[](https://www.joebucsfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Bowlesleftdetroit.png)The Bucs made a big deal this offseason about hiring a game-management/clock-management guru.
His services sure came into play today against the Patriots.
The Bucs have the best long-distance kicker in the NFL. Chase McLaughlin has hit 8-of-8 field goals attemps from 50-plus yards this season, including a 65-yarder at The Licht House.
With 12:51 remaining in the fourth-quarter today, the Bucs had a 4th-and-3 at the Patriots’ 40 yard line while trailing New England 21-16. Rather than line up for a 58-yard field goal to cut the Patriots’ lead to two points, the Bucs went for it. The result was a stupid and reckless pick/offensive interference penalty on Sterling Shepard.
The 10-yard loss forced the Bucs to punt.
The Bucs had not been converting well on third downs to that point. So why go for it on 4th-and-3? Wasn’t the safer play a field goal try?
If the Bucs had made the field goal there, Tampa Bay would not have been trailing by the same score with 1:55 remaining — when they had a 4th-and-3 at the Patriots’ 27 yard line.
That play was a failed short throw to Rachaad White. In theory, it could have been an easy field goal try to take the lead.
As for the gimmick two-point conversion attempt by Emeka Egbuka that seemed to have a pass option for Baker Mayfield, Joe will punt on commenting.
Not a great day for the game-management braintrust.