Running The Ball And Defense Won The Super Bowl
February 9th, 2026
What a Sunday it was for Todd Bowles.
The Bucs’ head coach loves defense and running the ball. And that’s how Seattle won the Super Bowl.
Defense-first head Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald and his pass rush sacked Patriots QB Drake Maye six times and registered 11 official quarterback hits. Seattle QB Sam Darnold only completed 50 percent of his passes and RB Kenneth Walker shocked the sportsbooks by hauling in the Super Bowl MVP trophy after 135 yards rushing on 27 carries.
Remember last week when Tony Dungy said Bowles wants “to get his philosophy back in?” Joe doesn’t think Dungy pulled that line out of thin air.
Bowles likely does want more running and better defense, as Dungy said, though the defense can’t get much worse. If that’s Bowles’ vision, then Joe would view it as a clue to how the Bucs will attack the offseason.
A Rachaad White replacement, better offensive line backups and an upgrade at tight end should help the run game. Competent tacklers and athletic upgrades at inside linebacker and edge rusher would help immensely.
Joe isn’t all-in with this alleged Bowles philosophy, but it’ll be interesting to see if the Bucs’ offseason looks like it’s feeding that philosophy.
February 9th, 2026 at 9:24 am
lol
February 9th, 2026 at 9:24 am
See you Mike
It been a nice run
Go to a team that will throw th ball to this HOF receiver
Not
Falling back to some 20 year old pound that rock philosophy….
February 9th, 2026 at 9:25 am
So, Bowles is surprisingly still the Buccaneers head coach, right? So, what (or who) is preventing him from “getting his philosophy back in”?
February 9th, 2026 at 9:29 am
Philosophy is different then execution. Having the philosophy of being great and is different from executing being great.
February 9th, 2026 at 9:32 am
Captain obvious!
February 9th, 2026 at 9:33 am
The Bucs defense at no time even resembles Seattle’s.
February 9th, 2026 at 9:34 am
Joe Says:
“A Rachaad White replacement, better offensive line backups and an upgrade at tight end should help the run game.”
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While that is true, those things will also help the passing game, so those things need to be done regardless of philosophy.
February 9th, 2026 at 9:35 am
“The Bucs defense at no time even resembles Seattle’s.”
But our offense has looked like both offenses did last night. All that punting in the first half? Felt like the watching the Lions game all over again
February 9th, 2026 at 9:36 am
Drama queen commenters lol
February 9th, 2026 at 9:37 am
Where is he going to get the defense part of the equation?
February 9th, 2026 at 9:38 am
Well at least Buc fans got a chance to see what an Outstanding Defense can do and looks like. They shut Drake May completely down in the 1st half. So you see, Great Defense does win the Championship, Buc Fans. But you won’t see a great Defense under Bowles. Sorry, maybe the coach after him.
February 9th, 2026 at 9:39 am
This site has lost all touch with reality.
February 9th, 2026 at 9:39 am
lol we don’t have a defense
February 9th, 2026 at 9:40 am
draft OG with our 1st pick will go a long way to keeping baker clean and improving the run game
GO BUCS!!!!
February 9th, 2026 at 9:41 am
Don’t forget defensive tackle and nose guard type beasts. At least a couple or three.
February 9th, 2026 at 9:42 am
Bucs will see that team twice a year in Stefanski and the falcons now ..
February 9th, 2026 at 9:43 am
The Bucs beat the Seahawks and damn near beat the Pats this season. How could the leadership let the team fall so far the 2nd half of the season????
February 9th, 2026 at 9:44 am
No comprendo. Running is up to his OC and his D sux. This coach is unrehabable. Give him the Bad Bunny Coach Award.
February 9th, 2026 at 9:46 am
Defense??? What are you talking about Joe? The Bucs defense is awful. How does that validate anything for Todd Bowles.
February 9th, 2026 at 9:55 am
Any defensive philosophy should begin with believing in a pass rush. Can’t skip
step one and expect to win. And we haven’t.
