The Tampa Bay Buccaneers let another close game slip away Sunday, and head coach Todd Bowles made it clear afterward that the loss came down to self-inflicted mistakes.
Bowles pointed first to the final offensive play, where a miscommunication ended Tampa Bay’s last chance. According to Bowles, Mike Evans broke inside while the ball went outside, a breakdown he said he needed to review before placing blame.
“It looked like miscommunication,” Bowles said. “It’s unfortunate for us.”
Penalties were a recurring issue throughout the game, repeatedly putting the offense behind schedule. Bowles emphasized that starting drives in first-and-long situations made sustained success nearly impossible.
“We can’t start first and 15 every drive and expect to overcome that offensively,” he said.
Defensively, Bowles acknowledged that the Buccaneers didn’t generate enough pressure from the edge, but noted that the Panthers quick throws limited most of the Buccaneers pass-rush opportunities. While coverage primarily held up, a pair of breakdowns, including a touchdown before halftime, proved costly enough for the team to let the win slip out of reach.
Despite losing six of their last seven games, Bowles said the locker room remains unified. However, confidence alone won’t be enough to change outcomes.
“Our confidence and camaraderie are good,” Bowles said. “But it’s the execution we’re missing.”
With two games remaining and the division still in reach, Bowles stressed accountability and focus as Tampa Bay prepares for the final stretch.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs HC press conference: Miscommunications and missed chances
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