FIRST TAKE | Fire Todd Bowles before Bucs missing playoff – Stephen A. on Buccaneers fall to Falcons

about being up two scores and this one’s going to haunt me. Mayfield throws a ball downfield but picked off. It’s intercepted. The first take away by the Falcons the throwing for the end zone. It’s Pence. Did he hold on? Touchdown Atlanta was in the excusable and there’s no answer for it. So Atlanta with a chance to win this kick by Gonzalez. It is good. Atlanta wins. To win the division, we have to win out. That’s as plain and simple as it is. First Take is presented by Liberty Mutual Insurance. Yep. Baker Mayfield keeping it real after an L last night. Hello everyone. Welcome to First Take. Shay Cornet here with you. Stephen A back in the building. Good to see you. Good to see you. Good to see you too, my brother. Looking sharp. Oh my god. If I should say so myself looking presidential. I approve that message. Where’s my man at? Cam. What up, baby? Cam News in Florida. Good morning, Cam. How we doing? We’re doing great, buddy. Like that. I know, isn’t it? Where’s that? That’s a nice backdrop. He’s in Orlando. Okay. Okay. Hey, listen. I You know, I’ll be be looking up to Stephen A so much. I was like, man, he be making Miami sound so good. So, I had to go to the next best thing in Orlando. So, you know what I’m saying? I know y’all cold over there, but you know, it’s it’s a little right where I’m at. You feel me? Okay, you you you got us today, but I will just avoid the cushion. Orlando ain’t better than Miami. Okay, let’s get that out. Second best. Okay, great. In Florida, right? Come on, bro. Speaking of Florida, let’s go to Tampa Bay, right? The Bucks were up 14 points in the fourth quarter last night against the Falcons at Raymond James Stadium and then collapsed, losing to Atlanta on a walk-off field goal. Kirk Cousins, I I mean, Kirk Cousins against the Fal against the Bucks rather, is really something. He went to work last night. Threw for 373 yards, three touchdowns. Kyle Pittz was really good as well. 166 yards and three TDs. Handing the Bucks their fifth loss now in six games. Ingame they had to have at home. Head coach Todd Bulls none to please post game. It’s inexcusable. You don’t make excuses. We You got to care enough where this hurts. You got to care enough where the hurts. It got to mean something to you. It’s more than a job. It’s your livelihood. How well do you know your job? How well can you do your job? Well, you can’t sugarcoat that. It was in the excusable and there’s no answer for it as for no excuse for it. That’s what you tell him in a lot. Look in the mirror. All right. Uh I said he was none too pleased and that might have been sugar coating even a little bit. We’ll get to the division in a minute, but let’s focus in on the Bucks here last night and obviously that postgame presser from Todd BS. We are not accustomed to hearing this softspoken usually when a microphone is in front of him. Todd BS have that many beeps on air. So Stephen A, your reaction to Todd Bull’s press conference last night? I was I was somewhat shocked. I’ve known Todd BS for years, ever since he was with the New York Jets. Got a lot of love for him. I’ve never heard him speak like that in my life. Ever. Ever. He does not talk like that. That’s not him. And it just really really illuminates the level of disgust he feels with his own team. You are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. You’re the Falcons rather. And you’re facing a third and 28 on your final drive. And what do you do? You complete passes of 14 yards to Kyle Pittz senior who who just ripped just shredded them all night long for 166 yards and then on a fourth and 14 to David Sills. How do you let that happen? A Tampa Bay defense, a Tar Bulls defense. I mean, this is where he hangs his hat on defense. And so when you see something like that happening, it gives you an in an incredible reason to feel alarmed if you’re the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They are not what they used to be. They are not what they were expected to be. They are noseding before our very eyes and they’re actually very lucky to still be in control of their own destiny because the team that they’re competing with is a team they go against two times in the last four weeks of this season. RC. Yeah. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are imploding and Todd BS feels the pressure. Todd BS don’t talk like that. No. If you ever been around Todd BS in private, Todd BS doesn’t talk like that. We’re talking about a man with a mildmannered demeanor that even when upset, even when correcting players, is respectful, is softspoken, is someone who approaches things in a very measured manner. When you’re a defensive specialist, when you’re calling card is defense, and you’re not only the head coach, but you’re the play caller on the defensive side. And this Kurt Cousins, y’all. Yeah. Right. This the same Kurt Cousins who was benched last year. The same Kurt Cousins who went through this entire off season and couldn’t garner enough in assets in the trade market to be traded off of a team all after signing for 100 million to be traded off of a team in in his second year and to now have him go for 373 Bean Robinson 175 yards. You already mentioned what Kyle Pittz was able to do and for Seals Jr. to be the guy to make the big catch on fourth down. This is inexcusable. This is a six-2 team that started this season. They’re one and five in their last six. And your last two losses are to the Saints. Nothing to play for. The Falcons nothing to play for at home in Tampa. Inexcusable. Exactly like Todd B said. Exactly. When you have a lead in the fourth quarter, too. Go ahead, Cam Newton. I’ll say this. I mean, this is basically Todd B saying