Todd Bowles Says He Got “Greedy”
October 9th, 2026
Todd Bowles says he got caught up in wanting to bury Dallas last night and made the wrong call.
Leading 24-10 with 8:36 remaining facing a 4th-and-goal on the Dallas 1 yard line, Bowles opted to punt on the easy field goal and try to run Sean Tucker in for a touchdown. It failed inches from glory.
Dallas quickly marched back for a touchdown. It became a one-score game with about 5:30 remaining and the Bucs nearly vomited up a “W.”
Joe admits to loving the call at the time. Perhaps Joe is still foolish enough to believe the Bucs can find a yard at will running behind Tristan Wirfs.
Today, Bowles acknowledged he played it wrong.
“I knew three was better,” Bowles said. “You know, in my head, the way we were running the ball and, you know, the way we were playing defense, I thought I’d put the dagger in right there. It was completely on me. And I knew we should have went up three points and got greedy and went for it. The defense made a play at the end to bail us out. But that was definitely on me.”
Winning, of course, is the great deodorant. The Bucs almost tried to hand the Cowboys the win. Jalon Daniels threw a dangerous out route that could have been intercepted. The Bucs grinded to a halt with a 3-and-out after Dallas made it a one-score game.
Joe appreciated Bowles being candid on the goal line run call.
October 9th, 2026 at 1:51 pm
An incredibly stupid decision, and had the Bucs ended up losing the game, Bowles should have been fired before he even got on the team bus.
How Turtle Todd choose that moment to man up and be aggressive, when it literally didn’t help you in any way, is beyond dumb.
October 9th, 2026 at 1:53 pm
I’m ok with that call finally a little energy into his lifeless coaching
October 9th, 2026 at 1:54 pm
Nice to see the honesty, refreshing
October 9th, 2026 at 1:55 pm
Todd Bowles said…..the way we were playing defense
That’s the key
We have been playing good defense all season
Most of the commenters on here thought Dallas would hang 50 on us
We held them to 16
That’s good, solid defense
Especially when you have to travel on 3 day rest
October 9th, 2026 at 1:56 pm
I’m not a Bowles defender, but the people who say he doesn’t take accountability are usually too full of blind rage to recognize the truth. Just because he’s a terrible HC doesn’t mean you have to hurl every unfounded accusation against him. That’s just weak minded and dishonest. Bowles is not a good head coach. But he’s a decent, honest man. Be respectful.
October 9th, 2026 at 1:57 pm
Exhibit A why Todd Bowles will never be an average HC. It’s common sense to kick the FG there but Bowles simply doesn’t know how to read a game.
Last nights decision was HC malpractice and if it wasn’t for the Cowboys DB dropping the pick 6 this would’ve been one of his top 3 blunders.
October 9th, 2026 at 1:59 pm
Better to have tried and failed than never to try at all.
Y’all would have been talking all week about “conservative Bolwes” if he had gone for the three. Besides, I think he really did it for the players. It had “I believe in You!” written all over it.
It would have been so great if they made it.
October 9th, 2026 at 2:00 pm
@Timon 💯
October 9th, 2026 at 2:01 pm
He finally told the truth for once. He must still be in shock from the upset win.
That said, really stupid call. And it mattered, Dallas was one pick-6 drop from tying it up.
October 9th, 2026 at 2:01 pm
“But he’s a decent, honest man. Be respectful.”
How do you know? He could be a real jerk at home…
October 9th, 2026 at 2:04 pm
This was actually the best case scenario- we get the win but still come out of this game with no doubt that Bowles is a terrible head coach and needs to be fired between now and the end of the year.
It is obvious that we have the talent to win, but between the penalties and this crucial game management decision, it couldn’t be more apparent that coaching is holding this team back. Oh yeah, and no f*****g sacks!
October 9th, 2026 at 2:04 pm
I was all for going for it. The stats might show kick the field goal, but good football says run it.
October 9th, 2026 at 2:05 pm
I mean, we want a team with a killer instinct right? Can’t really have it both ways.
October 9th, 2026 at 2:05 pm
@87…
Okay, his public persona and the respect players appear to have for him say he’s a good man. No way of knowing about his personal life. But I think if you ask the Joes what they think of him personally, having dealt with him, they’d agree. So, don’t be a d1ck just to be a d1ck.
