The Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday let a huge opportunity to upset the Kansas City Chiefs slip away. Some fans pinned the blame on Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles.
The Buccaneers had possession and trailed the Chiefs 24-17 just before the two-minute warning at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. Quarterback Baker Mayfield led his team over 70 yards down the field for a touchdown with 27 seconds left in the game.
ALL TIED UP ‼️
📺: #TBvsKC on ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/Tf4oiXFW3v
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) November 5, 2024
Bowles had the option of going for two and putting the pressure on the defending champions to make a critical stop. Instead, the Buccaneers went for the extra point. Tampa Bay ended up losing the coin toss and eventually the game 30-24 in overtime.
WALK. OFF. WINNER‼️ pic.twitter.com/h2uxAQQ3bF
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) November 5, 2024
Several fans and media members on X slammed Bowles for playing it safe rather than going for two to end regulation.
Todd Bowles is a coward
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) November 5, 2024
Todd Bowles really thought going to overtime against the best quarterback in the world was a better idea than attempting a 2 point conversion.
— Brenden Deeg (@BrendenDeeg_) November 5, 2024
You don't beat the Chiefs by playing it safe. Shame on Todd Bowles for not going for 2
— Barstool Sooners (@OUBarstool) November 5, 2024
Todd Bowles will throw the ball down 30 and get his WRs killed but won’t go for 2 with an actual chance to win with 20 seconds left. Okay
— Catcher Freeman (@n_osei07) November 5, 2024
Don't blame us, blame Todd Bowles for not going for two
— Rany Jazayerli (@jazayerli) November 5, 2024
Kansas City entered the game with an unblemished 7-0 record. Very few expected the extremely short-handed Buccaneers to put up much of a fight against the Chiefs. Getting an opportunity to potentially steal a win at Arrowhead with one play seemed like a risk worth taking.
Bowles went for the PAT to give him team a chance in overtime. But as fate would have it, the Buccaneers’ offense never even got a chance to take the field during the extra period.
