Todd Bowles delivered some NSFW comments about Will McDonald's blocked FG

Well said....
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles had a NFSW reaction to the Jets nearly pulling off a miracle victory.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles had a NFSW reaction to the Jets nearly pulling off a miracle victory. | Julio Aguilar/GettyImages

Just when it looked like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were going to cruise to 3-0, a harsh reality nearly set in at the worst possible moment.

After leading the Jets by 17 points in the fourth quarter, the Bucs found themselves forced into yet another comeback drive scenario in the closing moments of the game. Things ultimately worked out well in the end, as even though the win was way more stressful than it needed to be, it was still a win. It's one that's hard to feel super giddy about, though, something head coach Todd Bowles made clear after the game.

One of the critical turning points of the game came late in the fourth quarter when the Bucs were attempting a chip shot field goal to ice the game. Instead of that happening, the Jets blocked Chase McLaughlin's kick and Will McDonald returned it for a go-ahead score.

It's about as close to disaster as a team can get without actually losing a game. Tampa Bay mounted its second straight game-winning drive moments later, where McLaughlin redeemed himself as time expired.

That blocked kick by the Jets was a heart attack no Bucs fan needed, and Bowles was right there with them as he reacted to the truly inconceivable moment.

Todd Bowles had a NSFW reaction to Will McDonald IV's blocked FG return for a TD

It's a game that has Bucs fans split down the middle in terms of how to feel. This is three straight weeks of playing with fire without being burned, and the question is how long can this sort of luck be sustained?

Tampa Bay was on the wrong side of a ton of one-score games last year so the 3-0 start feels cathartic in that regard, but it's also a bit troubling. Special teams has fully exposed itself as a real problem for the Bucs, one that could grow fatal in short order.

In another universe where the offense doesn't bail the Bucs out in back-to-back weeks, things are a lot more grim. We could still be living in that reality of things don't change, as bad special teams is a good way to sink a team's chances.

There's also the matter of the blown 17-point lead. Bowles defense softened up and allowed two huge touchdown drives to the Jets that put us in a spot where McDonald's blocked kick was such a massive moment.

Still, for all the negatives, Tampa Bay is still 3-0 and atop the NFC South. They are in control, even if it doesn't totally feel that way, and it's worth appreciating -- given the team's history with bad luck -- that we can sit here and sort of laugh off a blocked field goal and not have it be something that is sinking the season.

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