The Buccaneers opened the season hot, then hit the familiar fog. Tampa Bay ripped off early wins, only to stumble three of four games entering Week 12. Now, Todd Bowles’ Bucs face another midseason test, a prime-time trip to SoFi Stadium against a red-hot Rams team. Head coach Bowles made the stakes plain in his Wednesday comments:
“*They definitely are. They’re playing great ball right now. They don’t beat themselves. They get very few penalties, they take care of the football, and they play very hard on defense. So, they’re definitely in the top two.*”
Todd Bowles’ Bucs Brace for Defining Midseason Showdown
Oct 13, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles arrives before a game against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
Oct 13, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles arrives before a game against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
This is where history and context collide. Todd Bowles’ Bucs have a pattern that is strong starts followed by an autumn slip, then a late push.Pewter Report noted the club’s slide, flipping a 5-1 start into a 6-4 ledger after losing back-to-back games. That narrative matters because it shapes how Bowles coaches urgency and rotation.
Los Angeles arrives with momentum. The 37-year-old Matthew Stafford is carving up defenses, and the Rams are on a five-game win streak. They’re disciplined. Bowles’ quote nailed it: few penalties, clean football, stingy defense, textbook Rams traits. Beating that requires Tampa Bay to limit mistakes and win the turnover battle.
Injury fate will color the outcome. Chris Godwin, the veteran wideout, is “trending towards playing,” a boost for Baker Mayfield and the passing game if he suits up.Reuters reported Godwin’s return on November 21, 2025; that’s a timely shift for a Bucs offense that has leaned on Sean Tucker’s running instead of consistent downfield passing.
The Bucs must stop explosive plays. Pewter Report flagged a litany of big-play breakdowns in recent weeks. Special teams return issues and breakdowns against elite QB play have been costly. Bowles will rely on veteran leadership and schematic adjustments to seal those leaks before kickoff.
This game is more than a single loss. It’s a test of whether Todd Bowles’ Bucs can break their midseason slide earlier than in past years or if old habits resurface under primetime pressure. Bowles has preached accountability; now the roster must show it against a Rams team that punishes mistakes. Win, and the late-season script stays familiar, rally and run. Lose, and that midseason question mark becomes an avalanche heading into December.