Writing may be on the wall for one Bucs coach after loss to the Eagles
The Bucs’ special teams have been awful in 2025.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fought back valiantly from a huge hole against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium, but they couldn’t quite get all the way back, losing 31-25 after trailing 24-3 just before the half.
Unfortunately, the Bucs gave up seven points to the Eagles on special teams. While there was plenty of blame to go around, that gift-wrapped delivery was the difference in the game.
The Bucs’ special teams are failing in 2025 on Thomas McGaughey’s watch
The Eagles blocked a punt after the Bucs’ first series ended on Sunday. Eagles TE Cameron Latu broke through the line and blocked Riley Dixon’s punt. Sydney Brown scooped it up and ran for what turned out to be six very important points for the Eagles.
It’s the third time in the last three games the Bucs have had a kick blocked, which is simply inexcusable at this level. Houston blocked a punt by Dixon in the fourth quarter of the Bucs’ 20-19 win two weeks ago. The Jets blocked a field goal and returned it for a touchdown last week to take an improbable lead late in the fourth quarter, requiring another Baker Mayfield miracle final drive to pull that game out of the fire.
It sounds like Todd Bowles is running out of patience with special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey’s group as a whole.
Bucs’ Todd Bowles says ‘none of it is good’ regarding special teams
“That’s something, we’ll figure out in the meetings,” Bowles said after the game. “We’ll look at the whole operation. How we’re going it, and if we’re doing it with the right people, and if we’re doing it with the right scheme, because that’s three weeks in a row something has went wrong and we’ll get that fixed.”
When asked about Dixon’s time to get his punts away, Bowles again said they’ll work to get things fixed, but included a telling statement in the process.
“Like I said, we’ll get all of that fixed,” Bowles added. “There’s a lot going on special teams-wise, and none of it’s good.”
Before Sunday, the Bucs had to overcome late-game special teams gaffes to win. The unit is actually hurting its own team and costing it a chance to win. That’s the opposite of winning football and something that cannot continue if this team wants to push for one of the top spots in the NFC.
They might be at the top of the NFC right now had they not had another special teams meltdown on Sunday. But they did, and now Bowles will have to act quickly to shore up a group that’s simply been an anchor to this team through four games.
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