Todd Bowles' blunt postgame comments signal a breaking point for Bucs

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach and defensive coordinator Todd Bowles looks on before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James Stadium. Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Todd Bowles' blunt postgame comments signal a breaking point for Buccaneers

By Olamilekan Ajayi | Last updated Dec 12, 2025 8:21 AM ET

One of the most obscenity-filled press conferences in recent history came courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles after his team's 29-28 collapse against the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday.

The usually composed Bowles unleashed a total of seven F-bombs when asked what message he would give to his locker room after observing a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter melt away at Raymond James Stadium.

The loss put Tampa Bay at 7-7 and out of first place in the NFC South. A bigger problem than the record, however, is how the Buccaneers got there. This is the second consecutive home loss to a division opponent that had already been eliminated from playoff contention.

The Buccaneers had won 74 consecutive games when leading by 14 or more points in the fourth quarter before this game, per CBS Sports' Zachary Pereles. The last time they lost such a game was back in 2003.

As The 33rd Team's Ari Meirov reported on X, the reaction was raw and immediate.

When a reporter asked Bowles what he would say to his team in the locker room, there was no hesitation in his response.

“It's inexcusable. You don't make excuses. You got to f------ care enough where the s--- hurts. You got to f------ care enough where the sh-t hurts. It got to f------ mean something to you. It's more than a job; it's your f------ livelihood. How well do you know your job, how well can you do your job? Well, you can't sugarcoat that s---. It was in the f------ inexcusable and there's no f------ answer for it, as far as no excuse for it. That's what you tell them in the locker room. Look in the f------ mirror.

Buccaneers wasting opportunity to claim fourth straight division title

The Buccaneers have now lost five of their last six games after beginning the season 6-2. They have now lost two consecutive home games to the Saints and Falcons, who combined had a 4-21 record going into the two contests.

However, Tampa Bay conceded 15 unanswered points in the last 9:37 of the game on Thursday despite Atlanta committing 19 penalties for 125 yards in the game. The 19 penalties also set a franchise record in the Falcons.

The Panthers now hold first place in the division with a 7-6 record, although the Buccaneers will move ahead of them if the Panthers do not win this weekend before their meeting.

The future only gets harder. Tampa Bay has a trip to Carolina on Dec. 21 that is essentially a playoff elimination game.

The Buccaneers must show they have the maturity to react to being publicly challenged by their head coach. Bowles has made his point. Now, it’s time for the Buccaneers to show if they got it.

Olamilekan Ajayi

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