October 9th, 2026 at 2:06 pm
@Timon…With 200 yards rushing the gamble was well worth it No problem trying to lay the hammer..Great call by Bowles ! Man up at 0-4 ..You know have some balls!!
October 9th, 2026 at 2:06 pm
Yeah being up by 3 scores instead of 2 that late in the game is potentially crucial. Early in the game, that decision is fine but not late. I hope he learned his lesson and never makes that mistake again. It’s all about possessions and how much time you can burn with each one.
October 9th, 2026 at 2:07 pm
The field goal was all the dagger that was required. Bad coaching, of course he had to own it.
Had Bland not dropped the Pick 6 we would be having a completely different day. Bad coaching with his experience level really shouldn’t happen.
October 9th, 2026 at 2:08 pm
The team needed it !
Yeah I was nervous about it afterwards but
F’ it !
You can’t stomp on the opponent’s neck if you don’t stomp on the opponents neck!
The team needed it !
October 9th, 2026 at 2:08 pm
It’s not even common sense – it’s simple math. They would have been up 3 scores with 8 1/2 minutes left. Assume, Dallas takes 3 1/2 minutes to go down the field and score twice, that’s 7 minutes. Tampa would have at least 2 possessions in between. Dallas uses the 3 time outs on one possession, so If Tampa runs 6 times, that’s 3 minutes. Game over. That was Atlanta Falcons SB choke level of stupidity.
October 9th, 2026 at 2:09 pm
Don ansyHopes are right. If the defensive back pulls off this pick six, we haven’t really decent chance of losing that game. Talk about coaching malpractice!. Colon cowherd said that the odds if you kick the field goal for the Cowboys to the win would be 1396 to one that sort of sums it up.
October 9th, 2026 at 2:13 pm
He still sucks and needs to be gone.
October 9th, 2026 at 2:14 pm
Ok, I haven’t been a Bowles fan but I get why he went for the touchdown. Granted the smart play was the field goal, but if they would have scored a TD on that play everyone would have been saying what a great call that was.
October 9th, 2026 at 2:21 pm
I loved the idea of the call, too! But do the simple math, Todd. 17 point lead! Three scores! Come on! Had the Bucs lost due to that silly call, I think the Glazers would have had to fire him.
October 9th, 2026 at 2:22 pm
Early in the game…absolutely….but with 8:38 make it a three score game….what are you saying to your team…..I believe you can’t hold a 17 point lead…..
October 9th, 2026 at 2:22 pm
It feels like he made the call to silence the people who think he’s too conservative. Except he did it at a time he SHOULD have been conservative.
October 9th, 2026 at 2:25 pm
Of all times for him to finally be “aggressive” when all the aggression needed was to kick the chip shot and go up 3 scores with 8 minutes left. I told my wife as soon as he chose to go for it, we were going to get stuffed, after which we’d be in prevent, Dallas would march down the field and score. We’d be in an obvious running situation so we’d run 3 times to make them burn their timeouts but go nowhere, we’d punt, Dallas would have 3 and a half minutes left with no timeouts to march down the field for the tying touchdown. It pretty much played out exactly like that. Were it not for Bland dropping an easy pick 6, we’d be 0-5 and talking about how Bowles found an entirely new way to lose, the come-from-14-points-ahead loss.
That decision was like what you’d do playing Madden with your friends. This is an actual professional!!!
October 9th, 2026 at 2:27 pm
Todd almost lost us the game with that one stupid/ asinine decision.
9x out of 10 we would lose that game because of that stupid decision.
I think Todd is just not smart/dumb. No wonder he’s not a good HC.
October 9th, 2026 at 2:28 pm
Even after Todd’s ‘Mea Culpa’, I still don’t have a problem with the call. But I do take issue with the play-call and the play execution. Bringing in Tucker & setting him so ridiculously far back, with Jalon taking the ball under Center, kinda sorta set red lights flashing. The Dallas defense didn’t even have to allow for a Plan B or guess what was coming.
And I still would’ve kept Bucky in there. He was having a fantastic night, and the defense would’ve had to respect the play flexibility he provided.
October 9th, 2026 at 2:33 pm
I’m not commenting anymore until we win our 10th game
I’m fully confident we get it done
October 9th, 2026 at 2:41 pm
You’re 0-4 and your seat is on fire with a team that has shown no confidence up to this game. You’re getting fired either way so what does it matter. Try to get your team some belief they can bury anyone. I liked it. The worse call was scared play with the lead on D and offense, back to 3 and out with 2 crappy screens and prevent D giving up big chunks. That’s what got you 0-4.
