In the biggest game of the season, some of the worst demons of the season have come out in full force for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Special teams mistakes, an interception from Baker Mayfield, and an almost fumble were all part of the first half story for the team. But somehow, the most egregious came from their head coach.
With time management remaining a common gripe for the fan base against head coach Todd Bowles, those problems emerged once again. However, rather than fans, it was analysts and former players who also voiced their displeasure at what the veteran coach was doing on the sideline.
Todd Bowles Feeling the Heat for Time Mismanagement
An interception from Bryce Young with 1:51 left on the clock gave the Buccaneers plenty of time to potentially build a drive that could get them some additional points on the court. Unfortunately, they were limited to just three.
But for most people, the opportunity to add to the tally with a touchdown was right there. Former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel voiced his frustration immediately, stating, “The Todd Bowles time mismanagement is not great.”
For Tom Igundo, the problem was more of a pandemic than an isolated incident. He voiced his complaint on X, claiming, “It amazes me how bad NFL head coaches are at clock management every week. Todd Bowles just wasting so much time with three timeouts and a chance to score a TD.”
Others, though, weren’t so kind with the decision-making from Bowles. Instead, they ripped into him completely, with Warren Sharp breaking down his play call choices. “Todd Bowles had 2:00 with the ball @ midfield. 5 RB runs, 1 QB pass. Never took a downfield shot & played to kick a FG.”
Going a step further, he believed it was a gruesome mistake from Bowles in an absolutely must-have-it spot for the Buccaneers. “No one will care about it tomorrow if Bryce Young’s Panthers don’t come back to win, but if Carolina wins a close game, it’s the final straw to the end Bowles’ tenure.”
Even the fan base stepped in, with the iconic Pewter Report directly calling him out for a conservative script. “odd Bowles totally settling for a field goal rather than trying for a touchdown on that drive. Chicken football. McLaughlin’s 36-yard field goal is good to give the Bucs a 13-7 lead.”
At the time of writing, the Buccaneers led 13-7 with two minutes left in the first half, and are on their way to a win against the Panthers.
