Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coach Todd Bowles criticized his players and urged them to “look in the mirror” after his team blew a two-touchdown lead in the fourth quarter and lost 29-28. Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night at Raymond James Stadium.
The Bucs (7-7) lost for the fifth time in six games and trailed by a half-game. Carolina Panthers in the NFC South.
“You’re not making excuses,” Bowles said with an expletive. It's more than a job. This is your fucking income. How well do you know your job? How well can you do it? You can’t sugarcoat this shit.”
After the Falcons trimmed a 14-point deficit to 28-20. Sesame Robinson6-yard touchdown with 10 minutes left, Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield was chosen Dee Alford on the next trip. Atlanta then drove 67 yards and scored on a two-point conversion to make the score 28-26.
The Falcons forced a punt from the Buccaneers and got the ball at the 30 with no timeouts and 1:49 left. Facing third-and-28 on final drive, quarterback. Kirk Cousins completed passes for 14 yards per Kyle Pitts Sr.. and 20 yards on fourth and 14 David Sills V tune Zane Gonzalez43-yard field goal as time expired.
Bowles called the loss “unforgivable” and blamed the Bucs' players for its execution.
“At this point, you've seen everything this season has been,” Bowles said. “The coaches have done everything they can. Over the last four or five weeks, this is a player-driven team. You have to execute and they have to hold each other accountable. As a coach, you can sit there until you're blue in the face. Until they start holding each other accountable and doing the little things right – and that's not all, you know, we're talking about a small, select minority. But it's the small, select few that help us win. And until then, nothing happens.”
The Bucs' odds of winning the NFC South would drop to 35% if the Panthers beat the Panthers, according to ESPN Analytics. New Orleans Saints on Sunday; they will rise to 76% if the Panthers lose.
For the first time this season, Mayfield has all of his receivers available after being a six-time Pro Bowl selection. Mike Evans and sophomore pro Jalen McMillan were activated from the wounded reserve.
He took the blame for Thursday night's loss.
“This question will haunt me. It falls on my shoulders,” Mayfield said. “It's not the defense's fault. It's my fault.”
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