October 9th, 2026 at 2:45 pm
Why do I feel like he had to walk that 4th down blunder because 99.9% of the coach commentators had zero justification for not going up 3 scores with 8 minutes left. It is great he admitted a mistake. But my judgement of a coach after the fact in press conference is worth 2%. The other 98% is what they actually do in practice and in the game. That 4th down call midway through the 4th quarter has zero benefit beyond taking the 3.
October 9th, 2026 at 2:46 pm
There are certain times be aggressive. Certain times math works. This was a time when math tells you what to do. Possessions matter, the clock matters. He is still trying to figure this out while we yell at the tv when you give the other team chances. Seems his mindset can’t get away from 1 score games. He is addicted to one score games. Clearly. His checking decision almost cost us again. A couple more wins and i might get invested in this season, again. Go Bucs.
October 9th, 2026 at 2:46 pm
Poor decision. At least he’s not the President. He admits when he was wrong. Really good game planning for a change.
October 9th, 2026 at 2:48 pm
Dumb decision take the three scores
October 9th, 2026 at 2:51 pm
I liked the call but not in that moment.
October 9th, 2026 at 2:56 pm
I’m good with the decision all day long. We need to figure out the short yardage game.
October 9th, 2026 at 3:03 pm
Easy to complain about not taking 3. Right call based off our momentum the second half. What’s the saying? No risk it no biscuit?
October 9th, 2026 at 3:04 pm
When I think of all Bowels’ bad decisions, this is the one that is the best easiest to accept. Besides, Tucker should have scored. He got too low too soon.
October 9th, 2026 at 3:12 pm
200 yards rushing! It was a great call to go for it!!Grow some balls people!
October 9th, 2026 at 3:12 pm
Honestly, it was a VERY STUPID DECISION. Its not analytics. Its basic math. It’s common sense. It’s coaching 101. Ultimately, what he did last night with that decision is coaching malpractice. He’s damn lucky Bland dropped what would have been a pick-6 and perhaps tied the game.
October 9th, 2026 at 3:15 pm
Greedy when it probably called for a conservative FG call .Yet he’s conservative when he needs to be aggressive.
He is so incredibly lucky that a pick 6 opportunity was dropped and that Turd Ferguson went tip drill/volleyball set ( with Anzalone making by far his best play as a Buc ).
Happy for the win…even happier for Daniels, his Mom but most of all Bucky. He was electric and determined.
October 9th, 2026 at 3:16 pm
I’m Glad coach went for it, showed BALLS! To bad our line sux
October 9th, 2026 at 3:23 pm
Joes,
Your football acumen is now highly-suspect and in question for loving that decision in the moment.
Everyone who knows football was loathing that decision on the moment.
Even if we got the TD, we were still only going to be up 3 scores. And the fg would also put us up by 3 scores. So, it was all risk and no reward. That’s a losing formula in any endeavor.
#FireBowles
October 9th, 2026 at 3:26 pm
I loved it then and I love it now. If he would have gone for three, they would say he’s a weenie coward. I’m all for putting the dagger in but moreso, the message it sends to the team. I BELIEVE IN YOU AND I TRUST YOU AND IF WE FAIL YOU WILL BAIL US OUT!!!
October 9th, 2026 at 3:28 pm
Bowles still has the locker room. I take that back. Glad to see the Bucs get their first win. Daniels showed a lot of poise. I hope they let him play until he looks like an undrafted rookie again. Even if Mayfield is healthy. Gives him more time to heal as well.
The only thing that would make me want to see Bowles return is a deep playoff run. Thats it.
Bucky Irving looked great. Made Daniels job easier.
October 9th, 2026 at 3:30 pm
Newbie Says:
October 9th, 2026 at 3:12 pm
He’s damn lucky Bland dropped what would have been a pick-6 and perhaps tied the game.
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That pick 6 would not have tied the game. we were up by 8
October 9th, 2026 at 3:30 pm
I appreciate the honesty, but, this was not a tough call at all. Go up 3 scores on the road with 8 minutes to go? You do that every time.
Also – I don’t know about that play call. There was a guy in the backfield named Bucky Irving, who was having a career night. This is like trying to get a critical out in the 7th inning with your 5th best pitcher.