February 9th, 2026 at 9:57 am
The Bucs beat the Super Bowl champs by passing and forcing turnovers.
February 9th, 2026 at 10:02 am
Those were two exceptionally organized, prepared, and coached teams last night.
February 9th, 2026 at 10:09 am
at least two of Seattles dominant defensive line were FA signings and again the dominant D Line won the game . These players were available to every team in the league , GM John S was just willing to sign them . Very similar to Brad Johnson s QB win with big smart FA signings and trades with great Cap Management .
I mean, take a minute and compare the current Bucs defensive line to Seattle’s defensive line. I don’t think one Bucs player starts on that defensive line. They would be a rotational player. Yaya would be like number six and on the verge being cut…….. sorry Kancey is not physical enough to start on that line either
February 9th, 2026 at 10:09 am
Running The Ball And Defense Won The Super Bowl
Yes, so make a trade for Jim Schwartz and make him the DC and keep Todd Bowles as HC
February 9th, 2026 at 10:10 am
Running the ball didn’t beat Carolina
February 9th, 2026 at 10:12 am
Unfortunately we will never see another Super Bowl with this dope in charge
February 9th, 2026 at 10:16 am
Nobody should be shocked. Bowles said from the beginning he wanted to run the ball. It’s his decision if that’s what he wants to do. The OC has to come up with the best way to do what Bowles says.
February 9th, 2026 at 10:22 am
The Bucs need to find players both in the draft and free agency. 2026 is there Super Bowl run.
Need includes a physical running back, outside rushers and interior linebackers. GO GET THEM BUCS.
February 9th, 2026 at 10:32 am
We’ll never be in a better cap situation than we are right now, finally got rid of the last $29 million left over from Jensen and Shaq, we should be able to sign a few top notch people
February 9th, 2026 at 10:37 am
Wow that’s correct
I see it differently now
Bowles will get his philosophy put in and the Bucs will get some player help
This Coach will take us into the NFC championship or maybe Superbowl
He hasn’t with either of his teams
BUT THIS YEAR HE WILL PUT IN HOS PHILOSOPHY
JUST imagine if he did that the other 8 years as a HC
February 9th, 2026 at 10:40 am
And how does Bucs roster of players and coaches exactly resemble anything close to Super Bowl worthy defensively? HUGE difference is what Hawks built through the draft on defense. Go look at it. Something we have not done. Then of course is the head coach, scheme, etc. Night and day.
February 9th, 2026 at 10:51 am
Always does !
But a top notch passing game gets you the the Super Bowl
February 9th, 2026 at 10:54 am
Bowles defense is a joke compared to Seattle’s. If Sunday’s game showed Todd anything is how pathetic he is as a defensive coach. His hand picked players on defense are a joke too.
February 9th, 2026 at 10:58 am
The Bucs defense sucks so bad,
Not because of system or coaching
Their problem is simpke and clear
They are too Small, way way too small
Look at the safeties Winfield, Smith, Izien,
The three of them are 5’10 200 lbs or less
The ILB all 6’1 235 lbs or less
The Corners are 6′ 1 200 or less
Even Kancey, Hall, Roberts are under 300 Lbs
My High School (Lakeland High( are bigger than these players
Who can they actually stop?
They are too weak and too light in their britches
February 9th, 2026 at 11:02 am
Good defense, effective playcalling and adjustments win games what does that have to do Todd he doesn’t do any of that.
February 9th, 2026 at 11:03 am
So funny watching the game. NE looked just like the Bucs. NE’s Oline looked like ours with our third string backups. Maye didn’t even have time
to set up. Seattles defense is exactly why you need killers on the Dline and a secondary the plays tight coverages. Oh, and
NE’s play calling looked like Grizzard was calling the plays. I thought the Bucs changed uniforms and were playing in the SB…lol.
February 9th, 2026 at 11:05 am
I know they were small and quick during Dungy, Monte Kiffin era
And they were great
But that was 25-30 years ago
The game of football has evolved since then
Offensive players are much bigger and stronger now
February 9th, 2026 at 11:10 am
Great coaching and game management won a Super Bowl. All things that Bowles struggle with.
