The Loser has company.
Todd Bowles, welcome to the club. Tom Brady, now a charter member.
Bowles now is 29-46 as a head coach so there’s that. He went 24-40 in his four seasons with the Jets at a time when winning in New York was a monumental challenge. So we’ll cut him some slack on that.
But his 3-5 record in Tampa, where he has the greatest quarterback of all time, is a bad look. Here’s a worse look.
For all of Brady’s greatness, for all his undisputed leadership, for all his relentless competitiveness, Brady one of 53 players. But this season, as he tried to keep his marriage to Giselle Bundchen from unraveling, he installed the Brady Rules. And Bowles gave it his blessing.
Miss training camp for 11 days to take of his personal shit? Who is allowed such a luxury?
Taking Wednesdays off? Wouldn’t we all like to take Hump Day off?
That fact is Bowles lost this team before the season began when he agreed to the Brady Rules. Brady, if he was the leader he professes to be, would never have asked for such accommodations.
It’s not as if Brady hasn’t played well, especially with all the havoc in his personal life. He’s completed 65.9-percent of his passes with nine touchdowns and just one pick. But the number that counts is 3-5, the Buccaneers record after Thursday night’s, 27-22 home loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Bowles, of course, backed into this job. When Bruce Arians decided to step away from head coaching for a front office job in August – too late for Tampa Bay to engage a coaching search – Bowles was promoted from defensive coordinator.
He got a new contract and a second chance to prove himself as a head coach. Brady, who cemented his legacy by winning a Super Bowl title in Tampa after his success in New England, could have reached a level previously unheard of in team sports – winning a title at the age of 45.
Instead, Bowles faces the prospect of being replaced after the season. Brady might retire with a shipwreck of a season as the last entry on his ledger. And the Bucs window for winning championships could slam shut with no coach, no franchise QB, and a locker room of disgruntled players wondering how the 2022 season was played under the Brady Rules.
Jags -2.5 over Broncos in LONDON – If not for these games in London, this surely would have qualified for a Thursday night Prime game. A spot of tea, please.
Falcons -4 over PANTHERS – The garage sale has begun in Carolina.
COWBOYS -10 over Bears – Micah Parsons has posted eight sacks and is on pace to surpass his 13-sack mark of his rookie season. He’s questionable with a shoulder. Justin Fields will be highly questionable when he sees No. 11 on the field.
LIONS +2.5 over Dolphins – Jared Goff coming off his worst game of the season. He got a pep talk from fiancé Christen Harper. We hope.
Raiders -1.5 over SAINTS – Raiders have rediscovered RB Josh Jacobs. Saints have yet to discover a quarterback.
Pats -2.5 over JETS – The loss of RB Breece Hall is a huge blow. QB Zach Wilson is going to have to win a game or two this season. Can he?
EAGLES -11 over Steelers – Reminder: We took the Phillies to win the World Series and the Eagles to win the Super Bowl at +1800 before the Eagles acquired DE Robert Quinn and before the Phillies pulled off that stunning come-from-behind win in Game 1.
Titans -2.5 over TEXANS – Derrick “Designated Hitter” Henry has quietly returned to form. Last week he hauled the rock 30 times for 128 yards after getting just 13 carries in Week 1. Henry’s over/under is 99.5 yards. This is a tricky call.
Tennessee will be without starting QB Ryan Tannehill (stomach flu), meaning the Texans know Henry is option 1, 2, 3. The 99.5 yards is 10.2 more than his season average of 89.3 yards per game. But over the last three games, Henry is averaging 114.6 yards per game.
The Texans are allowing a league high 164.7 rushing yards per game. So even if Tannehill was playing, the Titans were going to give Houston to heavy load of Henry. The Loser is big Mike Vrabel fan and a bigger Henry fan.
We got +125 at BetMGM on the Titans giving 1.5 points and Henry over 79.5 yards rushing. With a $20 stake our payout will be $45 for a net of $25 -coffee for the week.
COLTS -3 over Commanders – The legend of Sam Ehlinger is born.
49ers Pick’Em over RAMS – L.A. coach Sean McVay’s reaction to San Fran getting Christian McCaffrey was, ‘Oh, s—. They’re getting another great player?'” Yep. The 49ers inability to run the ball against the Rams has been their one shortcoming in this series. Enter McCaffrey.
SEAHAWKS -3 over Giants – The Coach of the Year Bowl.
BILLS -11.5 over Packers – Let’s think about this for a second: Aaron Rodgers is an 11.5-point dog! The Packers are +1200 to win the NFC. They were +500 at the start of the season.
Bengals -3 over BROWNS – Fact: Browns have lost four straight. Fact: Jacoby Brissett (six touchdowns; five interceptions) is not a franchise quarterback: Fact: The Browns are 2-5. Fact: Deshaun Watson isn’t eligible until Dec. 4th. Almost fact: The Browns are NOT going to the playoffs.
Home team in CAPS.
Last week: 9-5; +Best bets: 3-0
Overall: 56-52-2; +Best bets: 12-9