Have you ever seen a cheap sweater unraveling? That’s what Todd Bowles saw on Sunday night. The Los Angeles Rams shredded the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 34-7. You could almost hear the narrator from a true-crime documentary whispering, ‘It was over before it began.’ Matthew Stafford picked the Bucs defense apart like a surgeon. The worst part? This wasn’t even Tampa Bay’s only disaster of the night.
The scoreboard told one sad story. Baker Mayfield‘s shoulder told another. He left the game before halftime with a sprained left shoulder. The Bucs QB left with just 41 passing yards. Backup Teddy Bridgewater couldn’t save the day either. Tampa Bay’s playoff cushion vanished in three hours. Bowles had to face the music after this one.
Todd Bowles Unloads on Defensive Breakdown
Bowles was blunt with the reporters after the blowout. And it wasn’t pleasant. “Saw a lot of guys get better,” he began. Then came the real talk. “I saw some things we can do better. It’s not everybody. It happens to be a guy here and a guy there, and it ends up being the same thing.” The Bucs defense gave up three to four catastrophic plays. Cobie Durant’s 50-yard pick-six epitomized the collapse. Cade Otton juggled a pass, and Durant ripped it away. That play. That one play alone broke Tampa Bay’s spirit. Meanwhile, Stafford carved up the secondary.
The veteran QB tossed three touchdowns and piled up 273 yards. The 37-YO hasn’t thrown an interception since Week 3. That’s 27 straight touchdown passes. An NFL record, guys. Davante Adams caught two scores. The Rams led 21-0 by the second quarter. And Tampa Bay’s defense looked on. This blowout raises serious questions about their playoff viability.
Mayfield’s injury just made things worse. He hurt his non-throwing shoulder on a Hail Mary attempt before halftime. The ball bounced off his receiver and turned into a disaster. He’ll get an MRI on Monday. The offense looked lost without its captain. And Tampa Bay faces a major crisis at the worst possible time.
The loss drops Tampa Bay to 6-5. They now share the NFC South lead with Carolina. The Panthers play Monday night. They could take sole possession of first place. The schedule only gets tougher. Todd Bowles wants to be held accountable for the Bucs’ overall performance. And he must fix this mess fast.
Mayfield Injury Clouds Tampa Bay’s Future
Mayfield’s injury could derail Tampa Bay’s entire season. He entered Sunday completing 63.5% of his passes. The average stood at 236.5 yards per game. Mayfield had his struggles. But he did score seventeen touchdowns against just three interceptions. The Buccaneers built their offense around his right arm. Now they might survive without his left shoulder. And that’s a scary thought for Bowles.
Bridgewater is a capable backup. He completed 8 of 15 passes for 62 yards. But the offense simply couldn’t match the class of Sean McVay’s men. The Rams defense dominated every possession. Bridgewater took two sacks and faced constant pressure. The running game couldn’t bail him out. Tampa Bay gained just 123 rushing yards. The whole unit looked out of sync.
The NFC South race will likely come down to Weeks 16 and 18. Tampa Bay faces Carolina twice in those final games. Those matchups could decide the division champion. But first, the Buccaneers host the Arizona Cardinals on November 30. They need Mayfield healthy for that one.
Todd Bowles faces his toughest coaching challenge yet. He must rally a battered team. The defense needs fundamental fixes. The offense might need a new leader. The Buccaneers have talent. They showed it earlier this year. But talent means nothing without execution.
The Rams exposed every flaw in Tampa Bay’s armor. Todd Bowles knew it immediately. And the message reflected that reality. The Buccaneers have no time to feel sorry for themselves. But the path got much steeper overnight. Bowles must find solutions before his season slips away. The playoffs start now for Tampa Bay. Every week is an elimination game.
Main Photo: [Kiyoshi Mio] – Imagn Images
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