If the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hope to bounce back in 2024, head coach Todd Bowles should feel the pressure like a high-stakes, fourth-quarter blitz. With a record that’s anything but inspiring and an underperforming defense, the coach is squarely in the hot seat. Bowles won’t be fired after Sunday’s game against the 49ers, but he’ll be under more pressure than ever. A defense that was supposed to be his trademark is crumbling, leaving the Bucs in a frustrating position. Their offense is actually really good, but it’s because of offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who has gained attention for all the right reasons.
Bowles’ Defensive Legacy Is in Shambles
Bowles came to Tampa wearing a badge of honor as a defensive wizard. Years later, fans are left wondering if the badge was store-bought. Tampa Bay’s defense has given up yardage like a holiday sale this season. Forget about terrorizing quarterbacks or shutting down opposing receivers. Offenses have gotten through Tampa's defense like a practice drill. For a “defensive genius,” the results are painfully lackluster. The mediocrity isn’t just disappointing—it’s embarrassing.
Bowles entered 2024 with a lot of promise and the reputation of a defensive mastermind. As the losses stack up, his reputation looks like an old relic gathering dust on the shelf. Tampa Bay’s defense has been struggling all season, ranking among the worst in pass defense and allowing opponents to move the ball with alarming ease. The last thing fans expected was for the defense to become a liability, especially under a head coach whose main claim to fame has been his defensive prowess.
Bowles was acquired because he supposedly had the X’s and O’s to elevate a defense and make magic happen when the personnel wasn’t ideal. Instead, fans are left watching missed tackles, blown coverages, and a secondary that’s anything but cohesive. If Bowles can’t figure this out quickly, his job security could feel as solid as a cardboard cutout.
It’s one thing to give up points with a young, rebuilding roster, but Bowles can’t hide behind that excuse with talents like Lavonte David, Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey, and Antoine Winfield Jr.
Enter, Liam Coen
While Bowles' defense is losing its fight, Coen is leading an offense that is keeping pace—no small feat with a roster that’s without Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. The Bucs haven’t seen similar success offensively since Bruce Arians and Tom Brady. Let’s be clear, if you're keeping an offense relevant under the current circumstances and with Sterling Shepard as your go-to wide receiver, you’re doing something right.
Coen's success presents Bowles with a problem: the better the offensive coordinator looks, the more obvious it becomes that this team’s future might be in his hands instead.
The Bucs aren’t going to fire Bowles midseason, but the pressure on him is mounting because of what’s happening on the other side of the ball. If Bowles can’t get his defense together and Coen continues to thrive, what exactly is Bowles bringing to the table? At a certain point, the Bucs will have to ask themselves whether they’d be better off giving Coen the reins and cutting their losses with Bowles.
The Pressure Is Real: Coen’s Success Makes Bowles’ Position More Precarious
The worst part for Bowles is that his position isn't just tenuous because of his defense’s struggles, it’s precarious because the team knows how important it is to keep Coen. Teams are lining up to poach offensive minds like Coen, and the Bucs can’t afford to let him slip away. This creates a fascinating—and ugly—dynamic. Bowles has to do more than salvage his job. He has to prove he can stay relevant in an organization that might be more interested in protecting their offensive coordinator from other suitors than ensuring their head coach doesn't implode.
This Sunday’s game against the 49ers isn’t just a typical matchup. It’s the kind of game that will send a message, one way or another. If Bowles can rally his defense and show that he can still make adjustments, then maybe—just maybe—he can stop the questions about his job from getting louder. If the defense falls apart again, the focus will inevitably shift to Coen. His success is not only going to elevate expectations but also turn the spotlight on Bowles’ failures.
Coen’s Success Equals Even More Pressure for Bowles
The more Coen succeeds, the more Bowles starts to look like an afterthought. Sure, he’s the head coach, but a head coach of what? A defense that can't stop a nosebleed? Bowles needs to make a statement with his defense, and if that doesn’t happen soon, the whispers about his job security will only grow louder.
