is a problem when your starting quarterback, your possible Hall of Fame linebacker and team icon, and twice your head coach, all in a span of six weeks, unloaded on the team for a lack of killer instinct, lack of attention to detail and lack of good ol’ fashioned want-to.
How do you fix that and the No. 30th-ranked pass defense all in the final three weeks of the season? That would be a helluva coaching feat.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:06 am
Picking up Darren Waller for my fake team for the Miami game because…. defensive guru Bowles.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:08 am
sorry todd but you gotta go…the tribe has spoken
GO BUCS!!!!
December 16th, 2025 at 9:10 am
I just don’t see them making the playoffs. Wish I did, but dont.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:11 am
Everyone makes excuses for their failures. Everything starts at the top & flows downhill. It is very apparent what is happening to tbe Bucs. Failure in almost every aspect except offense despite the hindrance of the OC.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:17 am
What a failure Bowles has become. Never gets the defense to improve. They seem to get worse every year under him. 2-10 on Prime time. That’s pathetic. He needs to go. He’s a one trick pony and gets schooled by OC’s weekly. The last straw was Kirk Cousins absolutely abusing Bowles for the 3rd time in successive meetings.
Regardless of how this season ends he needs to be fired immediately following the last game.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:21 am
I am still believing in the Bucs being in the playoffs! Not giving up.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:24 am
Go 6-0 the next 6 games…and all is forgiven…lol
Rally up!
December 16th, 2025 at 9:25 am
Anyone watching this no defense, defense over the last 3 years knew that this was not an unfathomable collapse. In fact, we expected it.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:25 am
Winning doesn’t right the ship this time it just means the team is talented enough to win against the mediocre teams left on their schedule. The problem is off the field and in the meeting rooms or the practice field. That can’t be fixed in the draft or via trade or free agency. Secondary coaches should be gone with the special teams coach at minimum if Glazers are crazy enough to keep Bowles and let this trash defensive scheme continue
December 16th, 2025 at 9:26 am
He had to collapse to get back to .500. No surprise here. i called it on the money.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:26 am
I predict the Bucs will not win another game this season and rebuild and go 3-14 next season and the 1st pick in the 2027 NFL Draft the Bucs select Arch Manning
December 16th, 2025 at 9:28 am
I just read where the Vero Beach Fighting Indians lost the Florida state football championship to Lake Mary in an epic choke collapse resembling the Bucs. You have to check out how they lost. Bucs fans will be so proud of their coach.
But surely no money was bet on that game.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:31 am
Canales can collapse just like Bowzo. He who collapse last wins. Suppose Panters lose to Bucs then Beat Seahawks and Bucs lose to Fish? Then 8-8 teams play final game.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:31 am
Bud Lichts magnificent culture…
That emperor has no clothes.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:33 am
heyjude, I’m with you bud!
December 16th, 2025 at 9:33 am
It’s really pretty simple.
Players know that the OC blows The DCs scheme is ridiculous and the ST coach is horrible.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:36 am
HC Grover Says:
December 16th, 2025 at 9:31 am
Canales can collapse just like Bowzo. He who collapse last wins. Suppose Panters lose to Bucs then Beat Seahawks and Bucs lose to Fish? Then 8-8 teams play final game.
^^^^^
There’s a wager for you. DejaVu all over again (credit to Yogi)
December 16th, 2025 at 9:41 am
“Joe doesn’t think anyone guessed the Bucs would implode from within as badly because of injuries and more.”
—–
Yeah? Is that the reason why they imploded? Injuries.. The injury excuse is an annual thing. No possibility it could be something else? Wish the Bucs could be like other teams in the league. You know, the ones that don’t get injuries or the ones that do get injuries but don’t use that excuse as a crutch for failure. Wonder how those other teams are able to do that.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:41 am
HC Grover Says:
^^^
That’s brilliant ! I hope that happens. If it does by some chance it will be the indictment of the NFL and Roger we need. To me it would prove that Roger and the owners really do believe the fans are stupid.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:48 am
I don’t how these sites work. I don’t have a long association with the contributors to this site, including the talking heads. I was a Cleveland fan for 50 years. I followed Baker; not because I think he’s the greatest thing since sliced bread, but because I see that old-school fire for the game. And when it gets down to it, that is what it started out as.
