The Tampa Bay Buccaneers suffered a heartbreaking 29-28 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night, dropping another divisional game.
We warned you. We’ve been preaching how Todd Bowles defense has been the weak link for three years now. Every week, win or lose we’ve said on The Aftermath that this offense can’t continue to carry this team. And now that the offense is struggling, here comes the blame being laid at their feet.
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Good teams find a way regardless of a turnover. Yes the interception was at a bad time. But you’re still up by a score after the Falcons converted on the turnover.
Good defenses put away a 4-8 team even with a three point lead let alone a seven point lead.
Good teams don’t lose back to back games against sub 500 teams at home while in a playoff push.
And the thing is, everything some of us have been pointing to that will be an issue is now an issue.
The offense has bailed this defense out for the better part of three years. Now that the offense isn’t bailing the defense out, it’s suddenly the offenses fault?
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Back in 2023 the offense and defense were both ranked 23rd overall. But if you recall, there were several games that the defense blew the lead late, or the offense rallied to win the game late.
In 2024, the offense was ranked 3rd, defense was ranked 21st.
This year, 2025, the offense is ranked 14th. The defense is ranked 25th.
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Now, I’m not saying there hasn’t been issues with the offense this season. Josh Grizzard has not been up to the task. Injuries have hampered the Buccaneers from week one. Baker Mayfield has made some bad decisions, but also pulled this team to some incredible wins. Remember the beginning of the season? That was Baker baking.
Todd Bowles is always held up as a defensive guru. Defensive gurus tend to have their defenses ranked in the top-10, not the bottom-10. But the reality is, that’s been the defenses rankings for three years, bottom-10.
But the buck ultimately stops with the head coach. And that’s why his postgame tirade screams desperation. Which is an emotion we can all relate too.
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