The Bucs know that a coach like Coen doesn’t stay available forever. The NFL world is always hunting for talented, young offensive minds. If the Bucs let Coen slip away because they’re sticking with Bowles, it'll be a mistake that is hard to recover from. Coen has already shown he can get results in less-than-ideal circumstances. It's Bowles' turn to show he can be more than just an assistant on the defensive side of the ball.
A Must-Win Moment for Bowles
This weekend, Bowles faces what could be a make-or-break game. With a loss against the San Francisco 49ers, talk of Bowles coaching himself out of a job will only intensify. He’s had the chance to prove himself, and now the leash is about as short as it gets. Fans and management aren’t interested in excuses or explanations. They want results, and they want them yesterday.
If Bowles can rally his defense and deliver a win, he may buy himself some time. If the defense continues to flounder, it’ll be hard to make a case that he deserves to return in 2025. It’s do or die, and Bowles knows it.
The Bottom Line: It’s All About Survival
The pressure is on, and if Bowles’ defense doesn’t start performing, the Bucs may be faced with a choice: do they ride with Bowles and hope for a miracle, or do they shift gears and start building with Coen as the face of the future? He needs to channel every ounce of his defensive know-how and turn that struggling unit into a respectable force. Coen has proven he can handle his side of things; now it’s up to Bowles to do the same. Either way, Bowles has to prove he can stay afloat long enough to make that decision a difficult one, because if this season continues on its current trajectory, that decision could very well be made for him.
When: Sunday, November 10
Where: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, FL)
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET
TV: FOX – Kevin Burkhardt (Play by Play), Tom Brady (Analyst), Erin Andrews & Tom Rinaldi (Reporters)
Bucs Radio: 98Rock – Gene Deckerhoff (Play by Play), Dave Moore (Color), T.J. Rives (Reporter)
Spanish Radio: 96.1 Caliente – Carlos Bohorquez (Play by Play), Martín Gramática (Analyst), Santiago Gramática (Reporter)
If the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hope to bounce back in 2024, head coach Todd Bowles should feel the pressure like a high-stakes, fourth-quarter blitz. With a record that’s anything but inspiring and an underperforming defense, the coach is squarely in the hot seat. Bowles won’t be fired after Sunday’s game against the 49ers, but he’ll be under more pressure than ever. A defense that was supposed to be his trademark is crumbling, leaving the Bucs in a frustrating position. Their offense is actually really good, but it’s because of offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who has gained attention for all the right reasons.
Bowles’ Defensive Legacy Is in Shambles
Bowles came to Tampa wearing a badge of honor as a defensive wizard. Years later, fans are left wondering if the badge was store-bought. Tampa Bay’s defense has given up yardage like a holiday sale this season. Forget about terrorizing quarterbacks or shutting down opposing receivers. Offenses have gotten through Tampa's defense like a practice drill. For a “defensive genius,” the results are painfully lackluster. The mediocrity isn’t just disappointing—it’s embarrassing.
Bowles entered 2024 with a lot of promise and the reputation of a defensive mastermind. As the losses stack up, his reputation looks like an old relic gathering dust on the shelf. Tampa Bay’s defense has been struggling all season, ranking among the worst in pass defense and allowing opponents to move the ball with alarming ease. The last thing fans expected was for the defense to become a liability, especially under a head coach whose main claim to fame has been his defensive prowess.
Bowles was acquired because he supposedly had the X’s and O’s to elevate a defense and make magic happen when the personnel wasn’t ideal. Instead, fans are left watching missed tackles, blown coverages, and a secondary that’s anything but cohesive. If Bowles can’t figure this out quickly, his job security could feel as solid as a cardboard cutout.
It’s one thing to give up points with a young, rebuilding roster, but Bowles can’t hide behind that excuse with talents like Lavonte David, Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey, and Antoine Winfield Jr.
