The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 3–0 after a thrilling 29–27 win over the New York Jets, but the story once again isn’t just about the final score, it’s about how close it came to unraveling. And once again, head coach Todd Bowles’ conservative game management nearly turned a sure win into a demoralizing loss.
The Bucs held a 17-point lead in the second half. The defense was flying, the rookies were making plays, and Baker Mayfield had full control of the offense. But rather than keeping his foot on the gas, Bowles shifted into a familiar and frustrating mode: playing not to lose.
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Defensively, the Bucs dropped into soft zone coverages, rushing four and allowing Tyrod Taylor to methodically move the ball downfield. Offensively, Tampa abandoned what had worked in favor of run-run-pass sequences that stalled drives and gave the Jets life. The result? A blocked field goal returned for a touchdown, and a full-blown collapse that saw the Jets take a late 27–26 lead.
This isn’t the first time Bowles has pulled back when the game was still in the balance. Similar patterns showed up in years prior, and the trend has continued despite changes in personnel. With an aggressive quarterback, a young and opportunistic defense, and playmakers on both sides of the ball, this team is built to attack, not sit back and survive.
To the Bucs’ credit, Mayfield led a final scoring drive, and kicker Chase McLaughlin’s fifth field goal sealed the win. But Tampa Bay shouldn’t have needed late-game heroics to beat a winless Jets team at home. If the Buccaneers want to be taken seriously in the NFC, Bowles will have to start coaching to win, not just to avoid losing.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Todd Bowles conservative approach nearly cost the Bucs in Week 3