Here’s what I see, from a history stand point.
Brett farve was a gunslinger. And a baller. And he had interceptions. But he had a defensive that could take up the slack when that happened. What does that tell you.
Comments?
December 16th, 2025 at 9:53 am
People be real, this Bucs team won’t do crap in the playoffs anyways
Asides from year’s collapse……this is now going on year 4/5 years of just BAD defense at the end if the season.
All the NFL teams knows how to easily beat the Bucs…..they all just find open holes in 7 to 8 yards buffer the Bucs DBs give to the opposing teams EVERY Sunday…and you know what?????, the Bucs players are FED UP with Todd Bowles coaching schemes on Defense…..so of course Bucs players have tuned Todd Bowles out……….
The Glazers need to fire Todd Bowles, because he’s worn out his stay in Tampa
December 16th, 2025 at 10:02 am
So unpredictable this team is, they could finish strong or implode dramatically(already starting). Seems that’s why we tune in. Hope is all we have.Fire over confident mistake prone clueless opposing qb loving Bowles! Immediately.
December 16th, 2025 at 10:12 am
It’s not just the second half of the season
The season began with 3 last minute come from behind wins
At the time we and the major talking heads saw that as a strength MVP QB talk
In retrospect it was actually the play of a average to below average team.
Injuries were understandably used as an excuse/ explanation for the rest of the season
I am just a numb observer unable, self protection, observer.
Been in the stands since the first preseason game in 76
Finally let the ST’s go about 10 years ago when my sons were not able to take over the account as I had planned.
December 16th, 2025 at 10:16 am
Has anyone noticed Bowels has gained a ton of weight?
He is bigger than Andy Reid now.
It’s hard to get guys to respect your call to discipline if you don’t show it yourself.
I’m not really sure what happened, but the Bucs are ALWAYS 1 or 2 years behind the curve.
We missed out on Liam Coen. PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!!
The only good news is that with this offense, surely a offensive minded guy would JUMP at the opportunity.
December 16th, 2025 at 10:23 am
Where is the Todd Bowles fan club to stick up for him. You’ve berated everyone all season who dared to question his ability. Now is your time to tell everyone how wrong they are and all the reasons he should be retained. Hello? Anyone? Bueller?
December 16th, 2025 at 10:37 am
Fire Todd
December 16th, 2025 at 10:38 am
You guys just aren’t getting it. Todd Bowles is a genius. By losing to New Orleans, he tricked the Saints into thinking they have their next franchise quarterback in Tyler Shough. Then this genius loses to the Falcons, nearly guaranteeing they stick with Raheem Morris for one more year. He traded wins he didn’t need now for 4 easy wins next year! The genius Bowles is playing 4D chess while the rest of you are playing mere checkers.
December 16th, 2025 at 10:43 am
Bottom line is even if the Bucs end up making the post season they won’t get past the first round. Not with this defense if you can call it that.
December 16th, 2025 at 10:48 am
Actually it’s quite fathomable.
If your IQ is above 60 points you’ve known this for four years now.
Bowles might be able to back into a division title in the worst division in the NFL, but that is his ceiling.
If you want a third SB title, you have to move on.
35-34
December 16th, 2025 at 10:53 am
same DC that won a Super Bowl. what’s different? talent on Defense. where is the SHAQ BARRETT on this team? the JPP? heck, where is the Lavonte David, he’s not the same.. no DEVIN WHITE player, in fact S.Dennis can be a liability sometimes. lets get some talent next year, the offense is not the problem, and players can only play to their ability.
December 16th, 2025 at 11:04 am
Im concerned about the rest of the season.
December 16th, 2025 at 11:27 am
When Bowels doesn’t have quality OCs to hide his inadequacies, Bucs are in the bottom 3rd of the league….
