Todd Bowles Details Why Bucs Ran 58 Times
November 1st, 2026
RB Kenny Gainwell.
To hear the two main figures on the Bucs, the reason why the team almost forgot to throw was a big one.
And no, it wasn’t because the Bucs wanted to run what right guard Cody Mauch called “a f*** you offense” and all but abandon the pass. It can be summed up in two words.
Ball security.
“Obviously, ball security in these conditions,” Mayfield said was critical. “We were really trying to manage the game.
“Time management and bleed as much clock as possible. Get everybody on the same page and go from there.”
Up in the press box, Joe could tell it was raining hard, but Joe didn’t know it was a blinding rain. The Bucs had a practice in training camp where it rained so hard the rain was coming in sideways and you couldn’t see 20 yards.
KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles said then he had moved practice indoors because he and others couldn’t see the ball from the rain.
Bowles described today’s rain similarly.
“The conditions told him that,” Bowles said of Bucs offensive coordinator Zac Robinson going strictly to a “f*** you offense.”It’s a downpour and the wind was blowing.. You could kind of see the ball wasn’t going anywhere.”
Mayfield said he wasn’t worried about pass attempts.
“And so the Bucs ran. And ran. And ran some more. And they weren’t done until they had 56 carries and 324 yards.
A record-breaking day. In the rain. At The Licht House.
November 1st, 2026 at 6:01 pm
Making me much more excited for my trip to the Windy City for the game next week!
November 1st, 2026 at 6:03 pm
We are one hurt Bucky away from losing the next 6 games in a row. Other teams are eventually going to stop our run. Then it’s back to screen passes and loses again.
November 1st, 2026 at 6:04 pm
He was listening to the Professor. ” IF YOU RUN IT 40X YOU’VE WON
November 1st, 2026 at 6:06 pm
JTHV Says:
and soon will be the comments female dogging what they saw.
What a BITCC SLAP of the dog fighting Falcons
November 1st, 2026 at 6:15 pm
Stallworth Says:
November 1st, 2026 at 6:03 pm
We are one hurt Bucky away from losing the next 6 games in a row. Other teams are eventually going to stop our run. Then it’s back to screen passes and loses again.
———————
Bro – enjoy a dominate win.
Awesome game today! Took them out to the woodshed today. Keep rolling!
November 1st, 2026 at 6:20 pm
Barely rained in the seconds half. But yeah.
November 1st, 2026 at 6:20 pm
Has anyone noticed that Robinson and Stefanski look EXACTLY ALIKE!!? its uncanny…every time they showed him on sidelines, we were like what is Zack doing with a Falcons hat on!?
November 1st, 2026 at 6:22 pm
Stallworth said – “We are one hurt Bucky away from losing the next 6 games in a row. Other teams are eventually going to stop our run. Then it’s back to screen passes and loses [sic] again.”
Atlanta, the #4 rush defense in the league, knew the Bucs were going to run the ball on every single play. They stacked the box, they added extra linemen. The Bucs still had 56 carries and 324 yards.
If you’re worried about people on your team getting injured, switch to watching something like Curling.
November 1st, 2026 at 6:31 pm
Scott – that’s a fair point. We beat up the falcons run defense today and it wasn’t close. They have a good run defense. Credit where credit is due.
1 question: do you think this is sustainable?
November 1st, 2026 at 6:37 pm
Man if I was going hand off every play I’d have started the rookie as he can run
November 1st, 2026 at 6:37 pm
Not sure why Tucker wasn’t included in the fun today. Very solid win.
November 1st, 2026 at 6:38 pm
Bears is the real test. Beating Carolina and Atlanta.. is nothing every team in this division is terrible. You’re supposed to beat bad teams. Bucs will come back to reality next week, then it’ll be the same old “ Fire Bowles. “ which I agree with he sucks.
November 1st, 2026 at 6:42 pm
Obvious said – “1 question: do you think this is sustainable?”
Who knows? The Bucs are doing things we haven’t seen teams do in decades. It very well may be possible to go back to old school football if you have the line to do it considering defenses have moved to smaller, quicker players to stop the pass. The Bucs are using way more 12 personnel and sometimes even 13 right now.
100% of the pundits on NFL XM radio said the Bucs stood no chance of being able to run it down the Falcons’ throat like they did the Panthers. They are supposedly the experts, not me, and they were absolutely wrong!
November 1st, 2026 at 6:53 pm
To me it was old school smashmouth football, I’ve been a Bucs fan for 50 years and this a one of a kind a$$ whooping with a shut cherry on top! Sent them home kicking rocks! LOVE IT…. GO BUCS!!!
November 1st, 2026 at 6:53 pm
Great win in Florida weather.
November 1st, 2026 at 6:53 pm
To me it was old school smashmouth football, I’ve been a Bucs fan for 50 years and this a one of a kind a$$ whooping with a shutout cherry on top! Sent them home kicking rocks! LOVE IT…. GO BUCS!!!
