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Todd Bowles flirted with disaster by passing on fourth-quarter field goal

Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles faced a pivotal moment late in Thursday night’s game against the Dallas Cowboys, holding a commanding 24-10 lead with 8:36 left in the fourth quarter. Instead of opting for a field goal to extend the margin to three scores—a move that would have made a comeback nearly impossible—Bowles elected to go for the touchdown on fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line.

The decision backfired, as the failed conversion allowed Dallas to mount a furious rally, cutting the deficit to just one point before the Buccaneers finally secured the win. The near-miss sparked questions about Bowles’ leadership, especially with a tough stretch of games ahead, including matchups against the Steelers, Panthers, Falcons, and Bears before the Week 10 bye.

A strong performance in the next four contests will be critical for the Buccaneers to avoid early speculation over Bowles’ future, as even a single loss could reignite the debate over his coaching tenure.

The Cowboys’ late drive was marked by drama, including a potential game-sealing interception by cornerback DaRon Bland, which was dropped. The Buccaneers ultimately held on, but the narrow escape underscored how a single strategic misstep had nearly altered the outcome.

With the team’s season hanging in the balance, Bowles’ decision-making under pressure will remain under scrutiny as Tampa Bay navigates a challenging schedule without a bye week.

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