Tony Dungy: Bucs “Don’t Have The Mentality”
November 15th, 2025
“Tough’en up, Baker.”
Buccaneers Ring of Honor head coach Tony Dungy, aka Father Dungy, still lives in Tampa and often likes to share the pulse of his city on various NBC Sports shows.
Dungy joined the Football Night In America podcast this week and noted how folks in Tampa are disappointed after losing Sunday at home to the Patriots.
“Everybody’s down,” Dungy said. “That was a game that they felt was winnable. They had some chances against New England, didn’t get it done.”
Dungy said the critical component to beating the Bills tomorrow in Buffalo is “running the ball downhill.”
However, Dungy said the Bucs need an attitude overhaul if they plan to do that. He said injuries to the offensive line (the Bucs will start two backup guards tomorrow) and Bucky Irving have weakened the offense’s mindset.
“They don’t have the mentality right now that they can go ahead and win a game running the ball. And to me, that’s what you need against Buffalo,” Dungy said.
The former Bucs shotcaller (1996-2001) said if he were Todd Bowles, he’d be lecutring his offensive line to get their minds right. “We are going to still pound the ball at these guys and we’re going to win up front. Offensive line, you gotta do a good job that way.”
Hard words from Dungy. But he’s right to a degree. It’s mid-November on a cold, very breezy day in Buffalo. At some point the Bucs will need to lean on that rushing attack.
And it sure helps that Buffalo’s run defense is soft.
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