February 9th, 2026 at 11:16 am
It is sad to think that our D is just waiting for bowles to implement his “philosophy”. What is even sadder is knowing that Baker got himself beat up all season trying to bail out said philosophy. Give me a break!
February 9th, 2026 at 11:17 am
Trade VV if possible
This roster has SO MANY holes and crested players it should scare the Pewter out of everyone!
There was NOTHING in the playoffs and Super Bowl that reminded me of individual Buc players much less the overall team!
Oh !
and then there is Todd .500 Bowels
We don’t even have a #1 running back.. could go on but I am depressing myself.
Wake the Phuck Up Buc fans!
February 9th, 2026 at 11:17 am
Bowles is a joke!
February 9th, 2026 at 11:21 am
The biggest issue is Bowles philosophy on defense doesn’t work. I don’t believe his patented “Cover None” would work in pee-wee ball.
For Walker getting the MVP and running backs in general it would not surprise me to see the NFL start using running backs more again, especially bigger physical ones. The way the league has changed and nobody on defenses having great tackling skills any longer I can see a shift to the running backs just abusing them until they start tackling again.
February 9th, 2026 at 11:21 am
Zero Chance Bowzo gets to Super Bowl. No No No. Fertgit it. Do not even try to hype it up this off season. Do not go there. All the fans on the run the Glazers turned in to Bowzo critics. No mercy for Bowzo.
As awful as this Super Bowl was along with Bad Bunny and the Flag Bowl The NFC South battle will be better actual football. Bowzo Bucs will battle to stay out of 4th place.
Bring on the Stanks, Panters, and Chicks games.
February 9th, 2026 at 11:21 am
Why can’t the offense run the ball well AND pass the ball well and do whichever is necessary to win the game ? That’s likely what will be necessary since the defense can’t sack the QB or tackle.
February 9th, 2026 at 11:23 am
Problem is boring superbowl people dont like boring
February 9th, 2026 at 11:24 am
…..YOU PLAY TO YOUR TEAM’S STRENGTHS. The Bucs have 4 starting caliber receivers, we dont need to turn in to the God Damn 1990 Giants with Otis Anderson. Yes there are fundamental values that stand the test of time, (not turning the ball over, field position, red zone defense) but if the Rams and Seahawks played 10 more times the Rams win half. Big difference between Matthew Stafford & Puka and that weak Pats team whom absolutely was not the best team in the AFC. There is more than one way to win that trophy. Be great at what youre good at….
February 9th, 2026 at 11:29 am
Next year is going to suck.
February 9th, 2026 at 11:33 am
The main thing that is being left out is the NFC Championship game when the Seahawks defense gave up 37 points and Sam Donald played good and he didn’t throw 4th quarter picks like Baker Mayfield does.
February 9th, 2026 at 11:35 am
Mike Johnson – Drake Maye got shut down for 99% of the game, garbage time stats, when the game is completely out of hand don’t count as far as im concerned. Atleast they shouldnt. New England pathetically (albeit understandably) wanted that final score to be 29-20 instead of 29-7. Football and basketball are the absolute worst when it comes to inflated numbers that dont depict how the game really played out, and as a proxy – is why hard rock, fan duel, draft kings etc make hand over fist on player props.
February 9th, 2026 at 11:37 am
Joetoxicfan. Com
February 9th, 2026 at 11:37 am
Gofortheface30, I totally agree. Find the strength of your players and accentuate that. That is not what I saw this past season vita dropping into coverage? Give me a break! As long as we have this clueless HC/DC, we will never be more than mediocre.
February 9th, 2026 at 11:39 am
I think it will be interesting to see how much help Bowles gets from the Glazers.
If they trade for Crosby or make another SPLASH then I think they are willing to arm Bowles with whats needed.
If its another bargain basement deals episode and we simply fill needs, then I think the Glazers are looking to next year already.