the pressure is being turned up around him, up under him, and he understands the sense of urgency that he has to coach with as well as his team has to play with. I mean, it’s evident. You mentioned the third and 28. Uh, but also I I’ll have you, you know, reminded about this fact. This was the per first time all year that you had Emecha uh in Juba, you had Chris Godwin, and then you had uh Mike Evans as well. These guys were supposed to give you the boost that you was in dire need uh of searching for all season. And Todd Bose knows that. He knows that, yo, we were supposed to be the favorite to win the NFC South. If we find a way to to squander this opportunity, it’s not going to be good for his coaching stability. So therefore, when you have these type of outcries or outpours, these are the reasons why. And it’s no it’s no reason why, you know, he has turned to that version of himself because of the frustration. Falcons overcame 19 penalties. Yes. For 125 yards. On top of what Bejian Robinson did, on top of what Kirk Cousins did, you did penalize yourself. 19 penalties for 125 yards and you still win this game on the road with a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Those it’s moments like that when a coach loses his job. And I hate that we’re talking about Todd BS in that fashion because the way he sounded with the players like look in the mirror and understand this ain’t your job. This is your livelihood. This is how you pay your bills, have some more pride, etc., etc. Those are direct shots. So even outside of the cussing, outside of the profanity, the kind of things that he said was an attack against their manhood, which means they’re showing they ain’t being the men they supposed to be as professionals. Cuz Todd Boss would never ever talk about them like that. He would never do that unless it was warranted. He said he said the quiet part out loud, right? The the the things that we normally keep in the locker room have now spilled over into the media. And that’s what happens when you lose five of six. Remember Stephen A Sheay Cam? We were talking about Baker Mayfield winning the league’s MVP through the first half of the season. Now there are no longer those discussions because his team can’t finish football games. The Buccaneers also have a Kurt Cousins problem. They do not know how to slow that man down. I am sorry. Their last three games, Kurt Cousins against the Buccaneers, he has like,200 yards. He’s undefeated. 11 touchdowns, one interception. They have no idea how to slow Kirk Cousins down. That in itself is an issue if you have to face him more than one time a year. Let’s go now to the to the division though. The Buccaneers trail the Carolina Panthers in the NFC South after dropping backtoback games in the division. We already talked about that, right? To the Falcons and to the Saints. Do we still believe though that the Bucks can actually win the NFC South amidst this freef fall? What do you think, Cam? Uh my heart says yes, but the reality of you know the circumstance is is really pointing to know. But the thing about the Buccaneers that they do have, as Stephen A Mo uh uh had mentioned, they do control their own destiny and understanding that they do play the Carolina Panthers twice. The only hiccup that I have in question in regards to the Carolina Panthers is playing the Seattle Seahawks and the Buccaneers beat the Seattle Seahawks. That’s the only kind of divot in the road that really has me questioning if the NFC South champs will be the Carolina Panthers or not. I’m extremely pleased of how Bryce Young has come into his own this year. You know, playing behind a very stingy and opportunistic defense, the running game with Rico Dell and and and and uh Chup. It’s so many different aspects that you want to root for the Carolina Panthers, especially being in my seat. But they have a tougher road than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, unfortunately at this particular. Well, they do have a tougher road, but here’s where they have an advantage right now. If they win this weekend, okay, at New Orleans, they’re a game up. Yep. On Tampa. Not only that, their record, NFC South record, they’re 2-1 right now. That would make them 3-1, which would also put them a game up against Tampa in conference play, in divisional play rather. Okay? And their conference record is five and three, whereas Tampa is five and five. This would put them at six and three. So they’d have a better conference record. They have a better record within the conference. They’d have a better record within the division. They’d have a game up on Tampa. And then you have those two meetings, which means they could afford to lose one of them. They could afford to split with Tampa. Okay. So again, you’re talking a situation where of course I got Seattle beating Carolina, but if Carolina wins, goes two and two over the last three games, I don’t know where it leaves Tampa Bay if they end up with a tie record because of divisional play and conference play. It could get interesting. What’s what’s crazy about this is the Carolina Panthers have the biggest gap between good and bad. That’s true, right? Like there are times you watch the Carolina Panthers, you go back to the New England Patriot game or you think about the Buffalo Bills game and you’re like, “This is not an NFL football team.” And then you see them play against the Los Angeles Rams, who many think is the best team in all of football, and you beat them. You pressure Matthew Stafford. You turn Matthew Stafford over. Bryce Young comes up with three fourth down plays that are absolutely out of his mind with the accuracy and the confidence he throws the football. You also go to Green Bay and he mentioned Rico and the way he was able to run and win

