Buccaneers won't love Todd Bowles' 'fine' message ahead of crucial Week 17 clash

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in a world of hurt right now, losing six of their last seven games.

As such, some fans have been calling for head coach Todd Bowles to be relieved of his duties.

That can wear on a person's mentality, and granted, like any job, you are susceptible to criticism.

And Bowles was asked at his media availability how he is doing amid this tough stretch his team is on that has seen them lose three games in a row twice, with just one win in between.

“I'm fine,” Bowles said. “You get pissed off when you lose, but you coach, you got to get them better each day. That's part of what coaching is for me. That's part of what coaching is for us. You find a way to get these guys motivated, get them going, and understand we control our own destiny, and we go from there.

"A coaching job is never done. It's never easy, but it's never done. So, we're working on ways to get better, and we're going to try to win this division.”

More: Are Buccaneers playing with the mental handbrake on?

Can Bucs still win the NFC South?

The fact that you can say yes to this question after Tampa Bay has just one win from its last seven games is mind-boggling.

But that is where they sit.

Beat the Miami Dolphins, the Carolina Panthers, and the Buccaneers will be division champs for the fifth straight year.

Seems simple, right?

Well, winning isn't something Tampa Bay has done a lot of this season, with just two wins coming since Week 6.

However they manage to do it, the Buccaneers just have to find a way to win.

Otherwise, a season that started out with such promise at 5-1 could end with a whimper, and if Bowles thinks the criticism is bad now, if the Bucs crash and burn, the heat will be put on him as head coach.

More Buccaneers news:

• NFC South standings: How Panthers' Week 16 win over Buccaneers impacts division race, playoff picture
• Buccaneers playoff picture: Updated chances for Tampa Bay to make 2025 NFL postseason after Week 16 loss to Panthers
• Is Emeka Egbuka playing today? Why Buccaneers' rookie WR is struggling lately
• Who holds Bucs-Panthers tiebreaker? Explaining NFC South Division playoff scenarios