“If You Score Five Times On Drives…”
October 27th, 2026
Irony was flowing on Sunday early against the Panthers.
It’s the kind of irony Joe suspects fans will be remembering if/when the 2-5 Bucs miss the playoffs.
During the FOX broadcast of Bucs-Panthers on Sunday, play-by-play man Kevin Kugler noted that Panthers head coach Dave Canales talked to him about his time as a Bucs playcaller during the 2023 season.
Per Kugler, Canales said Bowles gave him Bucs words to live by, “If you score five times on drives, we’re going to win because our defense is going to help you that much.” That was the formula, and it very well still may be the formula Bowles shared with new Bucs offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.
Notice Bowles, per Kugler, didn’t include the word “touchdowns” or offer a points total. It was just score on five drives.
That got Joe thinking about what happened against Pittsburgh seven days earlier. Tampa Bay scored five times (four Chase McLaughlin field goals) and lost in overtime, as the Bucs defense choked away a 16-3 lead.
The aforementioned Bowles credo likely makes all kinds of data-driven mathematical sense, especially for a defense-first head coach. Five scores with a solid defense and non-leaky special teams should win a lot of games.
But it didn’t against Pittsburgh, an incredibly winnable game that may end up costing the Bucs a postseason berth and a leading to several job openings.
October 27th, 2026 at 2:07 pm
Bowles is limited because his philosophies are more important to him than responding in the moment on game day. Guess what Todd, 5 scores isn’t enough if at least 2 of them aren’t touchdowns. 2 TDs+XP and 3 FGs is 23 points. That’s not great. Good enough on some weeks, not on others.
October 27th, 2026 at 2:09 pm
“That got Joe thinking about what happened against Pittsburgh seven days earlier. Tampa Bay scored five times (four Chase McLaughlin field goals) and lost in overtime, as the Bucs defense choked away a 16-3 lead.”
Not to jump to any conclusions or anything, but it’d be hard for me to believe that when Bowles says 5 scores he’s meaning as little points as possible.
Defense didn’t choke anything away, our UDFA was imitating our Starting QB and served up 2 meatball subs w/picante provolone and banana peppers
October 27th, 2026 at 2:17 pm
As a bucs head coach Todd is 20-11 with 5 scores or more. This season we also lost to the browns when we scored 5 times. During the Canales season he was 5-1.
| Season | Wins | Losses |
| ——————- |—- | —— |
| 2022 | 3 | 3 |
| 2023 | 5 | 1 |
| 2024 | 8 | 2 |
| 2025 | 3 | 3 |
| 2026 | 1 | 2 |
| Total | 20 | 11 |
October 27th, 2026 at 2:18 pm
Low standards. If I’m the head coach, I’m asking my OC to shoot for 30+ points every week. It won’t always happen… but being aggressive on offense is winning football.
October 27th, 2026 at 2:27 pm
This is the kind of stuff that is INFURIATING about bowles. Absent the start of this season, the Bucs HAVE NOT HAD a solid defense since bowles has been head coach. And excluding the last game, our sack & pick numbers have been pretty bad even this year. So you see the issue, bowles approaches every decision with the assumption that he has a “solid” defense. SO MANY games where the D gives up the booty right at the end of the game. The browns game where he clipped Brady’s wings for fear of a pick and put the game in his (to his mind) solid defense’s hands. It’s always the wrong decision. This D likes to bend AND break. With its soft zone, no QB pressure, and weakness to TEs, it’s basically BUILT to be beat by a two minute offense. I understand the defense is his baby and he wants to have a good defense, he just hasn’t. And it’s foolhardy to keep coaching like that when the reality is something else.
October 27th, 2026 at 2:34 pm
another todd stupidism
October 27th, 2026 at 2:40 pm
ok this should be an interesting weekend – ATL just beat SF – if the Bucs lose to ATL and then lose the next away @ CHI & DET the playoffs are a fantasy @ 2-8
– this weekend is must-win
October 27th, 2026 at 2:44 pm
I don’t think Bowles loves field goals as much as you say. I think he’d love to score touchdowns, but has zero to offer an OC, and is a blind squirrel hiding them.
October 27th, 2026 at 2:44 pm
*hiring them
October 27th, 2026 at 2:44 pm
I do not want a coach trying for the right numbers. I want one trying for the right letter.
