Todd Bowles Simply Outcoached The Dixie Chicks
November 2nd, 2026
Outsmarted Atlanta.
It sure looks like KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles knew what he had to work with yesterday and knew how to beat the Dixie Chicks.
And then, Bowles smartly decided, don’t fix what isn’t broken.
In that respect, Joe found yesterday’s game so refreshing.
It seemed to Joe that Bowles and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson had zero desire for Baker Mayfield and his still-healing thumb to throw any football in the downpour yesterday unless he had to.
After Ted Hurst dropped a touchdown and Bucky Irving lost a fumble as he was about to score it seemed like Bowles had enough. (How about that awesome pitch from Mayfield? He looked like he was running Barry Switzer’s wishbone),
It sure wouldn’t surprise Joe to hear Bowles told Robinson on the headset after Bucky’s fumble (on a busted play), “Zac, that’s enough. We’re pounding the ball between the tackles.”
And the Bucs pounded and pounded the ball. And pounded the ball until, when they were finished, they racked up 324 yards on the ground and came away with a 16-0 win.
Over at CBS, Bryant McFadden, a former Super Bowl-winning corner, believes Bowles completely outmatched Atlanta’s Kevin Stefanski.
“We see questionable coaching decisions situationally, week in and week out,” McFadden said. “And understanding and knowing the ball game and the flow of the ball game, which was going to be a bit slower [in Tampa] because of the conditions.”
McFadden said if he were coaching that game, it would have been obvious to play for field position, which is what Bowles did.
“I’m playing the field position,” McFadden said. “I’m putting the football; hopefully we get an ideal punt, worst case scenario, they get the ball in the 20, and let’s see [if they] can go the length of the football field in those conditions.”
McFadden thought the Bucs dominated the Dixie Chicks so thoroughly the score should have been a wider margin.
“And don’t forget, Bucky Irving muffed a touchdown attempt with the Jesse Bates [forced] fumble,” McFadden said. “So [the Bucs] left points on the scoreboard.
“Just the total coaching mindset, for me, for Atlanta, I was a bit confused with. And you saw what Tampa did. They did what they were supposed to do.”
Still, McFadden came away from the Bucs win shook.
“I never thought in my lifetime I would watch an NFL team beat another NFL team with no quarterback,” McFadden said.
That was pretty much Mayfield. He was 0-3 in passing with zero passing yards. Effectively, he was a ghost.
"I never thought in my lifetime I would watch an NFL team beat another NFL team with no quarterback."@BMac_SportsTalk on the Falcons loss to the Bucs despite Baker Mayfield not completing one pass.#scoreboard pic.twitter.com/J09FBWK3CO
— NFL on CBS đ (@NFLonCBS) November 1, 2026
November 2nd, 2026 at 12:09 am
That was pretty much Mayfield. He was 0-3 in passing with zero passing yards. Effectively, he was basically a ghost.
———-
A ghost with a $65-million cap hit for the next 3 seasons.
November 2nd, 2026 at 12:17 am
All the Bowels haters a sleep ? They got tired of trying to figure out how Bowels didn’t lose the game ?
November 2nd, 2026 at 1:01 am
Bowles can have credit but he also has to own the two games he lost because of his poor coaching to Pitt and cleveland
November 2nd, 2026 at 1:14 am
Woodman they so quiet you can hear rat urinate đđđ
November 2nd, 2026 at 1:21 am
That game was a whole lot like the season finale last year. Also against the Falcons if my memory serves. Apparently the Falcons don’t play well in the rain. I’ll take the win with great relish anyway. I wonder if we can seed the clouds and make it rain like mad every Sunday? Truth be told, though I’m not quite sure what to make of this game, though. We fly to Soldier field to face the Bears Sunday night. I’ve always admired Soldier Field and Lambeau. Old fashioned I guess. I wonder if bear tastes good? Do I serve it with fava beans and a nice chianti? Having a friend for dinner. Ciao.
November 2nd, 2026 at 1:36 am
Todd ‘Radio, The Toilet’ Bowles still needs to go. Does anyone really believe this formula used in the last two games is going to take the Bucs deep into the playoffs? So the defense got some interceptions because Penix is horrible. How much did the Bucs capitalize off those? Was it two field goals? No need to hype Bowles as the damage has lingered long enough with him as the head coach.
November 2nd, 2026 at 1:49 am
Should be obvious… but just to verify.
The Bucs are LAST in passing offense.
The Bucs are THIRD worst in passer rating.
Baker is the SECOND worst starter in the NFL with a 35.2 QBR.