October 9th, 2026 at 3:36 pm
Incredibly stupid move which would’ve cost the game if the Dallas DB didn’t have brick hands. Usually I like aggressive playcalling but you have to do it at the right times.
October 9th, 2026 at 3:41 pm
My problem was not only did we not make the touchdown but we wasted a time out as well to just run it up the middle. It was a perfect time to play action and roll Daniel’s out for a run throw option for the TD. But hey at least we did win.
We got soft again in defense after that and they drove 99 yards for a TD. 🤦♂️
October 9th, 2026 at 3:42 pm
Please someone show this to TKras. Love him to death but, like Bowles, he was totally wrong. The FG was absolutely the right call. At least Bowles was willing to admit he made the wrong choice. I know it is hard sometimes for them to accept but it is ok for even radio guys to be incorrect. By the way, TKras is one of best on-air personalities I have ever heard and I love listening to him.
October 9th, 2026 at 3:46 pm
From what I have seen through the first 5 games, Todd is totally safe if he keeps it up. What has been the defensense’s achilles heel? Opponents passing game eating us up.Check out the job Zyom and Parrish have been doing on the opponent’s #1 receivers:
WR1 vs Tampa Bay — First 5 Games (2026)
Week 1 — Bengals
WR1: Ja’Marr Chase
Stats: 2 receptions, 12 yards, 0 TD
Week 2 — Browns
WR1: KC Concepcion Jr.
Stats: 6 receptions, 28 yards, 0 TD
Week 3 — Vikings
WR1: Justin Jefferson
Stats: 2 receptions, 32 yards, 0 TD
Week 4 — Packers
WR1: Christian Watson
Stats: 3 receptions, 47 yards, 0 TD
Week 5 — Cowboys
WR1: CeeDee Lamb
Stats: 2 receptions, 9 yards, 0 TD
Todd, as long as you keep doing this, you are my friend again!!
October 9th, 2026 at 3:46 pm
ATLBuc Says:
October 9th, 2026 at 3:30 pm
Newbie Says:
October 9th, 2026 at 3:12 pm
He’s damn lucky Bland dropped what would have been a pick-6 and perhaps tied the game.
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That pick 6 would not have tied the game. we were up by 8
________________________________________________
6+2=8 (tie game)
October 9th, 2026 at 3:49 pm
Blewbie:
If you don’t think that Dallas wouldn’t have tied that up by converting the 2 point conversion…then you must be new to football if not life.
It never should have gotten to that point is the whole point.
The math lesson was cute…I appreciate it.
October 9th, 2026 at 4:02 pm
Should have gave it to Bucky in that scenario if you are running it.
October 9th, 2026 at 4:04 pm
Lakeland Says:
October 9th, 2026 at 2:33 pm
I’m not commenting anymore until we win our 10th game
I’m fully confident we get it done
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I’m with u om the wins but i have to speak my mind!!!
October 9th, 2026 at 4:05 pm
Headline should read “Todd says he’s bad at math”.
October 9th, 2026 at 4:07 pm
We are the best 1-4 team in the NFL and no one can take that away from us. Keeping it real In Ireland. Thanks Coach Bowls for providing us the inspiration and celebratory spirit we so desperately need.
October 9th, 2026 at 4:17 pm
It wasn’t the wrong call. The man’s only human; we was feeling it, was in the zone and couldn’t be stopped, so why wouldn’t he go for it? I would’ve made the same call as well. Don’t wins games playing scared anyway.
October 9th, 2026 at 4:24 pm
How bout them Cowboys !!
Did you see Dak ? He didn’t know which way was up !! Cowboys after the Bucs – 2-3 …..
Bucs defense and Bucky Irving Dominated Americas Team !!
Go Bucs !!
October 9th, 2026 at 4:33 pm
I get the Bowles bashing… After all I have done enough of it myself. However – while I do think it was seriously risky and statistically unwise…I get it. If he had kicked the field goal and lost he would have gotten torched for being gutless. It’s not like it hadn’t happened before.
Mistake or not I don’t know what the answer should have been in the moment. Not really. It could have gone either way.
All I know for sure is they made it work against one of the best offensive teams in the league. It was the first time I enjoyed watching the team play in quite awhile and I hope it continues.