Enter, Liam Coen
While Bowles' defense is losing its fight, Coen is leading an offense that is keeping pace—no small feat with a roster that’s without Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. The Bucs haven’t seen similar success offensively since Bruce Arians and Tom Brady. Let’s be clear, if you're keeping an offense relevant under the current circumstances and with Sterling Shepard as your go-to wide receiver, you’re doing something right.
Coen's success presents Bowles with a problem: the better the offensive coordinator looks, the more obvious it becomes that this team’s future might be in his hands instead.
The Bucs aren’t going to fire Bowles midseason, but the pressure on him is mounting because of what’s happening on the other side of the ball. If Bowles can’t get his defense together and Coen continues to thrive, what exactly is Bowles bringing to the table? At a certain point, the Bucs will have to ask themselves whether they’d be better off giving Coen the reins and cutting their losses with Bowles.
The Pressure Is Real: Coen’s Success Makes Bowles’ Position More Precarious
The worst part for Bowles is that his position isn't just tenuous because of his defense’s struggles, it’s precarious because the team knows how important it is to keep Coen. Teams are lining up to poach offensive minds like Coen, and the Bucs can’t afford to let him slip away. This creates a fascinating—and ugly—dynamic. Bowles has to do more than salvage his job. He has to prove he can stay relevant in an organization that might be more interested in protecting their offensive coordinator from other suitors than ensuring their head coach doesn't implode.
This Sunday’s game against the 49ers isn’t just a typical matchup. It’s the kind of game that will send a message, one way or another. If Bowles can rally his defense and show that he can still make adjustments, then maybe—just maybe—he can stop the questions about his job from getting louder. If the defense falls apart again, the focus will inevitably shift to Coen. His success is not only going to elevate expectations but also turn the spotlight on Bowles’ failures.
Coen’s Success Equals Even More Pressure for Bowles
The more Coen succeeds, the more Bowles starts to look like an afterthought. Sure, he’s the head coach, but a head coach of what? A defense that can't stop a nosebleed? Bowles needs to make a statement with his defense, and if that doesn’t happen soon, the whispers about his job security will only grow louder.
The Bucs know that a coach like Coen doesn’t stay available forever. The NFL world is always hunting for talented, young offensive minds. If the Bucs let Coen slip away because they’re sticking with Bowles, it'll be a mistake that is hard to recover from. Coen has already shown he can get results in less-than-ideal circumstances. It's Bowles' turn to show he can be more than just an assistant on the defensive side of the ball.
A Must-Win Moment for Bowles
This weekend, Bowles faces what could be a make-or-break game. With a loss against the San Francisco 49ers, talk of Bowles coaching himself out of a job will only intensify. He’s had the chance to prove himself, and now the leash is about as short as it gets. Fans and management aren’t interested in excuses or explanations. They want results, and they want them yesterday.
If Bowles can rally his defense and deliver a win, he may buy himself some time. If the defense continues to flounder, it’ll be hard to make a case that he deserves to return in 2025. It’s do or die, and Bowles knows it.
The Bottom Line: It’s All About Survival
The pressure is on, and if Bowles’ defense doesn’t start performing, the Bucs may be faced with a choice: do they ride with Bowles and hope for a miracle, or do they shift gears and start building with Coen as the face of the future? He needs to channel every ounce of his defensive know-how and turn that struggling unit into a respectable force. Coen has proven he can handle his side of things; now it’s up to Bowles to do the same. Either way, Bowles has to prove he can stay afloat long enough to make that decision a difficult one, because if this season continues on its current trajectory, that decision could very well be made for him.
When: Sunday, November 10
Where: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, FL)
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET
TV: FOX – Kevin Burkhardt (Play by Play), Tom Brady (Analyst), Erin Andrews & Tom Rinaldi (Reporters)
Bucs Radio: 98Rock – Gene Deckerhoff (Play by Play), Dave Moore (Color), T.J. Rives (Reporter)
Spanish Radio: 96.1 Caliente – Carlos Bohorquez (Play by Play), Martín Gramática (Analyst), Santiago Gramática (Reporter)
.png)
.png)
.png)
