While Todd Bowles essentially still had the Bucs in playoff contention on the final day of the regular season, it’s what happened before the events of Saturday and Sunday that may have done him in.
He did end up winning the final regular season game of the year and giving the Bucs a shot to sneak into the postseason. But it didn’t have to come down to an absolute snooze fest of a game to decide the Bucs’ fate. Bowles’ ultimate failures were already set in stone.
A Defensive Identity That No Longer Produces Results
One of Bowles’ biggest calling cards as a head coach has been his ability to be defensive minded while also maintaining a consistent balance on both sides of the ball. That has not necessarily occurred for the Bucs over the span of this season or over seasons past for that matter.
Consider the fact that the Bucs have, over the past three seasons, been ranked either 18th-22nd in yards allowed per game, have consistently struggled to generate takeaways, and ranked in the bottom half of the league in third-down defense. This is entirely on Bowles as someone who preaches defensive innovation.
The hallmark of this latest collapse was the inability to close out games, as evidence by a wild finish in their Week 15 matchup against the Falcons that may have truly revealed the struggles this team has faced.
Squandered Opportunity in the NFL’s Weakest Division
There still are more damning indictments of the Bucs under Bowles as well. Consider the fact that the NFC South is perhaps the weakest division in the NFL right now, and the Carolina Panthers just won it with a losing record. In fact, three of the top contenders finished below .500 this season. If there’s any division that the Bucs should be able to thrive in, it’s the NFC South. And yet, Bowles’ records have been just as atrocious as the division itself.
A 9-8 record in 2023. A 10-7 finish last year. When you sandwich in a 8-9 record in 2022, the numbers are not in his favor. Despite the fact the Bucs didn’t lose out and finish 7-10, Bowles’ overall record as a head coach hovers just over .500. Those are not numbers you would like to have in Tampa when your division has been about being the king of crap hill for so long.
It’s not as if there haven’t been fond memories of Bowles in Tampa. In 2020, he was part of the coaching staff that won them a Super Bowl under Bruce Arians, with his defensive gameplan specifically garnering loads of praise. Still, that game came six years ago.
Still, it is up to the Glazers what direction to take. And, while being known for their inconsistency abroad managing European football clubs, they are not prone to pulling the trigger. However, the search for a new head coach will be a big hassle, meaning that for now, Bowles couldbe safe for another year. No matter what happens, Bucs fans could be in an uproar concerning the state of their franchise.
It’s Finally Time to Cut Ties with Todd Bowles