BUT…
The Bucs are FIRST (by a lot) in rushing offense.
The Bucs are tied for FIRST in yards per carry.
The Bucs are THIRD in defense – yards per game.
The Bucs are SIXTH in points given up per game.
November 2nd, 2026 at 2:11 am
With the exception of the New England game last year, the Bucs have won every game the past two years when their QB hasn’t turned the ball over. The formula to winning is to minimize the opportunities for Mayfield to turn the ball over. The defense is good enough as long as you are not constantly putting them in bad field position or keeping them on the file too long. Jamies got a lot of Bucs coaches fired because of his turnovers and Mayfield is capable of the same if he doesn’t start protecting the football better.
November 2nd, 2026 at 2:35 am
By my count 67% of Bakerâs attempts were dropped. Just saying. It not like he was throwing off target ducks when he got his opportunities. That said, we ran the ball and ran it effectively. Why put your still healing QB or the ball in harmâs way unnecessarily by airing it out in those conditions? We ran it, they couldnât stop us. No need to pass. W. The end.
November 2nd, 2026 at 2:47 am
I understand that this team has really stunk this year till just lately. But victories should always be celebrated. There ain’t much joy in Mudville, but at least Mighty Casey didn’t strike out. For a few minutes we have hope. I think the Bears play tonight against the Seahawks. Pray for overtime. And perhaps a mass case of dysentery in the Windy City.
November 2nd, 2026 at 3:04 am
rod is firm (pause, pause) in his beliefs about baker…
#SecretManCrushingFromTheBasement
November 2nd, 2026 at 3:04 am
bake was swell……….with less swelling in the thumb đ
November 2nd, 2026 at 3:16 am
Oh no. No Dungy ball revisited, part two. Say it ainât so, Joe. đŹ
Classic vintage dejavu all over again! Go Bucs!
November 2nd, 2026 at 3:41 am
Well, better late than never.
November 2nd, 2026 at 5:05 am
W I N N I N G
November 2nd, 2026 at 5:17 am
Bucs lead the NFL in rushing, Bucs lead the NFL in INT’s. I’m happy
November 2nd, 2026 at 5:35 am
âMcFadden thought the Bucs dominated the Dixie Chicks so thoroughly the score should have been a wider margin.â
4 takeaways on defense, with at least 2 putting the offense in scoring position? Yea, we shouldâve scored more, BA would say we left points on the field
November 2nd, 2026 at 6:32 am
The âyeah butâsâ and the âI would doâsâ are out in full force on almost every article on Joe Bucs. How wrong you morons have been, if winning is the criteria, btw it is the only criteria that matters post game
We were told this defense could not withstand Carolina passing attack, we were told this defense could not stop Robinson, we were told the Bucs could not run against the Falcons. But Back Benchers never shut up from being wrong. New narrative is this canât happen again, the Bears wonât allow it. We will see, of course there will be more passing but letâs see the Bears stop the run and the game plan adjustments if they do. That is why you play the game.
BTW, Caleb Williams is soft mentally. I would not be surprised at all to see him break down next Sunday if he gets pounded on or throws a few interceptions
November 2nd, 2026 at 7:30 am
The Bucs only seem to pull things together when they are on the verge of elimination and, recently, coaching regime change. Theyâre showing enough, however, to see how the season plays out.
The Chicago game will say a lot about where the team stands. If they win, theyâre in the mix and continue to improve as a contender. If they lose, the wins over Carolina and Atlanta are just evidence of the Bucs being the prettiest horse in the glue factory.
November 2nd, 2026 at 7:33 am
**My Take from the Stands:**
Was at Ray Jay in that absolute deluge today, and honestly, Bowles got **dumb lucky**. Atlanta flat-out *gifted* him this win.
Calling Atlantaâs game plan “questionable” is an understatementâit was coaching malpractice. Trying to throw 30+ times in a literal almost hurricane where you couldn’t throw or catch a wet bar of soap for a ball was wild. Four picks were completely self-inflicted.
Bowles running it 50+ times wasn’t some high-IQ tactical masterclass; it was just the only obvious choice left while Atlanta kept handing the game away. Baker barely had to do a thing.
The real MVP was Chase McLaughlin. Kickers can barely handle damp grass, but watching him go 3-for-3 with a 40+ yarder off a flooded swamp in driving rain was a straight-up miracle. Man’s got to be living RIGHT LOL…
Pure chaos live, but Atlanta threw that one right to Todd Bowles and straight into the bay!
