The Chiefs were nine point favorites coming into the game and nobody expected the Bucs to be in it.
And I should say that I am a fan of Bowles.
I think he’s a good coach.
He gets the team ready and they play for him.
That being said, some of his game management decisions are puzzling.
It started with 12:48 left in the 4th Quarter.
The Bucs punted and while I understand it, I don’t like that call.
I would’ve been more aggressive there.
Tampa Bay stood up on Defense and forced a KC three-and-out with 2:16 left.
At this point, this would be Tampa’s last gasp to win the game.
They had plenty of time to think about it.
But first they had to get there.
The clock is running.
You have one timeout.
There is :33 seconds left.
You’re moving in to score and potentially tie or go ahead in the game.
What do you do?
The correct answer is run up to the line and trigger the ball.
That is fairly easy.
That timeout won’t be the headline in anything, but it was an absolutely crazy timeout.
The worst possible move in that situation.
The Bucs had a quick incompletion followed by a touchdown pass with :27 seconds left.
But at this point that’s a sunk cost.
The decision has been made.
The real decision is whether or not you go for two.
On the road against the defending champs after you just took all the momentum back.
YOU HAVE TO GO FOR TWO THERE.
Bowles called in the play and it was to kick it.
Go for the tie.
Hopefully force overtime IF the defense could stop Mahomes in the next 27 seconds.
Just a brutal loss from a team that played terrific tonight.
The post-bye schedule is VERY soft with:
at NY Giants
at Carolina
vs. Las Vegas
at.
As for Todd Bowles.
I still support the man.
I do not want him fired.
He needs to be better with in-game decisions.
The Bucs have won the division under him in both seasons and won a playoff game last year.
The team plays hard and just took the undefeated defending champs to OT in their own building.
But he’s the Head Coach and heavy is the head who wears the crown.
I still believe in him.
Let’s learn from this.