FIRST TAKE | Fire Todd Bowles before Bucs missing playoffs – Stephen A. Smith on Buccaneers fall to Falcons

44 comments

  6. Let’s take a look at this- this has been Bowles last three years and their slump – management did absolutely nothing to address the offensive line injuries during the trade deadline to include the defensive backfield. That and Bowles has not adjusted to anything defensively and it was evident last night – how a 3rd and 28 and a 4th and 14 were converted to a first down with the game looming in your hands has me scratching my head – his soft zone philosophy does not work with no pressure complimenting it. I think it’s time to move on from Bowles

  8. Someone finally said what Tampa fans are waiting to hear. When you have a coach who does not understand blitzing every down can be compensated for, it is time to go. It was second and 28, and Todd Bowles decided as always to blitz every down with 7 people. Leaving four in coverage. Atlanta knows what to do when Tampa does this. They put out 5 to receive and keep 6 on the line and in the backfield to block. It means if you get the pass out quickly (usually in under 2 seconds in this case) there is someone who cannot be covered. That person gets the ball on a short 4 to 6 yard catch and then runs downfield until one of the other four coverage people can catch up and tackle them. This happened on two plays back-to-back, picking up a total of 14 yards on third down, and 17 yards on fourth down. Telegraphing to the other team what you are going to do allows them to scheme around it. It is what the Chiefs do to Tampa, and Falcons do even better. It is why Tampa lost this game plain and simple – Bowles cannot change and won't. You need to change the coach to mix up the defensive schemes. Full stop.

  10. It is just embarrassing to watch a Defense give up in the last quarter because they were tired was unforgivable. Is the head coach going to have to lose his job and dismiss all of his assisting coaches, because he can't fire the players that are poisons to the rest of his team? I rather have a player that a little less talented but all heart playing with me than have a talented player who gives up when he feels a little tired late in a game.

  15. Only thing that could buy Bowles one more year is that they just extended his contract 6 months go for an additional 3 years, and also the number of injuries has decimated them this year. I don't see the Glazers paying out 3+ years of his contract to watch Bowles sit on his ass and collect a check, they may cut him a little slack over the injuries if they somehow limp into the playoffs.

  16. I FUCKING WENT TO BED AFTER THE BUCS SCORED IN THE 4TH THINKING THIS GAME WAS OVER AND THAT I WON MY BETS. I WAKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND SOMETHING TOLD ME TO CHECK THE SCORE AND THEY FUCKING LOST. FUCKING BULLSHIT CANT BELIEVE THIS

  18. What i dont understand is why Bowels dosen't bench starters that are messing up Like David, Winfield to name a few. He leaves them in there, if they can't play well bench they ass. You gotta put the best players in there not the ones of course.

  32. Stephen please stop calling for ppl to be fired like why from Marvin Lewis to bowls like what’s up with you you’ve been doing this for years and Marvin Lewis never had a shot after Cincinnati pretty pathetic and your day coming just like you’ve influenced many to be fired

  36. 34-31 as Bucs HC 50-61 career HC record. 1-3 in the playoffs. This piece of toilet turd should of never been a HC. No fire, no motivation in his demeanor. And as for a DC? His scheme and play calling don't work in the NFL anymore. He's washed up. He should retire. Only thing BA did that was bad for Tampa was retiring so late so Bucs couldn't look outside for a HC and it helped give Bowles the job. Because BA knew Bowles would never get a HC job again after the jets. Absolutely ZERO HC interviews for Bowles after the 2020 and 2021 seasons. So BA stepped down to give his good friend a job thar he would never get myself again. Pure DEI right there. Didn't earn the job from merrit. Winning the weakest division in football three years in a row at 8-9, 9-8, and 10-7 is laughable. Why? If a better HC coached the bucs those three years with those same teams, bucs would have atleast 12 wins and higher. Imagine if Andy Reid coached Tampa those three years with that talent? 😂😂😂 Dan Quinn? Sirriani? Mc Vay? Kyle Shanahan 😂😂😂😂😂😂

    In the weakest division in football…. 4 years running. Todd Turd Bowles is 34-31 as HC…….

  37. This is bullshyt. THIS IS BOWLES DEFENSE. No matter how you look at it. You ALL are sugarcoating this bullshyt for Bowles. There is NO excuse for Bowles game plan. He sucked PERIOD!

  38. 1.FAKER MAYFIELD'S INT WAS THE START OF THE DOWN FALL IN THE 4TH QUARTER.

    2.THE O-LINE PLAYED LIKE THEY WERE GETTING PAID TO BLOW THE GAME.

    3 AND THE DEFENSE IS GARBAGE 🗑.

  40. Todd should never have been appointed head coach. Now, he needs to be fired. 5-1 to likely to miss the playoffs. They have to defeat the Panthers twice. The Panthers just need to win one.

  43. “Raise the Flags 50 yr Anniversary “ documentary is excellent if you have access to Prime. Believe it is 10 episodes . Tampa has been through tough times so we shall persevere. Pushing Todd Bowles to swear on TV in press conference means he realizes his job is on the line .
    My husband says it will be Gruden 2.0.

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