November 2nd, 2026 at 7:55 am
RODMUNCH; Bakers stats should have read 2/2 for two TDs, how epic that would have been…threw another dime to the rookie (if he catches the same glorious pass in the rain in Browns game we are leading the division) and a brain headed play by Bucky who fumbles ball out of endzone! Hell Irving could of thrown the ball out of bounds at the one and we get another TD! But this is dream scenario, two huge division wins and Bake gets to heal his thumb some more with no stress on it
November 2nd, 2026 at 8:09 am
If this is the offense weâre going with, time to trade Baker. Heâs grossly underpaid.
Anyone can hand the ball off 60 times for a lot less money.
1953 called, it wants itâs football strategy back. What a joke.
Top of the turf pile again I suppose. Breathe deep folks. That smell is us.
November 2nd, 2026 at 8:42 am
Buc âem is right. Exactly.
We all know Bowles didnât suddenly become a coaching genius. these three wins have essentially been mirages. Just like last season where we were eeking out last minute wins to go six and two. That was Mirage as well. It ended.
And 100% agree on Chase. That was clutch.
Letâs see how Bowles matches up to Ben Johnson.
November 2nd, 2026 at 9:09 am
Catching the ball in the monsoon was just as hard as throwing it. Obviously. Iâm pretty sure Belichek once opted for three pass attempts in a game with similar conditions for the Patriots which he won, believe it was in Buffalo. There were completions but still. Heâs known as an ok coach.
Mayfield hasnât played anywhere close to his contract, for sure, but the OL wasnât playing like this either, the run game was meh first four games. The defense has also shown it may have turned a corner , so maybe Baker wonât feel like he needs to generate 50+ points to win and will be a better steward of the football. Whatever.
Letâs see what the Bears really have tonight.
November 2nd, 2026 at 9:09 am
I understand the comments about Baker being invisible in the passing game and that Jalon Daniels could have been useful running the ball. But I’m not underestimating the impact of Baker changing the call at the line. It seemed like he was changing the call more than normal. Baker was effective in changing the play, and he didn’t throw 4 picks like Penix.
November 2nd, 2026 at 9:11 am
đđbowels beats two bad teams and the 6 people who still think heâs a good cia h are talking. Yep defense has been great last few games but stop best two bad teams. See what they do this week against the bears. Man some of you like sub 500 footballđ¤Śđťââď¸. Go on a run beat good teams during that run then weâll talk until then still need a HC change.
November 2nd, 2026 at 11:16 am
Both receivers and QB’s have to be able to build trust, confidence, and a rhythm in order to excel in the passing game, and NOBODY in our receiver corp has been targeted enough for that to happen, just as Baker has not been given the opportunity to throw enough for that to happen. Zack can talk all he wants about how great the passing game looks in practice, but it means nothing. That trust, confidence, and rhythm has to be built while playing in real games against real opponents or it doesn’t happen at all. Zack is not allowing it to happen and it is going to bite us at some point probably against the bears next week. As to Todd if he is so great at his job,then why did it take Baker getting hurt, sitting on the sidelines for the first time, diagnosing the problems, holding really uncomfortable talks with the team where apparently people were finally held accountable, and the do what what Zack and Todd have never been able to do. Baker motivated our lazy defensive players to get off their asses and play like they should have BEEN and should BE playing every week. And Baker motivated his O-Line and his backfield to play their asses off like never before. Motivating players, teaching them discipline, and holding players accountable has always been a missing main ingredient with the BUCS leadership and it’s obvious, NONE of those things were happening until Baker made them happen. We didn’t win the last 2 games because Todd is a great coach, and we didn’t win because Zack had a great game plan, we won because our true leader Baker Mayfield got the best out of his players. Todd might be a defensive genius, but that has never translated to his players. We need a vertically offensive minded coach who wants to be a coach and not a buddy, and we need a great defensive coordinator. Lavonte David admitted when he retired that last season defensive players were taking off plays and loafing including him. That tells me that the players don’t respect Todd but they like him because he is a nice guy. Well nice guys finish last!!!
November 2nd, 2026 at 3:12 pm
âEffectively, he was a ghostâ. Handling the football in weather like that and making it look easy, Iâd say that effectively, Mayfield was more like a conductor of an orchestra, with a good dose of magician.
Two weeks, 59 points, 64 passing yards. Heck, what Baker has been doing has been a thing of beauty.
November 2nd, 2026 at 5:19 pm
He still only has a 37-41 record since 2022. Nobody has gone silent. Bowles needs to go no matter what.
November 2nd, 2026 at 6:58 pm
Kidfloflo,
Donât worry about Munch. He suffers from chronic constipation. Canât help himself that he is full of it.