Cap goes up but they don’t have to spend it right now with huge deals.
Don’t have to kick the can if your coach sucks.
We can resign Baker now for cheaper than he will be next year.
We can restructure and come up with close to $90 Million.
Let’s see what happens .
February 9th, 2026 at 11:43 am
Bucs defensive players can’t tackle anyone, because they are too light and weak
Bucky suppose to be our RB!1, he looks like a high school RB
That pound the ball philosophy will never work with this team
February 9th, 2026 at 11:44 am
Bowles has one more year. I contend the Glazers,are in save money mode because,their other Football team is bleeding money and building a new stadium in Manchester. They did not want to pay Bowles for sitting around.
February 9th, 2026 at 11:49 am
“Running the ball didn’t beat Carolina”
Which Carolina game? The one we lost by 3, we held the ball 15 minutes of than the panthers offense, and down 3 with 49 seconds left in the game. Our offense tossed a pick at the CAR 42.
“The Bucs have 4 starting caliber receivers, we dont need to turn in to the God Damn 1990 Giants with Otis Anderson.”
Stupid take. It’s like just working on your upper body and totally ignoring your entirety because you want to focus on ONE thing, now you’re walking around wit a barrell chest and legs like IKEA coffee table because “play to your strength’
You score 123 less points than you did in 2024, when you had a top 10 run game, and your offense falls off a cliff as the run game sputters, than guess what silly? YOUR RUN GAME IS A STRENGTH
Just to drive it home, we ranked 29th in yards per pass attempt in 2024, and ranked 10th in YAC in the same damn year.
February 9th, 2026 at 12:15 pm
We desperately need a RB1
I hate to be Mr Pessimistic
But Bucky Irving is not a RB1
He’s a good change of pace RB, but definitely not a RB1
And we need quality depth at the OG/OC position
Then we can discuss the (Pound and Ground) attack
February 9th, 2026 at 12:21 pm
Drake May is just in his second year and he got to a Superbowl and not to mention he missed the MVP by one vote he will be a good quarterback. Our problem is our defense has to be great every game because of our quarterback. We wouldn’t have won the NFC Championship if our defense gave up 37 points.
February 9th, 2026 at 12:29 pm
Oneilbuc,
Just like l said, this team is wayyy to small
Mayfield is very small for a NFL QB, with small hands
Tez weigh 155 lbs, soak and wet
Bucky weigh less than a 185 lbs
We’re dwarfs on offense, defense, special teams
February 9th, 2026 at 12:29 pm
Defense has been winning championships consistently throughout time and eras. The game is also reff’d differently in the playoffs to allow for this vs the regular season.
We won a sb with an elite defense both times. We won’t win another one without anything other than elite D.
February 9th, 2026 at 12:31 pm
They list Bucky at 195, but l don’t see it
February 9th, 2026 at 12:34 pm
Good running and Great defense won the Super Bowl.
Bucs have neither.
February 9th, 2026 at 12:39 pm
So now for 2 years we have beaten the superbowl winners. Now all we need is for someone, preferably a coach, to prepare the team and have them ready to make that legitimate run. We have the pieces but someone has to make ALL THOSE INDIVIDUAL PIECES WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM. As soon as that happens we will be in the running.
February 9th, 2026 at 12:42 pm
Yes, running the ball and the “#1 ranked defense” won the Super Bowl.
You forgot a pretty important caveat there. Bowles hasnt called a game as aggressively as Macdonald did in that game in a long, long time. Corners up on the ball for probably 3/4 of the game. Even when Bowles had the horses to call that type of game a few years ago, he didnt have the cods to actually do it. Bowles calls 1st and 2nd down run blitzes way more than he calls 3rd down pass rush blitzes. Hell, most 3rd downs he’s dropping rushers into the curl/flat.
February 9th, 2026 at 12:49 pm
But we don’t play Defense !
February 9th, 2026 at 12:57 pm
gofortheface30 Says:
There is more than one way to win that trophy. Be great at what youre good at….