Whose in the top 8….. Coach Liam Coen! (1st year HC)
Whose several spots ahead of Bowels…. Coach Dave Canales! (2nd year HC)
Absolute proof They were BY FAR BETTER choices than Bowels (been HC WAY TO LONG)
December 16th, 2025 at 11:28 am
And, Grover, then they tie 3-3, and there is a coin toss to see who moves on, but it mistakenly rolls down a sprinkler drain and they are both out
December 16th, 2025 at 11:29 am
Don’t forget we drafted David Walker to try to help the pass rush and got nothing out of it yet. That’s not Licht/Bowles fault neither is the receiver corps being decimated by injuries this year and the secondary last year. We can lose a player from a position group and survive, but the entire position group???
December 16th, 2025 at 11:30 am
I listened a Bucs podcast with Ronde Barber saying if the Bucs haven’t fixed the defense over multiple week’s, don’t expect it to happen in the final 3 games of the season
.
If the Bucs win 2 out of the final games, they are Division champions again. The bad news is the Bucs have to out score their opponents with championship performance. What are the odds of that happening?
The are not a championship defense. Will it happen this year? Highly unlikely. The Bucs need to the draft and bringing in veterans to make this possible.
So Bucs fans, let’s enjoy the remaining games. There’s no Tom Brady type player coming to the rescue. It’s possible the Bucs could do it. but that’s a huge mental challenge.
FYI, the Chiefs are officially eliminated from the playoffs after a ten year run
December 16th, 2025 at 11:41 am
You guys sound like women.
You are not gritty like Baker and Mike Evans.
Anything can happen in the last 3 games plus playoffs.
Jamel Dean is the best CB in the NFL this year.
We just need to fix the middle of the defense and get more sacks.
But Mike looks fresh and unstoppable.
Chris is playing wild and crazy again.
J-Mac came back bigger and angrier.
Egbuka finally gets some help.
Bucky looks pissed.
We just need to get Chukwuma back on the field ASAP.
Please put Wirfs at LG for the rest of this season.
And start cross-training Chukwuma at LG in the off-season.
Michael Jordan is playing hurt and limping.
Feeney has the body of a Lego Man.
Klein is clearly too weak for the NFL. (Cut him)
Keep Izien on the field no matter what.
December 16th, 2025 at 11:51 am
Gipper Says:
December 16th, 2025 at 9:25 am
Anyone watching this no defense, defense over the last 3 years knew that this was not an unfathomable collapse. In fact, we expected it.
I agree totally. You could see it happen as it all unfolded. Maybe the players themselves could see it start to spiral and had no HC to pull them out of it.
December 16th, 2025 at 12:09 pm
Finished the prime series last night. There are so many mentions of them wanting to do whatever it takes to win and I believe that to a degree. But then there were several mentions about hating the coaching turnover that we went thru from ‘09-‘19. When they kept morris and Dominick one of them specially stated ‘they understood our culture’, hinting that while they made a change, they didn’t go out of house. Sounds familiar.
So I guess it depends on your definition of ‘win’.
Even with another division crown, this isn’t my definition.
I have no clue what you would be expecting out of ‘26 without a new coaching staff other than 7-10 wins and no where in January. If that’s their definition then I guess they’re true to their word.
December 16th, 2025 at 12:15 pm
Why are people surprised by this?
Todd has been here SEVEN SEASONS and the pass defense has been bad all 7 seasons.
I am not even surprised when they blow leads or lose, it’s Todd Blows, I have ZERO CONFIDENCE in him and his sad defense!!!
December 16th, 2025 at 12:15 pm
If they don’t fire Toilet Bowels after this season regardless of the outcome other than a Super Bowl showing We will no doubt be having these exact conversations again next year
December 16th, 2025 at 12:15 pm
maybe the Bucs have the best drug dealer in the league
December 16th, 2025 at 12:36 pm
5 January 2026 Todd Bowels will be cleaning out his desk!
BA needs to leave OBP
Doubt the Glazers have the huevos to send JL after Bowels but he is nothing special.
