About Those Midseason Slumps
February 26th, 2026
Annual toe-stubbing.
Todd Bowles is still searching. And he has yet to find an answer.
In the past three seasons, the Bucs have had a four-game losing streak. The first times the ugly streak came midseason. Last year it was in the second half after the bye week.
In Bowles’ first season as head coach, with Tom Brady guiding the pirate ship, the Bucs never had a four-game losing streak, but they did lose five of six games.
So, what the hell is going on? Are Bowles’ players getting too confident after a few wins and think they can just show up, roll out a football and win? Do teams adjust to whatever the Bucs are doing and are slow to adjust? It’s a mystery Bowles has confessed he does not know the answer to.
But, Bowles said, blame him.
“Can’t pinpoint why it has been happening but I know it has been happening,” Bowles said. “We lost some very tough games last year, especially toward the end of the season.
“We were in every one of them. I’m not going to blame it on injuries or anything else.”
Bowles is pretty confident that how the Bucs finish games is the difference in winning or losing. He sort of wagged a finger at Joe for suggesting the Bucs may have been the hottest team in the league after beating Houston and Seattle on the road and San Francisco at home.
Bowles told Joe the Bucs were winning those games because of the way they closed out games and that did not happen in November and December.
“You have to find a way to finish games and that’s on me and everybody else [with the Bucs],” Bowles said. “We are all disappointed.”
How does Bowles accomplish this? Hold back special plays until the fourth quarter? Have longer practices to develop stamina? Joe is just throwing out ideas.
It’s weird that with all the veteran coaches Bowles has had on his staff, no one can solve why the Bucs played bad late in games, fueling losing streaks.
February 26th, 2026 at 4:13 am
What???? You mean he did not mention how the offensive coordinator and other coaches let the team down? Because he sure as heck made sure to let everyone know that it was them and the players’ fault and not his. To paraphrase the late Dennis Green, “Todd Bowles is what we thought he was”. We will never win a championship with him as the head coach. And if the Glazers claim that is all that matters, well, they are truly delusional in keeping him on.
February 26th, 2026 at 4:43 am
Death, taxes, and the inevitable mid-season fall from grace. A Bowles led team guarantee.
It’s undeserved arrogance. Bowles oozes it, and apparently its catching. Blame the things around you, but don’t look inward.
February 26th, 2026 at 4:55 am
Looking in a mirror would be a good start!
February 26th, 2026 at 4:58 am
IIRC the 2023 and ‘24 streaks were loss s at the hands of top-tier teams. Those streaks said that the Bucs were not ready for prime time yet. Then they went on to beat up lesser teams in divisional play. No shame, but those streaks told us who we were.
Last year was different. The team showed it was on-par with the best in the league. And then they weren’t. Last year’s streak featured a stretch of losses to bottom-feeders and cellar-dwellers, including teams in the division. The exact kind of teams that the Bucs got well against in previous seasons. And their late season wins were by narrow margins against what seemed to be inferior teams.
So were the Bucs the team that beat the Texans, Seahawks and 49ers? Or were they the ones who stumbled on the Dolphins and Saints?
My opinion: Something happened in the Philly and especially the Detroit games. Both those teams and in particular the Lions are known for physical play. It’s said around the League that it takes a few weeks to recover after facing Detroit. Something broke and the Bucs were not the same quality thereafter.
It gives some hope because the team really was a contender in early October. It gives us some dread because the team played tail-end ball the last half of the season. The Bucs can be great. They are not now. They have to get more physical.
February 26th, 2026 at 5:13 am
Really? He didn’t notice who was out? Bredeson was injured with a hamstring week 10. We lost all those games. He came back week 13 and we won. He then injured his knee week 14 (loss) and was out the rest of the year- all losses except week 18 we got lucky. The combination of both guards out was a complete catastrophe for our offense. Our stats fell off too. Both running and passing. It’s really simple and takes only a moment of reflection to get a sense of what happened. You could see it on the field with how much and how fast defensive line penetration was happening against us. Sheesh.
February 26th, 2026 at 5:23 am
…and of course we lost Evans in the Detroit game but even that isn’t as huge of a loss as having no interior offensive line and watching our “guards” get shoved into Mayfield’s lap on *every* play.
February 26th, 2026 at 5:52 am
Have to outsmart the other team. Play by play. That simple. Bowles cant adjust his TV set
February 26th, 2026 at 6:10 am
“no one can solve why we played bad late in games”. If we listen to the last two podcasts and the interviews with the coach and GM, along with the analysis of our Joes and Ira, the conclusion is we weren’t good enough. JL wasn’t afraid to point out the injuries while stressing his determination to improve our team depth and defensive shortcomings. I think his thoughts on the edge rush had to make Joe sleep well. The reason we haven’t had a good edge rush has nothing to do with Todd thinking an edge rush isn’t important. We have to be patient and wait for the right edge rushers to be born. Simple. I’m about to lose my patience.
February 26th, 2026 at 6:18 am
I believe him when he says he can’t pinpoint it.
And that’s the issue.
I would imagine it’s something or something(s) he is or isn’t doing as the leader of the program with his coaches and players. Could be as simple as empowering them or not empowering them in certain respects. I don’t know but it’s something that good leaders can eventually identify. He’s now had 7 seasons I think in total where he’s been the head guy of a program. You don’t just wake up one day and figure it out.
February 26th, 2026 at 6:25 am
The reason it’s a problem is this guy is just not a good head coach. This is not a mystery.
