Bucs Allowing Only 18.8 Points Per Game
November 1st, 2026
Half a season is in the books and the Todd Bowles defense may be better than it has ever been.
The Bucs are allowing an average of just 18.8 points per game after today’s 16-0 shutout of the Falcons. Keep in mind the Falcons had been averaging 31 points per game over the previous five games.
Last year, allowing 18.8 points per game would have been good enough to rank second in the NFC.
The Bucs run defense is special. Their cornerbacks are playing at an elite level. The inside linebackers are playmakers. And the safety play has been strong. And maybe, just maybe, the pass rush has reached an acceptable level.
The overhaul of the defense, Joe will say, is more stunning than most fans could have imagined back in August.
Bowles deserves the credit. A half season is no small sample size.
Yeah, the Bucs haven’t exactly played a bunch of stunning quarterbacks, but you can only stop the guys on the field in front of you.
Joe can’t wait to see this defense against Caleb Williams and friends on Sunday night in Chicago.
November 1st, 2026 at 4:58 pm
Run the ball. Defend the run. I feel like I’ve heard that before.
November 1st, 2026 at 4:59 pm
Top 3 in total defense amongst nfl behind number 1 Seattle and Minnesota at number two…I will take it!! Todd and them in the kitchen
November 1st, 2026 at 4:59 pm
No surprise.
November 1st, 2026 at 4:59 pm
My favorite comment from the Open Thread today — after Penix completed his first pass —
Alvin Scissors Harper Says:
November 1st, 2026 at 1:06 pm
Penix throws a nice ball in the pouring rain.
November 1st, 2026 at 5:00 pm
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Bowles does indeed deserve credit for the defense. Good for him. Good for us fans.
November 1st, 2026 at 5:01 pm
“I ain’t goin nowhere, man”
Love,
Todd Bowles
November 1st, 2026 at 5:03 pm
Guy has more lives than Jason from Friday the 13th…
November 1st, 2026 at 5:03 pm
I can definitely wait. Not particularly looking forward to the next game. Can we have one against the Saints or something first?
November 1st, 2026 at 5:04 pm
Having 2 corners playing at an all pro level is really making this secondary special and it makes the DL and LB look good. Penix wanted no part of those 2 today! Awesome to see those 2 continue to get better!
November 1st, 2026 at 5:05 pm
Keep proving us all wrong, Coach
November 1st, 2026 at 5:05 pm
The defense has been good all year. Some have complained about not getting key stops, but that happens to all defenses.
Todd’s issues aren’t putting a competent defense on the field if he has solid talent.….its the rest of being a head coach that gives him problems.
November 1st, 2026 at 5:05 pm
I guess the hiring of Dave Canales will just have to wait!!!
November 1st, 2026 at 5:05 pm
next sunday night is gonna be exciting…
we gotta win one of the next 2…in chicago and detroit…
i don’t see us winning both…
if we win both, we can’t be stopped 🙂
November 1st, 2026 at 5:06 pm
8-9…win the weakest division in football…. Lose in the first round of the playoffs…. And this is the best that can happen this year. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before.
November 1st, 2026 at 5:06 pm
coach must be in all his glory…
this is exactly the type of football he wants…
he looks all “tingly” on the sidelines when the camera flips to him
November 1st, 2026 at 5:07 pm
D-E-F-E-N-T-S!!! Defents!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is so delicious. I’m enjoying this sooo much. The sound of the silents and clinging gasps at maintaining that earned hate chorus is sweet indeed.
Its ephemeral I know, but giving up less than 20 over half a season is SOMETHING. And it seems like this something still has room to grow.
I ate 5 Kit Kats last night. I might have to make that a ritual.
November 1st, 2026 at 5:08 pm
Go bucs! Our D was dominant and imposed their will!
November 1st, 2026 at 5:10 pm
I’ve been so ready to move on from Bowles, but there’s not denying the defense’s overall performance this year.
With that said, it’s also true we haven’t exactly played a bunch of juggernauts and pro-bowl QBs either.