Ronde Barber 4 the next GM!
December 16th, 2025 at 12:36 pm
Seems kinda obvious that after FOUR lambastings by team leaders & coaches that this defense has turned off their leadership. Gut feel is that our defense as a whole lacks confidence in each other and in our coaching. Not sure how you turn something like that around, if in fact it can be turned around.
Hard to find anything about this defense that you can say ‘Yes, we can build on that’. Run defense? Not really. Bucs have the #10 ranked Run Defense in Yards Allowed, but the #5 Run Defense in terms of Rushing Attempts. That’s NOT good. Basically tells me that IF opponents chose to run more, they could run all over us. Only reason they don’t run more is that our Pass Defense is even worse. Sad year all the way around.
December 16th, 2025 at 12:49 pm
Hey Folks!!!! no worries we have a “DEFENSIVE GENIUS” coach…. 🤣🤣🤣 🤡
December 16th, 2025 at 12:58 pm
The players on defense don’t believe in Bowles system. I have to say I don’t believe its any good either. I would like to point out an inherent flaw with having a defensive minded head coach. You can’t keep offensive coordinators. With a defensive head coach the offensive coordinator gets all the accolades for a successful offense. The result is the offensive coordinator gets hired somewhere else as a headcoach.
December 16th, 2025 at 1:20 pm
The Bucs can still win the Weak South division for sure. Im still dumb enough to believe they will win enough . But what will it mean. We haven’t exactly destroyed any competition this year. I know injuries like I’ve never seen. But what bothers me is it looks so much like even though our Defense has not quit at all they are just not GOOD & even though people point out the obvious we aren’t suddenly going to start sacking the Qbs or control the middle or cover recieviers. I like Todd but it might be time to change & maybe it’s coming to a time we need to reevaluate the front office & GM also. He loves to build & thats cool but how much fun is it t o start hot go cold in the middle then hang on for a 1st round exit . Todd won a SB ring but so did Gruden but this is a what have you done lately league. Hoping for the best GO BUCS!!!!!
December 16th, 2025 at 1:39 pm
Reading the thoughts from everyone it’s just heartbreaking. Yeah, I stayed on Bowles back for the last 3 seasons for good reason But it wasn’t for THIS… OK, I WAS RIGHT!
OK, all of the Rossey Colored Glasses Pollyanna’s look like fools. BUT…. this isn’t what I wanted.
You know two years ago if, IF.. Bowles had the brains to install a DC by the time he Blew It the first Two Years, we wouldn’t be in this position now. ACTUALLY and TRULY This…. IS… BOWLES …OWN FAULT!
Does anybody REALLY BELIEVE that a few somebody’s didn’t already suggest the changes to Bowles a FEW YEARS AGO?? Of Course THEY DID! Meaning Jason Licht, the Glazers, Bowles Wife, his mother AND father (God willing they are still with us)
Even I have blamed Licht. And I wasn’t wrong about that Ultimately, however Licht DID make FORCED CHANGES! Bowles had a “Game Manager” installed 2 YEARS AGO! It LITERALLY DIDN’T HELP! Bowles BLEW THAT OFF! And then Licht said HE!! NO we’re gonna do it Again!
We All noticed an improvement. Clock Management was the FIRST improvement noticed and as I recall we WON one of those Cardiac games, heck maybe 2 Because of THAT Clock Management…
Read earlier how one of the wonderful commenter’s broke down the Atlanta and Orleans games clock management, and JUST HOW THAT GAME MANAGER MUST HAVE BEEN TIED UP UNDER THE BLEACHERS because THAT Clock Management HAS BEEN THROWN OUT OF THE DOOR!
No. I didn’t want this. I wanted Bowles to care for more than just his own personal ego. But HE DOESN’T. And Now (it seems) he’s a masterful job of teaching the players to be just as selfish and lazy as He IS….