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That is absolutely true!!
If Evans & Godwin come back and are at 100% along with our other receivers, our o-line is healthy, and we upgrade the TE position, our offense has the potential to be great. And if they reached that point, all we would need is an average defense to be dangerous.
This past season, lots of people with BDS (Bowles Derangement Syndrome) believe the Bucs had the worst defense in the NFL, but the truth of the matter is that they only gave up 3 points more per game on average than the Rams.
I’m not claiming the Bucs defense was anything other than awful, but if some talent is added via free agency and the draft, they have a chance to at least be average.
Zac Robinson destroyed the Bucs defense multiple times. It will benefit Bowles by having to practice against his new OC in the preseason. He knows he’s got to tweak his scheme to prevent being destroyed in practice daily. 😉
February 9th, 2026 at 12:58 pm
I get a fan site trying to put a positive spin a on a lame duck, subpar, mediocre failure of a HC but it is a waste if time, energy and effort….
IBS has shown us what kind of HC HE IS (A bad one) and he will remain that way until he retires…
He has become a BAD DC so even he is regressing!
February 9th, 2026 at 12:58 pm
SB~LV … ‘But a top notch passing game gets you the Super Bowl’.
Hmmm, New England had the #4 ranked Passing Game this past season (4258 yds – 31 TDs – 8 INTs – 72.0% completion rate).
In the 1st qtr of the Super Bowl, Maye was 4-for-5 gaining 34 yds passing, but losing 20 yds on 2 sacks.
In the 2nd qtr, Maye was 2-for-6 gaining 14 yds, but losing another 10 yds on 1 more sack.
In the 3rd qtr, Maye went 2-for-7, gaining another 12 yds passing, but then losing 9 yds on 2 more sacks.
After 3 qtrs, Patriots had 0 pts and May was 8-of-18 for 60 yds passing, but had been sacked 5 times for 39 yds. And after 3 qtrs the score was 19-0 Seattle.
Maye did considerably better in the 4th qtr, if you exclude his 2 INTs of course. His best pass of the night was to Uchenna Nwosu for 45 yds and a TD. Unfortunately for Drake, Nwosu is a Seattle linebacker.
Oh and it might be worth mentioning that Seattle had the #1 ranked defense this past year. Yup, the very same defense that the Bucs laid 38 pts on back on October 5th when we beat them 38-35. Oh and in case anyone doesn’t remember HOW we won, Bucs tied it 35-35 with 1:08 to go in the game. We kicked off to Seattle, then 2 plays later LVD intercepted Darnold and took it to the Seattle 35. Three consecutive rushes by Rachaad gained 15 yds, then McLaughlin kicked the winning FG with 3 secs left.
Might be wrong, but I think they used to call that playing COMPLEMENTARY FOOTBALL.
February 9th, 2026 at 1:01 pm
It’s very comical, how the head coach keeps his job, but the rest of the coaches are replaced. When has that ever happened?
5 years of bad defense is apparently not enough proof that Todd Bowles’s defense sucks!
They’re telling us that it’s everyone else’s fault but Todd Bowles
February 9th, 2026 at 1:04 pm
I agree with Tye like 100% of the time – what he said. Bowles knows how to do neither!
February 9th, 2026 at 1:09 pm
Sure that concept works.
But you have to have the right players and scheme.
Th Bucs have neither.
February 9th, 2026 at 1:12 pm
Patrick Says:
It’s very comical, how the head coach keeps his job, but the rest of the coaches are replaced. When has that ever happened?
5 years of bad defense is apparently not enough proof that Todd Bowles’s defense sucks!
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What’s comical IMO are takes like that.
5 years of bad defense?? Was it bad when we held the Chiefs to zero TD’s in the Super Bowl?
Was it bad in 2023 when the Bucs defense was Top 10 in the number of points per game they allowed opponents to have?
Clearly, the defense was really bad this past season, and Bowles was part of the problem. But not the whole problem. Our talent level dropped. We lost Carlton Davis and lost others to injury (Kancey & Walker).
