Todd Bowles’ call at the end of the Buccaneers’ 17-14 loss to the Packers looked strange in the moment. Tampa Bay was staring at 4th-and-11, down three, and the obvious question was whether to let Chase McLaughlin try a 65-yard field goal or keep the drive alive. Bowles chose the fourth-down try, and the Bucs came up short, dropping to 0-4.
That decision drew plenty of heat because McLaughlin has already shown he can hit from that range. He drilled a 65-yard field goal last season, and he has built a reputation as one of the league’s most dependable long-range kickers. Since joining Tampa Bay in 2023, he has made 98% of his extra points and 91% of his field goals, including 88% from 50-plus yards.
Now there’s another layer to the story. McLaughlin was added to the Buccaneers’ injury report Tuesday and listed as a non-participant with a groin/hip injury on his kicking leg.
If that was an issue on Sunday, Bowles’ choice starts to look a lot more defensible. As Bowles said after the game, the kick was “10-to-15 yards too far” for Tampa Bay to feel comfortable attempting.
A day after the criticism, the injury report made the picture clearer.
That matters even more with Tampa Bay heading into Thursday night as a heavy underdog against the Cowboys and their high-powered offense. The Buccaneers are already trying to avoid an 0-5 start, and if McLaughlin can’t play, it would be a major blow. Tampa Bay would need points in bunches to have any chance, and McLaughlin’s leg is usually one of the most reliable ways they get them.
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For Tampa Bay, the challenge is not just surviving the short week but finding enough stability to hang around against a Cowboys team that needs better defense while counting on its offense to set the tone at home. The matchup feels like a steep ask already, and the expectation around it is leaning heavily toward Dallas taking control by a wide margin. [Read more 🡒]