And “what ever happened” to that 2nd “Game Manager”? Well, you better check under the stands before he ends up with X’s in his eyes! Let’s be honest…. He’s long dead. Bowles killed that winning idea just as soon as the Bi week got here. We’ve looked lost and sloppy ever since….. sad.
December 16th, 2025 at 2:10 pm
If every game….every season is dependent on a high octane offense to be relevant, what exactly does Bowles bring to the table? We’re winning despite his miserable scheme, poor game management, mediocre assistants….i don’t get what value he brings. His own unit is our biggest weakness every week, at some point let’s recognize reality.
Here’s the issue I see….the Glaziers are scarred from firing Gruden. What followed was 10 yrs of mediocrity and now they sit in a position of good enough but never a contender. Their dad didn’t operate in fear, he was aggressively pursuing a championship before he died. He was bold and willing to swing big. The Glazier boys are not that. They’re safe and Bowles is the safe choice. I don’t see anything changing. Maybe they consider Tomlin but frankly Tomlin is in the same good but nothing special tier. There’s nobody currently available or even on the rise. You’re getting recycled older coaches who the game has likely passed by or young unproven coordinators that could flame out quickly.
December 16th, 2025 at 2:34 pm
Bobby, you’re so right. We Obviously missed a winner but that was Directly on Licht and the Glazers “Just as you say”
Malcom Was the One with the Passion for his Bucs. His children simply Don’t care and DON’T have the love for our team like you, I, ALL the commenter’s on either side of the stay or keep Bowles. And Especially like Malcom Loved His Team.
You and me are just like the Thousands that have Passion and Love for our team and Love of the Game…. The Glazers that are left in charge (though not horrible by any means) just DON’T HAVE “THAT” Passion. There for, the results are Aleays the Same..
December 16th, 2025 at 2:47 pm
How about that OFFENSE tho ?
Thank God they’ve been a well oiled machine and not a problem……..if you believe some of the joes and the expert commenters here. 🙄
December 16th, 2025 at 2:56 pm
Lets see, your MVP quarterback is given the ball with 2 minutes left vs a terrible Saints team, chance to win the game and with 1st place on the line, he promptly goes 4 and out, throwing a 3 yard pass on 4th and 4, losing the game.
Then the next week, your MVP quarterback, in the 4th quarter of a game with 1st place on the line, in his last two possessions throws one of the worst inexcusable INTs you’ll ever see, then has another chance to close out the game, and instead misses and easy throw that basically ends the game.
If Baker plays better, the Bucs win both of those games. The team was built to win on offense, and the blame all goes on one guy. If he does his job, the Bucs are 9-5 right now and still in contention for 1st place in the conference.
December 16th, 2025 at 2:59 pm
Stanks QB up and coming….Buc QB down and out.
December 16th, 2025 at 3:54 pm
Nothing that will happen in these last three regular season games should affect what has to take place this offseason.
Bowles has to go or there won’t be a fan base left to cheer for this team next year. There is absolutely nothing that they can say at this point that will excite me about running this back with the same coaching staff and roster. Heads have to roll and roster turnover, especially on defense, has to happen.
December 16th, 2025 at 4:04 pm
That is 💯 TRUE, Rod Much… Just SO spot-on. You don’t get to shower “Good Ole Bake” with every ounce of praise, while giving HIM all of the credit for those miraculous early season wins… IfF you are not willing to give HIM that exact same type of blame for when HE plays poorly, comes up short, turns the ball over, AND LOSES. Nope. Doesn’t work that way! He is EVERY single BIT as ‘responsible’ for these losses, as he was for those wins. 💯 FACT. It is what it is. “Well, He’s Hurt.” NO. There is no excuse.
December 16th, 2025 at 4:56 pm
If we miss the playoffs and the Jaguars win a playoff game or two, the $h!t will officially hit the fan. All those fans that wanted Bowles gone and to hire Cohen as our head coach will look like geniuses. I can’t lie, the concept was very appealing at the time.
If we win out, make the playoffs and actually win a playoff game, that will be the big surprise at this point. Lots of trouble seeing the latter scenario happening.