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Buccaneers HC Todd Bowles goes on NSFW rant in response to 'inexcusable' loss to Falcons on TNF

Meby: Nick Geddes22 hours agoNickGeddesNews

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers blew a 28-14 fourth quarter lead to the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday Night Football. Zane Gonzalez drilled a 43-yard field goal as time expired to complete the comeback and give Atlanta a 29-28 victory on the road.

After the game, the usual mild-mannered and stoic Todd Bowles launched into an expletive filled rant when asked about his message to the team.

“It’s inexcusable. We don’t make excuses,” Bowles said. “You gotta f*cking care enough where this sh*t hurts. You gotta f*cking care enough where this sh*t hurts. It’s gotta f*cking mean something to you. It’s more than a job, it’s your f*cking livelihood. How well do you know your job, how well can you do your job. You can’t sugarcoat that sh*t. It was inex-f*cking-cusable and there’s no f*cking answer for it. There’s no excuse for it. That’s what you tell them in the locker room. Look in the f*cking mirror.”

Todd Bowles furious as Buccaneers’ slide continues

With the loss, the Buccaneers have now dropped six of their last eight games. Five days ago, they fell at home to the now 3-10 New Orleans Saints. They started the season 5-1, matching the franchise’s best-ever record after six games. The Carolina Panthers have been gaining ground on Tampa Bay throughout the campaign and now sit alone in first place in the NFC South. Carolina and Tampa Bay play each other twice in the final three weeks of the season.

The Buccaneers looked to be cruising to a win over the Falcons. They took a 28-14 lead with 13:34 remaining in the fourth quarter after quarterback Baker Mayfield found wide receiver Chris Godwin for a three-yard score.

Atlanta quickly answered with a score of their own, though they failed the two-point conversion attempt. Up 28-20 midway through the fourth quarter, Mayfield was intercepted by cornerback Dee Alford. On Atlanta’s next drive, quarterback Kirk Cousins hit tight end Kyle Pitts for a seven-yard touchdown pass, Pitts’ third score of the game. Again, another failed two-point attempt followed.

The Buccaneers failed to finish the game on offense, giving the ball back to Cousins and co. with two minutes left on the clock. Atlanta faced third-and-28 and fourth-and-14 but still found a way to keep the chains moving. Gonzalez ended the game.

Bowles and the Buccaneers were booed off the field by the crowd at Raymond James Stadium. Bowles, in his fourth season as head coach of the Buccaneers, is now 34-31. Tampa Bay has won the NFC South each season under his leadership.