During a press conference Tuesday, a reporter asked Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles about how the team was preparing to play in the weather conditions in Detroit. The look on his face suggested he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. The Detroit Lions play in a domed stadium.
The reporter clearly didn’t do her research, perhaps getting caught up in narratives surrounding previous playoff games – the cold weather in Kansas City and the epic snowfall in Buffalo, for example.
Despite lacking background research, the question itself was quite detailed. And for much of it, Todd Bowles had a look on his face that seemed to indicate he had no idea where the reporter was going with this.
“Looking forward to Detroit, the weather has been a factor in some of the playoff games, even for the most prepared team … today it’s 13 in Detroit,” she began. “Any special plans to acclimate the team to not only endure but perform in those kind of frigid temperatures?”
Oh no… A reporter asked #Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles about how the team is preparing to get acclimated to the weather in Detroit ahead of Sunday’s game.
— Dave Connelly (@DaveConnellySG) January 16, 2024
The Lions have played in a dome for nearly 50 years. pic.twitter.com/O9cHduRKCN
Todd Bowles Fields The Question Like A Pro
Bowles easily could have shredded the reporter over the question. His initial response cracked-wise, but he eventually fleshed out his answer, helping to save the woman from complete embarrassment.
But man, this is one reply for the ages. When asked about the weather in Detroit and how it might affect his team Bowles fired back, “You do know we play indoors, right? They’ve got a dome.”
Indeed, Ford Field, built in 2002, is a domed stadium. Prior to that, they played in an arena with the word “dome” built in – the Pontiac Silverdome, which they moved into in 1975.
They’ve been playing in a dome for almost half a century!
Bowles, after smiling through his initial response, then softened the blow for the reporter, noting that there would be a brief period in which his team would have to deal with the elements.
“No, nothing planned,” he said. “We’re indoors, and only have to be outside for 20 seconds getting off the bus and going under the thing, so we’ll be OK.”
Bowles and his Buccaneers will take on the Lions this Sunday – indoors – at 3 p.m. ET on NBC. They are currently 6.5-point underdogs.
