WFLA News Channel 8 sports anchor Dan Lucas sits down with Bucs head coach Todd Bowles after each Tampa Bay game to assess the outcome in a segment called Bucs With Bowles. This exclusive content can be found on the WFLA YouTube channel and on PewterReport.com.

Following the Bucs’ 16-13 loss to the Falcons that has caused Tampa Bay to fall to 3-3 on the season, Lucas and Bowles hit on several topics in the five-minute interview. Highlights include:

Todd Bowles on preparing to play the Bills on Thursday Night Football on a short week:

“Well, we started that last week for the coaches. It’s never easy. Some came in after the game. Some came in later that night. Some came in early this morning just to finish up. But we knew it was going to be a grind, so we go from there. You let the players rest and try to get their bodies back and make sure they’re fresh for Thursday, and present them something that they can go out and play fast with. And I think we’re accomplishing that.”

Todd Bowles on the players needing to bounce back from a loss on a short week:

Bucs CB Carlton Davis III and Falcons WR Scotty Miller – Photo by: USA Today

“Got to be mentally tough in this game, you know – not too high, not too low. Normally we have a 24-hour rule, but with a Thursday night game you’ve kind of got an eight-hour rule. And as bitter as that may feel, you can’t let it drag into the Thursday game. I’m makimg sure we emphasize that, and the leaders on our team emphasized that. So we just have to suck that up and we have to make sure we correct the mistakes we are have going into Thursday night.”

Todd Bowles on how defenses are attacking the Bucs offense:

“I think some teams they attack us differently here and there. A lot of it is self-inflicted, whether we’re missing a block or two, or missing the hole or two here and there. And starting out the game they’re kind of loading the box and they are giving us some of the passing game, so we have early success in the passing game. The biggest thing for us we’re just trying to win the game. Whatever we’ve got to do to win the game – be it run or pass – we’re going to try and do. So we’ve got to clean up the things that we need to clean up so Tampa Bay doesn’t play Tampa Bay plus Buffalo on Thursday.”

Todd Bowles on how penalties disrupted Tampa Bay’s offense:

Bucs S Antoine Winfield Jr. and Falcons QB Desmond Ridder – Photo by: USA Today

“Very costly, I mean we had seven on offense. You only get about 12 or 13 drives and when you’ve got seven of them and you’re starting backwards instead of forwards that makes it tough.”

Todd Bowles on his comments about how if everyone played like Antoine Winfield Jr. the Bucs would be fine:

“It’s been unbelievable. His preparation and the way he practices during the week always carries over the game day. He plays the same game speed as he practices, so it’s easy to see why he’s playing well. I think a lot of guys need to get on that program. They play hard – they think they’re playing hard – but when you look at them, you can do a little bit more. And we all need to do a little bit more.”

Click the video below to watch the most recent Bucs With Bowles episode as Lucas sits down for an exclusive interview with Tampa Bay’s head coach.