Buffalo QB Josh Allen raked the Bucs’ defense over the coals Sunday.

What a trash performance by the Bucs’ defense and maybe Todd Bowles’ worst coached game of the year in Buffalo. Certainly, the worst since handing Cleveland an upset win in 2022. Grab your mug. You’re probably going to need two belts of black coffee for this. [read more]

Sadly, not a cornerback.

Word is getting around in NFL circles. [read more]

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BY IRA KAUFMAN

Todd Bowles is dealing with an in-season malaise.

Yes, again.

Despite an improved effort, the Bucs fell to the Bills 44-32 for their third setback in the past four games. It doesn’t get any easier in Week 12 as Tampa Bay ventures to Los Angeles for a Sunday night matchup against the 8-2 Rams, who look like the best team in the league at the moment.

In his first year as Bucs coach, Bowles had to overcome a 1-5 slump in 2022, In 2023, the Bucs dropped 6-of-7 at one point. Last year’s swoon was a 1-5 stretch.

On all three occasions, Tampa Bay rallied to win the NFC South. Don’t look now, but the Panthers are 6-5 and haven’t played the Bucs yet. [read more]

Bucs coach Todd Bowles winces during the loss to the Bills. So too did Bucs fans.

Joe’s head is still spinning as to why the head coach who applauded his quarterback, Baker Mayfield, for scolding his teammates last week for lacking a “killer instinct” showed on Sunday he didn’t have any either. [read more]

Joe cruised through the Tampa Bay postgame locker room this afternoon in Buffalo and found very little concern with how the team has lost three of its last four games. [read more]

Huge day.

Losing three out of four games has a way of hurting your postseason chances. The Bucs are feeling that burn right now. [read more]

Joe watched the Bucs pound the ball on the ground successfully over and over today in Buffalo.

The passing game? It’s got no rhythm, especially in the red zone, and it’s often stuck in the mud. [read more]

Todd Bowles

Buffalo’s first 5 kick returns went for 220 yards today. Keep in mind most are caught around the 10 yard line.

Joe asked head coach Todd Bowles about this after the game — whether he considered calling a code red. [read more]

Quit running at worst time.

Joe typed many times before today’s loss in Buffalo that if the Bucs could get rolling on the ground, they had a great shot of winning. [read more]

Lavonte David talks to Joe.

So the Bucs have lost three out of four games and revived ways to lose today in Buffalo. [read more]

Change strategy?

Joe heard Gene Deckeroff say on the Buccaneers Radio Network in the immediate aftermath of the Bucs’ 44-32 loss to Buffalo today that the Bills averaged 39 yards a kickoff return. [read more]

Points finger at himself.

It was the most points Buffalo has scored in a game all season, despite the defense getting seal-clubbed for 44 points and three takeaways. [read more]

What happened, Lavonte?

There is no way in hell the Bucs win a playoff game the way they played defense today. No way in hell. [read more]

Dual threat again.

Maybe Baker Mayfield is finally healthy from his oblique and knee issues. Regardless, he sure finally looked healthy in Buffalo today. [read more]

Sorry defense.

How bad was the Bucs’ defense today? [read more]

Physical! The Buccaneers came to play today, well, not really on special teams, but the defense was flying around in the cold Buffalo wind and the offensive line was winning consistently.

Hell, Baker Mayfield even started running and again and lowering his head.

It did not matter. The Bucs weren’t good enough against a very flawed Buffalo team battling its own injuries.

Buffalo rung up 400-plus yards of offense rather easily. Heck the Bucs owned time of possession.

Did the Bucs beat themselves? It sure feels like it. [read more]

Tristan Wirfs looks ready!

Can the Bucs punch out the Bills in windy Buffalo, with wind chill temperatures below freezing?

Comment all game long below. Be nice, especially when stress levels explode.

Go Bucs!!

Through nine Bucs games, Joe has a 14-13 record on Buccaneers-related wagers in this space and is up $112.00 on the season.

That is not special, but it’s more than good enough.

Disclaimer: Do NOT wager if losing will ruin your life, or day, or week. [read more]

Message heeded?

UPDATED: The NFL only allows teams 11 practices in pads through the first 11 weeks of the regular season (and 14 padded practices, total in the regular season). This is a reason why the Bucs only had walk-through or underwear football practices this week. [read more]

Flash Poll posted at 8:29 a.m. Poll closed at 11:55 a.m.