October 9th, 2026 at 4:35 pm
Besides all the penalties, the Oline was much improved last night. If they continue to play like that and cut down on penalties, there are more wins coming up !!
Can the Bucs defense play this well against Pittsburgh? I’m sure Aaron will be studying some film
October 9th, 2026 at 4:39 pm
Man I was losing it lol. There is such an insane psychological difference in the NFL with a 17 vs 14 point lead that late. The Cowboys knew they had a chance and played like it.
And the other tough part was seeing the defense get shredded when they needed a stop. Two drives in a row until we lucked out with their TE dropping the ball.
It felt so great to get a W and I’m glad he’s owning that it was the wrong decision and he went emotional over logical lol.
October 9th, 2026 at 5:13 pm
Getting 3 points there is no major difference than 7. Either way, it becomes a 3 possession game with 7:30 left. That means we have 2 possessions as long as they dont get an onside or turnover. They can get 1 3 and out and call timeouts to make that a 30 second possession, but the other one would eat at least 2 minutes of clock with 0 first downs. The 3 possession lead would force them to put together 3 drives with a total of about 5 minutes of game time AT BEST.
That is 3 2 minute drills in a row ending in touchdowns. Nearly impossible.
The only obvious play is to take the 3, anything other than that is not smart.
It is not bold, it’s stupid.
October 9th, 2026 at 5:17 pm
Adam Schine said this morning that it was the worst coaching decision he in the history of the NFL and he wasn’t joking ,,, That said I don’t understand the Dallas coach going for 2 either , these statistic guys are just wrong go down by 7 at home !
October 9th, 2026 at 5:20 pm
Going for 2 when down by 14 is new math.
The nfl average is right about 50% on 2 point conversion. So likely you end up getting the first or second one.
If you happen to get it on the first try, you can now win with a PAT.
Seems odd to me, but I do understand the logic.
October 9th, 2026 at 5:33 pm
That was the correct call. The wrong call was playing prevent defense for 99 1/2 yards.
October 9th, 2026 at 5:36 pm
Bowles definitely tried his best to lose us that game. Almost did it too…
October 9th, 2026 at 5:43 pm
Make Bowles walk the plank. He purposefully tried to lose that game. He got very lucky that db dropped the pick six.
Dallas coaching staff may be worse than the bucs. Going for two instead of kicking the extra point. The db should have housed that and tied the game with 3 minutes left in the game.
October 9th, 2026 at 5:46 pm
Typical TB blunder! The team finally played with a little more energy, will be interesting to see if they can keep that up. Why did it take 5 games! Oh yeah…TB!
October 9th, 2026 at 6:09 pm
Sorry when Dallas was down by 7 (of they go for the PAT and make it). Instead they’re down by 8 and risk losing if they score the tie TD. What Todd did wasn’t greedy…it was going for the knockout punch
October 9th, 2026 at 6:12 pm
Kicking the FG would’ve been the smart move. 95% of the 90% of the fans wanted him to go for it at the time and are turning around after it failed to attack him for it. He was only going to win the public opinion if they went for it and scored the TD. He had good reason to believe it would be successful because they were moving the ball well on the ground.
October 9th, 2026 at 6:24 pm
Somebody (my guess is Barton) missed the block on Dallas’ LB 55 who penetrated the backfield, otherwise it would’ve been an easy TD.
The Bucs make alot of execution mistakes and 14 penalties!
Not going to win many games playing like that…fortunately Cowboys effort was pathetic and Bucs got the W.
October 9th, 2026 at 6:29 pm
“We could have lost!” conversation is as useless as “We could have won if….” chatter.
Decision was made, it didn’t work, won anyway.
Move on, and for God’s sake try to enjoy good things.
October 9th, 2026 at 6:32 pm
I thought Bowles did good. Like always.
October 9th, 2026 at 6:41 pm
I would have went for it but a different play. You have a mobile QB and a simple bootleg would have got us in. The Cowboys were all playing the run up the middle.
October 9th, 2026 at 7:05 pm
Everyone who says that he should have booted the FG are most probably right but I get why Bowles went for it and I liked it. They make that yard and the Cowboys are demoralized and other teams in the league say “Dang, that was ballsy”! Todd has previously exhibited a soft style that I do not care for but last night at that point he tried to show some moxy and let his line know that he believed in them. They came up short and that is disappointing but I give him credit for trying something outside his normal thought process.