Chicago will be a big test.
November 1st, 2026 at 5:10 pm
Look out Charles Barkley- there may be a new “round mound of rebound” in Tampa Bay.
November 1st, 2026 at 5:15 pm
Chicago will be a test, but Caleb is prone to make interception worthy plays. He takes chances and trusts his arm more than the average QB. We will have opportunities. If we can rush him and get in his head, and prevent his scramble abilities, we can make it a competitive game. This is our litmus test for the season thus far. I believe we can do it.
November 1st, 2026 at 5:15 pm
Joe Burrow plus Chase and Higgins and Dak Prescott plus Lamb and Pickins are about as juggernautty as the NFL gets in 2026. Bijan is often a one man wrecking crew.
This defense is. legit. Sorry/not sorry.
November 1st, 2026 at 5:26 pm
Todd is partying like it’s 1999.
November 1st, 2026 at 5:35 pm
“Yeah, the Bucs haven’t exactly played a bunch of stunning quarterbacks”
They did a decent job against Joe Burrow. Penix was being touted as a world beater coming into the game and Bucs defense just handed him the worst game of his career.
Two weeks ago, I still had issues with Bucs defense because they couldn’t come through when it mattered most. Over the last two games they have become a complete defense. They really look like a well coached motivated group with great communication.
November 1st, 2026 at 5:38 pm
tingly todd……………………..with the WE-fense Defense
you know he’s quietly in all his glory
🙂
November 1st, 2026 at 5:39 pm
and i’m noticing………….
rod quietly crawled under a rock
November 1st, 2026 at 5:43 pm
Munchkin was on here complaining earlier. One because Baker’s picture was used to start a thread.
November 1st, 2026 at 6:01 pm
Im a Bowles critics. I’m sorry. This defense looks amazing lately.
November 1st, 2026 at 6:09 pm
I plan to keep griping. It seems to make them play better
November 1st, 2026 at 6:15 pm
Dale99 has this one nailed. We will not get better until this guy is gone.
But fair is fair, the defensive is legit. Especially the secondary. If we can get Walker on the field and Bain balling.
November 1st, 2026 at 6:23 pm
F it. Heard somewhere defense wins championships.
November 1st, 2026 at 6:30 pm
Fantastic defensive game plans and calls, excellent execution on all 3 levels. Some of us predicted a top 10 D after the draft and F/A but damn….
Todd will get his flowers for a few hours around here before the turd hunters take over again 🌷🌷🌷
November 1st, 2026 at 6:52 pm
No talent here though. Fire Licht!
Bowles making chicken salad outta chicken crap as he has done the last 5 years!
Wait…
November 1st, 2026 at 7:04 pm
Once again, our corners disappear a team’s #1 receiver.
Today: Drake London 1 reception, 6 targets, 8 receiving yards, 0 touchdowns
targets catches yards
1 Sep 13 Ja’Marr Chase Bengals W 33-27 4 2 12 0 16
2 Sep 20 Jerry Jeudy Browns W 23-19 1 0 0 0 —
3 Sep 27 Justin Jefferson Vikings W 23-16 2 2 32 0 22
4 Oct 4 Christian Watson Packers W 17-14 3 3 47 0 18
5 Oct 8 CeeDee Lamb Cowboys L 16-24 5 2 9 0 5
8 Nov 1 Drake London Falcons L 0-16 6 1 8 0 8
Metcalf lit us up but that was in the 4th quarter after Bowles put us in the prevent defense
November 1st, 2026 at 7:34 pm
I think that the loss at home to Pittsburgh was the turning point. The players were down and Todd was desperate.
Bowles did something that I didn’t think he was capable of — make adjustments to his play-calling strategy. He got a lot more aggressive and his players approved! Hopefully, he will be successful in fighting the urge to slip back into his old habits.
I stopped worrying about that when the cameras caught him smiling more and more towards the end of the game.
Congrats Todd — you figured it out!
Go Bucs!!