November 1st, 2026 at 6:56 pm
They can put 8 men in the box or go all hell bent to stop our run, which is what Chicago will do. That is an advantage for us for sure! Not that we have a terrifying passing attack, but this will open up the passing game. Chicago will be confused.
November 1st, 2026 at 6:58 pm
This was Todd Bowles style football. Extremely limited passing/heavy run offense where the defense that can stop the run, wins the low scoring game.
I must admit having an oldschool fondness of smashmouth, ground and pound football myself. Unfortunately, except in extreme weather conditions such as today, the game isn’t played that way anymore.
Hopefully Da Bears watch tape of this game and go “Oh 5hit! we better prep for run defense”, and then we come in and throw it all over them.
My hopium pipe is getting a little dirty and rank though.
We’ll see.
November 1st, 2026 at 6:59 pm
Scott McKirahan Says:
November 1st, 2026 at 6:22 pm
Stallworth said – “We are one hurt Bucky away from losing the next 6 games in a row. Other teams are eventually going to stop our run. Then it’s back to screen passes and loses [sic] again.”
Atlanta, the #4 rush defense in the league, knew the Bucs were going to run the ball on every single play. They stacked the box, they added extra linemen. The Bucs still had 56 carries and 324 yards.
If you’re worried about people on your team getting injured, switch to watching something like Curling.
Man what are you talking about? There are some SERIOUS injuries from curling man… heh.
November 1st, 2026 at 7:01 pm
Win however you have to,,, when the other team can’t stop the run ,, you run! Chicago best go 6 up front
November 1st, 2026 at 7:06 pm
Oh and 3-2 in conference and 2-0 in division
November 1st, 2026 at 7:07 pm
Y’all are terrible even when we win all y’all do is post negative crap get the hell out of here
November 1st, 2026 at 7:10 pm
Maybe the field conditions everyone complained about the last few weeks can actually work in our favor!
November 1st, 2026 at 7:12 pm
Im convinced all this negative is because sean tucker didnt get a carry. Because if it was tucker running for 175 yds amd baker had zero passing yds. People would be here screaming for more tucked
November 1st, 2026 at 7:13 pm
333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333testjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj
November 1st, 2026 at 7:16 pm
Tucker should’ve had at least 10 carries or so, but it’s whatever
November 1st, 2026 at 7:17 pm
Scott – I don’t care about what the “experts” and pundits said.
Do YOU think it’s sustainable that an nfl qb has thrown 14 passes in two games? Regardless of how many he completes.
To be clear, when I say ‘sustainable’ – I mean winning.
November 1st, 2026 at 7:23 pm
I’ll wager the offensive line and both running backs loved all 60 minutes today. What a whoop arse performance. Congrats gentlemen!!! Looked like fun.
November 1st, 2026 at 7:25 pm
…because we could.
November 1st, 2026 at 8:02 pm
Fun game. Smash mouth clinic against the (previously) 4th best rushing defense.
November 1st, 2026 at 8:06 pm
It’s a shame they didn’t notice the home field advantages before. Duh… Fire Bowles. Go Bucs!!!!
November 1st, 2026 at 8:09 pm
This almost 100% run approach was enough to win this game because the defense kicked ass and is still getting better every weekly. We’re not going to shut out Chicago next week but it will be a very close game. I hope Diaby is ok.
November 1st, 2026 at 8:17 pm
Anybody that wants to change anything about that game should take up watching horse racing or pickle ball .
November 1st, 2026 at 8:19 pm
The Bucs are starting to look like a much more physical and inspired team than started the season. They are blocking, tackling and covering receivers. Other than the blown coverage on Pitts where Pennix missed him they have been playing great defense.
Chicago will be a tougher test but if they keep playing with the level of intensity these past couple of games they will be able to forget the crapshow they were earlier in the season.
It’s not modern football they are playing but it is intimidating to opponents to have an offensive line knock the snot out of them and to cover receivers the way Parish and McCollum are.
Benjamin Morrison will never be a starter on this team as long as Parrish and Zion keep balling like this.
The young guys have really stepped up and it’s good to see the aggressive football these guys are playing.
November 1st, 2026 at 8:48 pm
The Bucs ran 58 times because they COULD
November 1st, 2026 at 8:49 pm
Obvious says: should stick with co-ed softball.
November 1st, 2026 at 9:07 pm
Was like an old school college game where the team only runs the triple option and only tries a couple of throws.
Im a huge fan of the f”[k you offense. If they can run like that the play action should be wide open.
November 1st, 2026 at 9:15 pm
Tucker’s strength at Syracuse was his explosive gap-run capability. Zac doesn’t use him for anything but zone runs. He’s not a fullback, but that’s the way he’s being utilized.
November 1st, 2026 at 9:17 pm
Can you imagine how good we would’ve been if this defense played like this in ’24? I don’t care how much ball security Bowles wants, we need Mayfield to be able to pass the ball and score tds thru the air.