The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a strong offensive performance despite missing Chris Godwin and Mike Evans. However, a defense that is struggling got the Bucs (4-4) into trouble, leading to a 31-26 loss against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
“It starts with me. It starts with the defensive coaches, and it starts with the players. We’ve got to play better,” Bowles said, noting that the Bucs, who were a top-10 scoring defense last year, have allowed 27 or more points in four straight games.
“We have to fix it. Nobody is coming to save us,” Bowles added. “We have to do a hell of a lot better job than we’re doing, and that starts with me.”
In their first game without Godwin, who had season-ending ankle surgery, and Evans, who is out for at least three games due to a hamstring injury, the Bucs still managed 394 total yards.
They have gained 1,469 yards in the last three weeks but have lost two of those games, dropping them from first place in the division.
The Falcons recorded 432 total yards, with Kirk Cousins throwing for 276 yards and four touchdowns without any interceptions. This victory marked the second time the Falcons defeated the Bucs in less than a month. On October 3 in Atlanta, Cousins passed for a career-high 509 yards and four touchdowns to win 36-30 in overtime.
The Bucs have now lost four of their last six games after starting 2-0. Sunday’s defeat put them at 2-3 at home.
Bowles was asked what he told his players after the game.
“I said we’ve got to fix our problems. The problems are in the locker room, but the answers are in the locker room,” Bowles said. “From coaches to players, we’ve got to stay together. We’ve got to fix us, and we’ve got to get moving.”
