Playoff defense?
Joe can just see it now.
Many Bucs fans, who have been stomping their feet for years for the Bucs to move on from KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles believe they are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
The Bucs have started the 2026 season 1-5. The howls for Bowles’ head on a platter can be heard from Dade City to Venice and every bar in-between.
But Joe can actually see Team Glazer build a case to keep Bowles. No, really.
Remember last year Bowles was sort of given a pass with all the injuries? Well, Joe can see something like that happen again come January.
Bowles is actually doing a solid job with his defense, even without any sort of pass rush. [Consider the numbers](https://www.sharpfootballanalysis.com/fantasy/buccaneers-panthers-week-7-fantasy-football-preview-nfl-worksheet-rich-hribar-2026/) that Rich Hribar of _Sharp Football Analysis_ dug up.
> 41.2 percent of the drives against Tampa Bay fail to gain a first down, 4th in the league.
This is something that Joe has been screaming about for years, dating back to lousy Lovie Smith. Joe thinks football people are way too focused on turnovers.
First, a defense has to hope an offense makes a mistake in order to get a takeaway. If a defensive coordinator puts too much emphasis on takeaways (which too many seem to do), what happens when an opposing offense doesn’t make mistakes? You have lousy Lovie all over again.
Joe’s a huge believer in three-and-outs. Play good, strong, solid defense with strong tackling; at worst you’ll get off the field. At best the turnovers will come.
Punting is a turnover, too.
And the Bucs are doing just that. Bowles has his defense getting off the field. Regularly.
If this continues, Joe can see — he’s not predicting this but still could see it happening — Team Glazer saying Bowles is doing a good job with his defense. He only needs an offensive coordinator.
When the folks who cut the checks like an important employee, they will be creative when protecting him, whether the public at large agree with them or not.