October 27th, 2026 at 2:55 pm
You are a generally going to win games when you score that many times and you force more turnovers. Turnovers and 3 and outs is what is needed. Give the offense a shorter field and they have a higher probability of scoring. I’m still concerned about this O line. What happens when the opponents D loads the box and they are forced to throw? You can’t be one dimensional and succeed in this league. Carolina was a weak opponent, just wait when they play a good team again. I’m sticking to 5 wins this season with most, if not all of those wins coming from the special needs/dumpster fire/landfill NFCS.
October 27th, 2026 at 3:25 pm
Sapp used to say the same sh*t to our offense, what was that one about 17 points?
October 27th, 2026 at 3:26 pm
Confido a weak opponent WTF . Nobody was picking bucs to win that game . They had one top offenses in the league avg 30 pts a game and the Bucs were in their house ! The only thing weak is your comment !
October 27th, 2026 at 3:33 pm
The Bucs beat the Steelers. Refs stole the game and the score is irrelevant. Bucs are really 5-2, not that it makes a difference from 2-5. Same same.
Bowles knows what he is doing and it’s even obvious to the blind. Even if Atlanta wins by multiple scores in Tampa, it’s to be expected sometimes.
October 27th, 2026 at 3:37 pm
3 TDs and 2 FGs should get you a win most sundays IF you’re playing solid/good defense…and you cant forget mistake free special teams
GO BUCS!!!!!
October 27th, 2026 at 3:41 pm
5 field goals is a lot of points and time of possession, too. Todd Bowles hits the nail on the head again.
October 27th, 2026 at 3:44 pm
McBay, I assume you’re paid by each troll comment? Because you never comment back. You just throw something ridiculous out there and hope that people bite. Well. Here you go, I bit. So 5-2 is the same as 2-5? Is that some new in math you’re using? Please explain. I’ll be waiting…
October 27th, 2026 at 3:59 pm
“3 TDs and 2 FGs should get you a win most sundays IF you’re playing solid/good defense…and you cant forget mistake free special teams
GO BUCS!!!!!“
And not turning the ball over. We’re talking about winning back to back games. Dallas was the first win/game we scored TDs on back to back drives. The drought was like 14-15 games since we last did that, which is pathetic
October 27th, 2026 at 4:10 pm
Here’s the key…..how much clock does Bowles demand be used? There’s a reason we run, throw gimmicks screens and short quick routes….its safe and keeps the clock running. Bowles entire philosophy is built around making his defense look more capable than what they actually are. In a close game, we never can stop anyone when it counts. His system is built to be partnered with a high scoring offense aka no risk it no biscuit except Bowles can’t stomach that style as a HC. He’s wired like any other defensive coach, their perspective is built around not losing vs playing to win.
October 27th, 2026 at 4:17 pm
Trading touchdowns for field goals is rarely a winning strategy.
The goal should be 4+ touchdowns and 6+ scoring drives, at minimum, every week.
October 27th, 2026 at 4:28 pm
McBay Says:
October 27th, 2026 at 3:41 pm
15 points, which will get you a couple of wins only if your defense is playing very well. Idiot.
October 27th, 2026 at 4:35 pm
There was a lot more happening in that Steelers game than just ‘The Bucs’ defense couldn’t protect a 16-3 lead in the 4th qtr’. A LOT more.
(1) Bucs’ offense barely left the bench on their last 5 drives in regulation (mostly in the 4th qtr).
o Drive 9: 3 plays (net yds: 5) then PUNT (time: 1:00)
o Drive 10: 2 plays (net yds: 3) then INT (time: 0:39)
o Drive 11: 3 plays (net yds:-1) then PUNT (time: 1:05)
o Drive 12: 1 play (net yds: 0) then INT (time: 0:17)
o Drive 13: 5 plays (net yds: 30) then FG (time: 1:13)
So in those last 5 drives, our offense had 14 plays, gained a net of 37 yds, used 4:14 of the clock, punted twice, was intercepted twice, and scored 1 FG to re-tie the game & send it into overtime.
Our defense surrendered a TD after our Drive 9, but then held the Steelers to 3 FGs after the 2 INTs on the other drives. Holding them to a FG on that last drive in regulation was especially impressive IMO, since the Steelers had run it back to the Bucs 3-yd line after that last INT, and thus had a 1st down there (but had to settle for a FG).
Our offense’s performance in that 4th qtr was beyond abysmal, and that’s what lost the game. Well, that AND Todd deferring to let the Steelers’ offense back on the field FIRST in overtime (after we’d won the coin toss). Our defense surely was totally whooped after being on the field for most of the 4th qtr. Putting them out there first in Overtime was mind-blowing.