Pete Prisco: Baker Mayfield > Michael Penix
September 6th, 2025
Baker Mayfield will be fine.
The Bucs are too good of an offense and the Dixie Chicks still have too many questions on defense, even if they had a good draft.
For these reasons, prickly Pete Prisco of CBS is confident Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield will comfortably adjust to no Tristan Wirfs and put the Bucs in position to score, enough so the Bucs dodge any sort of serious upset attempt by Atlanta.
The Bucs are the favorites in the division, but the Falcons are considered the top threat. That makes this a big opener. Both teams have injuries on their offensive lines, which could impact the game, but I think Baker Mayfield is ready for a big year. The Falcons still have some defensive questions, which will show up. Michael Penix Jr. won’t keep up. Bucs take it.
Prisco thinks the Bucs win 28-24.
The thing the Dixie Chicks are crowing about is two stud rookie edge rushers. Or so they think. Far more often than not, rookie edge rushers struggle unless their last name is “Bosa.”
So without any edge rush, unless free agent Leonard Floyd comes alive, the Dixie Chicks are the same ol’ Dixie Chicks. Mayfield will be fine.
September 6th, 2025 at 10:02 am
Even if their rushers are studs, we have way more continuity on the line and Heck has had months to practice. Bowles seemed concerned about him not getting low enough but I think it will pan out.
September 6th, 2025 at 10:03 am
Yep.
September 6th, 2025 at 10:14 am
Only in Atlanta is Penix better than anybody. Stud pass rusher is irrelevant when you have our offensive line and a rookie pass rusher who hasn’t faced an nfl game plan? This will not be a good game for Atlanta’s defense I hope it’s a blowout by halftime
September 6th, 2025 at 10:26 am
And Joe, we know all about premium picks at Edge not panning out! I can think of 4 or 5 in the lost decade alone.
September 6th, 2025 at 10:32 am
I do not think the Bucs can contain Penix, he will dominate them like all mobile QBS have done in the past, this will be a Loss, Falcons 34 Buccaneers 20
September 6th, 2025 at 10:54 am
Last year 1st game our LB’s could not cover Cousins picked us apart in the middle. Our D better step up & be able to stop the running back & scrambling out of the pocket qb… We have a better team we should win…
September 6th, 2025 at 10:55 am
“Jack Meoff to the front door …”
That was a 1960’s joke given to maître D’s in restaurants in pretense of paging an actual person. By 1970 it had worn itself out. Think I first heard it from Hunter S. Thompson, but not sure.
Your call, but you might want to come up with a more contemporary attempt at humor. Perhaps Seymour Butts or Ben Dover? HAHAHA
That outta crack up those who have never been anywhere, ever.
As for the Mayfield > Penix, I would hope so as Mayfield has 71 career starts to a mere 3 for Penix.
September 6th, 2025 at 10:57 am
Jack, make sure you go drop 10k on the falcons since they’re going to dominate the Bucs. Should be easy money for you
September 6th, 2025 at 10:59 am
Penix a mobile QB?
He’s had more surgery than a woman truth Mar A Lardo face.
September 6th, 2025 at 11:05 am
Would like to think a QB with >100 NFL starts is > than a guy with a handful of NFL starts. Penix is not a “mobile” QB, if there’s anything Baker is better than he it’s buying time/taking off with his legs.
September 6th, 2025 at 11:30 am
Look, if the Falcons’ Penix can sit up and take nourishment tomorrow morning, chances are Todd will have him looking like John Elway by halftime. Last year Cousins had a career year in two games against Todd and played like dog’s butt against everyone else.
Baker needs to create a 40 burger or bust.
September 6th, 2025 at 11:32 am
Block well and tackle well, win in the trenches and the Bucs will win.
September 6th, 2025 at 11:42 am
These games usually come down to penalties, turnovers & Special Teams….I think our Special Teams have improved greatly…..could make the difference.
September 6th, 2025 at 11:55 am
Jack won’t comment back. It’s his daily troll per post. All negative. All unoriginal. Just like his middle school moniker.
September 6th, 2025 at 12:13 pm
Like my grandsons name here he’s a real jizzzerk off
September 6th, 2025 at 12:17 pm
I’m more worried about Todd Bowles
September 6th, 2025 at 12:28 pm
Until I see Pearce and Walker impacting games, I am not worried about them. Sure Pearce around the edge on Heck isn’t a good thing for us but how’s their run D? Pearce and Walker will be washed out immediately by a pulling Barton or Mauch. Those young men gonna need to get their weight up vs our OL!
September 6th, 2025 at 1:03 pm
Hope Bakefield steps on Michaels Penix.
September 6th, 2025 at 1:13 pm
We are not good enough to take anybody lightly. Atl beat us twice last year. Bucs better come with their A game or its going to be a rough start to the season.
September 6th, 2025 at 1:23 pm
ATL beat us twice last year with Cousins so anything can happen. Lots of questions on the Bucs defense, so if the defense can tackle and not have busted coverages, it will be a very tough game. That said, I have the Bucs winning in the last 5min behind a Baker drive.
September 6th, 2025 at 1:44 pm
It’s more like Baker Mayfield>>>Michael Penix.
Let’s hope the actual game plays that out.
September 6th, 2025 at 1:50 pm
If Bucs play pissed, as we should, we win.
September 6th, 2025 at 2:10 pm
If we play “mistake” free, we win 1-0
September 6th, 2025 at 2:17 pm
I think both offense and defense will play quality, not great, ball tomorrow. That will be enough to out talent the overhyped Falcons.
They’re really not that good.
September 6th, 2025 at 2:20 pm
Baker is a better coach, licht is the better gm, bowles is in the bottom.half of the league easily as a head coach. I predict Raheem put coaches bowles and we lose.
Bucs are easily the better team, but a Ferrari is useless without the right driver.
Soft cushion coverage for four quarters coming right up!!!
September 6th, 2025 at 2:35 pm
Notice a lot of doomers coming out of the wood work. Gotta be positive for your team. Bucs will go undefeated this season in my brain. Anything else is the refs cheating LOL
September 6th, 2025 at 2:55 pm
lol about Penix even being in the same conversation as Mayfield. This guy has only a couple of games under his belt. Let’s see how he does with a full season of NFL hits and running around on that already taxed body of his.
September 6th, 2025 at 3:06 pm
Arnold Ebiketie, and Leonard Floyd will be the Falcons starting Edge Rushers. Jalon Walker can play inside or outside LB, he and Pearse will play, but not start.
September 6th, 2025 at 3:12 pm
Had a dream last night and saw a score of 30-6 Bucs. Not for sure if that was final or halftime score
September 6th, 2025 at 3:46 pm
Penix has a lot of potential for sure, but so far he’s proven nothing. In his three starts last year, he played against three atrocious defenses and came away with three touchdowns, three picks, and a 58% compression rate.
Anyone saying that he gives a Falcons a better chance of winning the division than Baker gives the Bucs is delusional until Penix proves otherwise.
September 6th, 2025 at 3:47 pm
*completion rate