February 26th, 2026 at 6:25 am
Ladies and Gentleman, please welcome the “King of Excuses”, the “Master of Blaming Others”, the “Undisputed Champion of Under-the-Bus Throws”, Tooooooood Bowleeeeessss!!!
February 26th, 2026 at 6:37 am
Another photo of The Sideline Stiff
February 26th, 2026 at 6:40 am
How u finish games. How u finish halves. Hmmmm notice a freaking trend joe. ???
Both of them stink. This team in key situations especially defense are terrible
And its on him. And the soft mentality that this team has. These guys are not hungry. Im telling you. Its the lack of intensity from start to finish and the one word I hate the most.
Complacency. And its filled this roster. Not enough of them are pissed off enough at the absolute disgusting play this team showed last year. Pathetic is really the word. And these guts have for years read their own press clippings and gkt their ass beat on every single night and prime time game. Its all intertwined. All of it. Trade Winfield now honestly. If u can get a first round pick id grab styles and messidor in the first now and be done with his overrated ass. This team needs a Ruben bain a guy that is relentless. What i saw last year was quitters once they got scored on they just gushed like a stuck pig.
February 26th, 2026 at 6:59 am
The Glazers are to blame for this. “We like the guy” is a horrible reason to keep a coach who’s players absolutely quit on him. After the bye this team had no life. No fire. No emotion. No will to win. Then the “guy we like” has the nerve to say I can’t pinpoint why we have these monumental collapses. P A T H E T I C.
February 26th, 2026 at 7:08 am
I listened to JL on WDAE. All he said about TB is that everyone likes him in the building. Is being liked equal to being a successful HC? Tell that to Parcells, Noll, Johnson… This season is the prove it year for TB and JL. Either they will or they won’t. To the owners, you are about to lose your fan base should this season end like the last one. We are NOT impressed with winning the pathetic NFC South particularly with a 9-8 record. Massive improvement must be made. You’re losing us as well as games.
February 26th, 2026 at 7:14 am
nice guys come in last…
if bowles hasnt “pinpointed” why we continue to have these slumps year after year, then he’s 2 or 3 years from putting it all together just like Grizz!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
February 26th, 2026 at 7:23 am
Yeah … blame me says coach Bowles but fire my staff while I stick around to try and figure it out . Meh ….
February 26th, 2026 at 7:24 am
“That’s on me AND EVERYONE ELSE.”
NEVER stand next to Bowles at a bus stop. He’ll throw you under.
February 26th, 2026 at 7:25 am
StPeteMatt … Bredeson played 100% of the offensive snaps in 9 games last season; our record in those games was 7-2. He was injured early-on in 2 other games plus missed 6 other games; our record in those 8 games was 1-7.
It might be coincidence, OR it might be that Ben really is THAT important to the success of our OLine. Personally I think it’s the latter, because he appears to be their LEADER on the field. And off.
February 26th, 2026 at 7:25 am
He knows why he just didn’t want to say it to you. His defense always becomes predictable after a month and once you have the tendencies down it’s over. Having no pass rush makes it even worse
February 26th, 2026 at 7:30 am
We squeaked by the first 2 games for wins. Had we lost both we wouldn’t have had to wait for the mid slump. We’re a .500 team. Does it really matter how we get there?
February 26th, 2026 at 8:22 am
The man inspires mediocrity, what do you expect?
February 26th, 2026 at 8:36 am
I’m with Lou, in that it’s partly the schedule. The Bucs had late season divisional games that they used to win, and hence the ‘end of season streaks’. The middle of the season schedule has non-divisional teams that the Bucs struggle against.
Also the losses against Detroit and the Rams provided blueprints for beating the Bucs. Bowles and Griz didn’t react and out-coach opponents. The Rams beat down also crushed the team’s confidence.
This past season, offensive injuries hurt. The defense can’t rush the passer in the 4th qtr to close out games. I don’t think the secondary is that bad but the lack of pass rush is killing the secondary.
February 26th, 2026 at 8:53 am
Bowles rubs their backs and tells them everything will be alright after a loss.
He needs to break a stick off in their asses this year after every loss and treat the next game like a playoff game.
You’re not there to make friends with the players, Coach.
February 26th, 2026 at 8:54 am
This is a disturbing pattern. Fans are giving reasons for this season’s collapse, but what about the previous years? I think what separates this year from others is that the team looked like it had completely given up. Like another poster stated, no fire and no passion whatsoever.
February 26th, 2026 at 8:55 am
What a good laugh? Bowles was quoted in the Times this morning that the reason the defense was NOT as productive is HE spent so much time helping out the OFFENSE! If true, that is the reason the offense took a plundge. Can we just please get the 2026 season over so the Glaziers will do what should have been done last year.
February 26th, 2026 at 9:38 am
He still doesn’t know the answer but they bring him back again that’s absolutely fantastic amazing what an amazing group of owners honestly.
February 26th, 2026 at 9:48 am
Watching the 2 teams in the Super Bowl had one thing that really stood out. They both played with intensity which the Bucs lacked. Without intensity the Buccaneers will not return to the Super Bowl.
Todd Bowles needs to find a way to instill that X Factor. It’s harder for quieter people to accomplish that but it can and has been done. It’s all on Todd Bowles and his entire coaching staff.
February 26th, 2026 at 10:40 am
“Start strong” + “real football starts in December” = mid season slump. It’s mental. Change minds, asses follow.
February 26th, 2026 at 10:44 am
Don’t think I’ve seen an answer from Bowles that ends at “that’s on me”. That constant need to spread the blame to his assistants, players, etc. just shows a total lack of accountability and a weak ass mindset imo. You’re the HC for god sake, man up and take it!!