The Tampa Bay Buccaneers started the season with so much promise and came out of the gates firing on all cylinders, despite the injuries they faced. With all of the injuries stacked up on both sides of the ball, they came out and started the season with a record of 5-1. However, in a weird twist, as more players returned from injury, the worse off they became.
Now, as the team heads into Week 12 with a matchup against the Los Angeles Rams looming, they have a record of 6-4 and have lost three in a row. Everyone is looking around for someone to blame, but they needn’t look far. For the most part, the answer is standing on the sideline wearing a headset and playsheet: Head coach Todd Bowles.
Todd Bowles has taken a roster that had depth to handle injuries and has taken them to the top of the NFC South once again. However, they have now seen a four-game lead vanish and have just a half-game lead over the Carolina Panthers, and could be behind them with another loss in Week 12.
The coaching style of Todd Bowles is aggressive; everyone knows that. There are times when it pays off, and they are able to create chaos that opposing offenses cannot operate under. However, all year long they have been playing with fire and Baker Mayfield is finally running out of steam to drag this team across the finish line.
The final straw on the camel’s back came this weekend when the team scored 32 points but lost despite it. The defense, which Todd Bowles is responsible for, gave up 44 points and has not been able to get pressure despite his playcalling.
Something has to give, but does something have to change?
Todd Bowles received an extension this offseason so his name is not likely to pop up as being on the hot seat, but it should be. This is a Super Bowl roster that is being fumbled in front of everyone’s eyes, and Jason Licht has to see what is happening. Josh Grizzard and his playcalling are an issue, and that hiring also falls on Bowles.
If things don’t straighten out sooner rather than later, we may be seeing more chaos unfold for the Bucs this offseason.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs’ Todd Bowles should be on the hot seat after recent losing streak
