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Is Todd Bowles Doing His Best Work With The 2026 Bucs’ Defense?
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- Is Todd Bowles Doing His Best Work With The 2026 Bucs’ Defense?
| Source: Lastwordonsports.com - Sue Levine, Editor
Todd Bowles' 2026 Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense has emerged as one of the best units in the league halfway through the season.
But just how impressive has Tampa Bay's defense been this season?
Is Todd Bowles Doing His Best Work With The 2026 Bucs' Defense?
The Tampa Bay defense has been nothing short of dominant over its last two games.
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The unit has the best expected points added per play mark in the NFL.
The Bucs have allowed a combined 13 points and forced eight turnovers in their divisional wins over Carolina and Atlanta . Neither team reached 270 total yards against Tampa Bay's defense.
The Bucs have held opponents under 20 points in regulation in each of their last five games. Overall, they rank sixth in the NFL, allowing opponents to average 18.9 points per game this season.
Tampa Bay ranks inside the top 10 in both rushing and passing defense. If those rankings hold, it would be the first time since Bowles took over as Tampa Bay's defensive playcaller that the Bucs have finished a season with both units ranked inside the top 10.
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The Bucs lead the NFL with 16 takeaways, averaging two per game. Last season, Tampa Bay recorded 23 takeaways in 17 games.
The Bucs also lead the NFL with 12 interceptions this season. Seven different defenders have recorded an interception.
Linebacker Alex Anzalone has three interceptions, while cornerbacks Zyon McCollum and Jacob Parrish and defensive lineman A'Shawn Robinson have each picked off opposing quarterbacks twice. Tampa Bay is the only team in the NFL with four different players who have multiple interceptions this season.
The Bucs' overall pass defense has been the biggest reason for their improvement. Last season, Tampa Bay ranked 27th in the league in passing yards allowed. This season, the Bucs rank ninth.
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Tampa Bay has faced three of the league's top 10 passing offenses this season: Green Bay, Carolina, and Dallas. The Bucs held the Packers 74 yards below their season average and Carolina 51 yards below its average. The only team to throw for more than 260 yards against Tampa Bay was Dallas, which passed for 316 yards in a game where it trailed by double digits for the majority of the second half.
This season, the Bucs are holding opposing quarterbacks to a 74.9 passer rating. Tampa Bay's opponents are averaging 6.5 yards per pass attempt, which ranks as the ninth-best defensive mark in the NFL.
McCollum and Parrish have emerged as one of the league's best cornerback duos. They have combined for 22 pass breakups in eight games this season. Parrish leads the league with 13 passes defensed.
And, in typical fashion for a Bowles defense, the Bucs have been stout against the run. Tampa Bay's opponents are averaging 80 rushing yards per game on 3.6 yards per carry. Those marks rank second and fifth best in the league, respectively.
Oct 25, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Trevor Etienne (23) runs against Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
The pressure is high for the Bucs' defense
The Bucs' defense has been thriving with little support from Tampa Bay's passing attack.
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Baker Mayfield has completed just seven passes for 64 yards combined in the Bucs' last two wins. On Sunday, Tampa Bay became the first team since 1974 to win a game without completing a pass.
In their last two games, the Bucs have called 16 pass plays and 104 running plays. They have totaled 582 rushing yards combined in those victories.
Tampa Bay set a franchise record with 324 rushing yards against Atlanta in wet conditions on Sunday. Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell became the fourth running back duo in NFL history to record at least 20 carries and 125 rushing yards each in a single game.
Tampa Bay has fully leaned into winning on the backs of its defense and running game. That style of play puts even more pressure on the Bucs' defense to perform.
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The Last Word
In a season when Bowles has been on the hot seat, his defense has been stellar.
The unit is playing well against both the run and the pass. It is also making impact plays by consistently forcing turnovers.
Now the Bucs are right in the thick of the NFC South title race, and they will continue to lean on their defense if they want to keep climbing in the standings.
Tampa Bay looks athletic, disciplined, and ferocious on defense. If the unit continues to play at this level, there should be little debate about whether the Bucs should consider keeping Bowles around for another season.
