Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles is seemingly growing increasingly frustrated with his team. Despite posting an impressive 3-1 record in each of the past two seasons, and securing the NFC South Championship both years, the Buccaneers have yet to make a Super Bowl appearance.
In 2024, they clinched the NFC South title for the fourth consecutive season.
Bowles attributes the team’s struggles to a lack of that killer instinct, the ability to seize control when it matters most. His frustration is understandable, given that the Buccaneers have had legitimate shots at a Super Bowl, only to fall short in the playoffs for four years running.
Todd Bowles Gives Stern Advice To His Team
The main reason behind the Bucs’ struggles, despite a strong overall performance, has been their inability to close out close games. As a result, the Buccaneers’ head coach has firmly warned his team to develop a “killer instinct” and to “blow people out” when the opportunity arises.
“I feel good that we know how to win,” Bowles said. “I don’t feel good about us finishing the season from a playoff aspect and the middle of the season [by] having a drought two years in a row. We’ve got to be better from that standpoint.”
“From a coaching standpoint, from the veterans holding everybody accountable standpoint — which they do — but we’ve got to do a lot more of that. And we’ve got to play… not even better football at the end, but we’ve got to have a killer instinct, and we’ve got to try and blow people out and try to win a division instead of it going down to the last week.”
Bucs coach Todd Bowles says “we’ve got to have a killer instinct and we’ve got to try and blow people out and try to win a division instead of it going down to the wire.” pic.twitter.com/3mTlSQFRfr
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD)
Baker Mayfield is currently leading the quarterback position and looks to be in solid form. The receiving corps is also in good shape, with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin providing a strong foundation.
However, one area the Buccaneers need to address is their linebacker position, particularly with the aging Lavonte David. They should look to develop a younger linebacker for the future.
Additionally, the team will need to address the running back position, especially with Rachaad White’s contract situation up in the air. Beyond that, the Buccaneers should focus on bolstering their secondary—specifically the cornerback position—and strengthening their offensive line in the 2025 NFL Draft.
