TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — No Chris Godwin, no Mike Evans — and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers still had a big day offensively.
Instead, a normally reliable defense that seems to be getting worse as the season progresses cost the Bucs (4-4) in a 31-26 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
“It starts with me. It starts with the defensive coaches, and it starts with the players. We've got to play better,” Bowles said, reflecting on a stretch in which the Bucs — a top-10 scoring defense a year ago when the Bucs won a third straight NFC South title — have yielded 27 or more points in four consecutive games.
“We have to fix it. Nobody is coming to save us,” Bowles added. “We have to do a hell of a lot better job then we're doing, and that starts with me.”
In their first game since losing Godwin to season-ending ankle surgery and Evans with a hamstring injury for at least three games, the Bucs still amassed 394 yards total offense. They've gained 1,469 yards over the past three weeks, yet have lost two of those games to fall out of first place in the division.
The Falcons finished with 432 yards total offense, with Kirk Cousins throwing for 276 yards and four touchdowns without an interception to beat the Bucs for the second time in less than a month. On Oct. 3 in Atlanta, he passed for a career-high 509 yards with four TDs to top Tampa Bay 36-30 in overtime.
The Bucs have lost four of six following a 2-0 start. Sunday's loss dropped them to 2-3 at home.
Bowles was asked what he told his players after the game.
“I said we've got to fix our problems. The problems are in the locker room, but the answers are in the locker room,” Bowles said. “From coaches to players, we've got to stay together. We've got to fix us, and we've got to get moving.”
It won't be easy, especially without their two top playmakers on offense.
The Bucs travel to Kansas City to face the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs next Monday night. Then they return home the following to face last season's Super Bowl runners-up, the San Francisco 49ers.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David (54) pressures Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Tampa. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (5) is stopped by Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker K.J. Britt (52) and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (31) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Tampa. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles speaks with referee Shawn Hochuli during the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Tampa. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Aleksei Kolosov made his NHL debut on Sunday for the Philadelphia Flyers becoming the first Belarusian goalie to start an NHL game.
Kolosov, 22, was recalled by the Flyers on Saturday night and immediately inserted into the lineup as the starter against the Montreal Canadiens.
The Flyers have gotten spotty goaltending so far from starter Samuel Ersson and backup Ivan Fedotov. When announcing Kolosov as his starter before the game, Flyers coach John Tortorella said the Flyers had not gotten the performances they needed from Fedotov so far this season.
“Ivan hasn’t played well enough,” Tortorella said. “We’re trying to solve, trying to look at the situation and see where it goes.”
Kolosov was a third round pick by the Flyers in 2021. He spent parts of four seasons in the KHL before coming over to North America for the first time at the end of last season, playing in two games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the Flyers’ AHL affiliate.
Kolosov and the Flyers had a tumultuous summer. First, the goalie chose not to take part in Philadelphia’s rookie camp in July and later didn’t report for the start of training camp, citing a desire to void playing in the AHL again.
Through his agent, he indicated to the Flyers that he wanted to play in the NHL or be loaned back to his Minsk team in the KHL. The Flyers wouldn’t comply with the loan and there was a short stalemate between the sides before Kolosov agreed to come over near the end of training camp. He played in one preseason game with the Flyers before being sent down to Lehigh Valley.
Part of the agreement to get him to report included the Flyers telling him he would be given an opportunity at the NHL level at some point this season.
That opportunity came in Philadelphia’s ninth game.
The Flyers feel Kolosov put the issues he experienced at the end of last season and in the summer behind him and that he’s in a better place now after just a few weeks in the AHL.
“As far as attitude and where Kolosov’s mind is right now, we have gotten good reports as far as how he has gone about his business down there,” Tortorella said.
Kolosov started four games with the Phantoms before being recalled. He had a 3.29 GAA and an 0.875 save percentage.
AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL
Philadelphia Flyers' Aleksei Kolosov waits to warm up before an NHL hockey game against the Montreal Canadiens, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia Flyers' Aleksei Kolosov waits to warm up before an NHL hockey game against the Montreal Canadiens, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Montreal Canadiens' Kirby Dach, left, tries to get a shot past Philadelphia Flyers' Aleksei Kolosov during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia Flyers' Aleksei Kolosov stretches before an NHL hockey game against the Montreal Canadiens, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