An infusion via the draft and free agency, plus getting Kancey & Walker back, will help (if they can stay on the field)
February 9th, 2026 at 1:13 pm
And our offense was equally, or more, AWOL. 🙈
February 9th, 2026 at 1:13 pm
^^^^^….An infusion of talent…
February 9th, 2026 at 1:19 pm
Those teams had what are considered good coaches. Unlike the Bucs.
February 9th, 2026 at 1:20 pm
Running the ball and defense won bc the pass rush was stout. When you have 4 wrs, you need to use them. Running the ball is important but when the pass rush is getting there then it becomes more important.
February 9th, 2026 at 1:23 pm
Bowles defense can’t cover 💩. Bowles defense is a glorified pressure package more than half the time. If they want to be great, they need a base or figure out something they are great at to check to when the offense knows what pressure is coming at them
February 9th, 2026 at 1:39 pm
They could have helped out the defense tremendously but they decided to keep dead weight Todd.
February 9th, 2026 at 1:40 pm
Info for the challenged.
Seattle played 90% zone. They also drop linemen into coverage @ times when they blitz (like most teams).
The difference is Seattle has stocked up on top D talent and we’ve been trying to restock offense 1st.
Unfortunately I doubt anyone who’d regularly refer to our coach as Bowels instead of Todd Bolwes lacks the intellectual capacity to see, or even understand that.
February 9th, 2026 at 1:44 pm
Warrenbrrokslynch – spare me your workout analogies, no one ever said that the Bucs should abandon the run game. No one ever said that they shouldn’t have an effective run game. Are you dense? Has going to ICE protests, listening to Bad Bunny, and defending all the moralizing dem PDF Files on the Epstein list turn your to mush?
February 9th, 2026 at 1:44 pm
What’s crazy is our offense destroyed their number 1 defense. Before the collapse of the decade we had it going on. No reason we can’t get back to that and better with some new talent and upgraded positions. Beef up and get nasty on the dline , add some LBs who can cover and rush the passer and defense is back at it. Offense doesn’t need much. I’m not with Joe on we need to get rid of Otton. If you can upgrade do it but that’s not a priority over the defense.
February 9th, 2026 at 1:46 pm
If only everyone else besides Todd Bowles didn’t suck.
February 9th, 2026 at 1:46 pm
Also JOE and the other bellyachers McDonald had his best edge rusher dropping into coverage and covering people. Go back and watch.
February 9th, 2026 at 1:52 pm
“Maye did considerably better in the 4th.” You mean when Seattle had the game locked up and were playing even more off to let the clock run. 6 minutes to go when its 29-7 doesnt count. Garbage stats, empty calories. He was like 11-24 for 118 with a half a quarter to go when the game was over – that is the accurate reflection of the pure ass kicking Seattle handed them
February 9th, 2026 at 1:53 pm
One more year of darkness. The defense will provide more
RINSE AND REPEAT in the coming season.
2027 the sun will come out. HC will be Zac Robinson!!!!!
February 9th, 2026 at 2:05 pm
“Bowles hasnt called a game as aggressively as Macdonald did in that game in a long, long time.”
Being able to rush 4 and keep 7 in the grass isn’t aggressive at all, in fact some here refer to it as “soft prevent zone defense” which is a mouthful.
February 9th, 2026 at 2:14 pm
gofortheface30 … “Maye did considerably better in the 4th.”
It was a simple statement.
After 3 qtrs, Maye was 8-of-18 for 60 yds passing, but had been sacked 5 times for 39 yds.
In the 4th qtr he was 19-of-23 for 235 yds with 2 TDs, 2 INTs & 1 sack for 4 yds.
Nothing in there about garbage time stats or empty calories. Seahawks had the game won easily by the end of the 3rd qtr.
I say again … it was a simple statement. But if your point is that DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS, I’d say that Seattle’s win goes a long way towards proving that. I’d also that their defense showed everyone how good a 3-4 CAN BE with the right talent & the right coaching.