The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were already hurting badly enough when the real Super Bowl contenders like the Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills, and New England Patriots exposed them for being a step below that level. But things have really gotten out of hand over the past couple of weeks against easier opponents.
Barely beating the Arizona Cardinals should have been a bigger red flag to Buccaneers fans than it it was initially presented as, but, well, finally getting in the winning column amidst a sea of injuries felt just a little bit good. But now, losses to NFC South rivals the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints have sent the Bucs fully into a tail spin.
Even if the Bucs survive this scare at an even .500 and make the postseason over the Carolina Panthers, whom they now face twice in the last three weeks in two do or die matchups for Baker Mayfield and Co., that might not matter for the fate of head coach Todd Bowles.
Todd Bowles sits on a throne of mediocrity
Built on a career of mediocrity as a head coach, Bowles has seemingly lost the locker room, judging by the mix of incensed and outright apathetic reactions in the aftermath of the horrid blown loss to the Falcons on Thursday Night Football. And Bowles had already lost the Bucs fan base weeks ago.
Buccaneers fans are already thinking of alternatives to Bowles, whose defensive coaching has been not as advertised and whose offensive work is, well, downright offensive. Thursday Night Football this week provided a showcase of two of the finest up and coming coaches this season, as both Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula and Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak are more than ready to be significant upgrades on Bowles.
Shula and Kubiak produced a coaching chess match for the ages on the big stages, as the Rams and Seahawks played out a legitimate all time classic. Kubiak's offense was scripted beautifully and did just enough to edge out a hungry and angry Rams defense that dominated at the line of scrimmage and bamboozled MVP candidate Sam Darnold on a couple of interceptions with brilliantly disguised coverages.
Kubiak and Shula are two young coaches with strong NFL pedigrees, great staffs around them, and have proven results on their respective sides of the ball. They are innovative, modern coaches who are not afraid to take risks and be bold, and they showed that they are already superior options to the meandering Bowles.