Rotten Third-Down Offense
September 28th, 2025
Laments missed opportunties.
The Bucs, unfortunately, gave Joe and Bucs fans several ways to pick apart this ugly loss, the first of the season.
Blocked punt that was housed. Interception in the red zone late. An inside linebacker having zero idea where the ball was and who was running with it. There were more.
But for a team trying to mount a massive comeback and coming oh-so-close to doing so, the following stat is frustrating.
The Bucs’ third-down offense was a trainwreck today. This was Stuart McClown-type level of ineptitude. The Bucs converted just 3 of 13 third downs.
For an offense with Baker Mayfield, Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka and Bucky Irving, that seems virtually impossible. Yet it happened.
Granted, the Eagles have a good defense. Know how to tell if a team has a good defense? The Eagles tackle. That is almost a sure sign of a good defense. When an Eagles defender gets his mitts on you, you go down.
“I don’t think they did anything we didn’t think they would do,” Bucs tight end Cade Otton told Joe after the game. “We just didn’t make the plays we needed to.”
They sure didn’t.
The Bucs were 1 of 4 on third downs in the first quarter, 0-3 in the second quarter, 0-1 in the third quarter and 2-for-5 in the final quarter.
“I haven’t heard the third-down numbers but I am sure that encapsulates our missed opportunities,” Otton said. “And you can’t put yourself in a 21-3 hole against a team like [Philadelphia].”
There is no way around it: You aren’t going to win too many games when your third-down batting average is 12.5 percent.
September 28th, 2025 at 6:01 pm
If I had to nitpick Baker today, it would be that his footwork was dreadful at times today. That led to some bad throws to wide open receivers especially on 3rd down.
September 28th, 2025 at 6:02 pm
They will win about half the games. The Bowles era is here.
September 28th, 2025 at 6:05 pm
Add that to last week and 5-17 on 3rd down with the 3rd down coordinator as our OC
Converting 29% of your 3rd downs at home is nasty business. This team can be better, but will it?
Grizz is as green as the uniforms Philly wore today
September 28th, 2025 at 6:08 pm
Hate the play calling hate the execution. All of it. We can’t do stupid crap and expect the game
September 28th, 2025 at 6:12 pm
Don’t know if this still applies bcuz I honestly haven’t played the game in almost a decade now but Madden games used to have an “Awareness” stat for players. If it still does; I’d wager Dennis’s “Awareness” stat for digital games accurately reflects his on field “Awareness” for real life games at this point…a big fat goose egg. I know he wears glasses off the field. I do too most of the time, but he’s out there playing like he doesn’t know what contact lenses are.
September 28th, 2025 at 6:14 pm
Grizzard got exposed today.
September 28th, 2025 at 6:15 pm
You can tell the Eagles Defense was ready. They had studied all of Bakers tendencies and took away his middle and over the top routes. They were prepared for us. How bout givin’em credit? WE..made to many mistakes to come back on a very good team. Just be ready for them SEA-HAWKS baby!
September 28th, 2025 at 6:17 pm
what happened to our yale quality third downs from last year? no mention of the OC in this failure.
September 28th, 2025 at 6:17 pm
100% of EVERYONE …
Picked the Bucs to lose this game before the season started. Remember your 10-7 or 11-6 prediction. This was one of your losses. Suck it up.
HERE ARE THE POSITIVES …
1. Our kicker is back! McLaughlin can nuke the ball.
2. ZERO QUIT. The Bucs will always be in the game.
3. Wirfs looked good and so did the run game.
HERE IS THE BAD …
1. Punting. Fire everyone.
2. Godwin played but he’s a shell of himself. Hopefully he’ll improve.
3. Tightends. We simply don’t have one. Otton is washed.
September 28th, 2025 at 6:20 pm
Every weakness the Bucs have was exposed today. Special teams sucked, D sucked. O line sucked. Time to make major changes with all. They will never win anything if they rely on a 4th quarter field goal to win.
September 28th, 2025 at 6:22 pm
We have them, we have a Qb that doesnt resort to leaning on them in the pass game unless we’re missing top tier WR talent. Cade Otton has like 7 targets in 4 games, that’s on the signal and play callers.
September 28th, 2025 at 6:28 pm
Third-Down!? How bout REDZONE Offense thus far on the SEASON!? Has to be ‘BOTTOM-FIVE’ in TD%, when last season we were TOP-5.
September 28th, 2025 at 6:28 pm
Flash back from Brady and Lefwitch in the loss to the Rams. Struggle in first half hopeless fury of an attempted comeback. End up just short 1 play away. Positive is with all the garbage this was a 1 play game. Can’t wait to see the Bowles pole this week. Go Bucs.
September 28th, 2025 at 6:28 pm
It’s HORRID.
September 28th, 2025 at 6:29 pm
otten should have done hook and lateral to white on that last play
September 28th, 2025 at 6:29 pm
And, our Punter is a DUMB F.
September 28th, 2025 at 6:32 pm
All I know is that we’ve kicked (forced to ‘settle’ for) A LOT of FG’s so far this season.
September 28th, 2025 at 6:36 pm
We aren’t getting the ball out on time. End of story. Coen schemes it. Grizzard sucks
September 28th, 2025 at 6:37 pm
I mean, you’d ‘think’ pushing the TEMPO and going FAST (when crossing ‘midfield’) would be a smart thing to do, ESPECIALLY in these brutally HOT conditions, & later in ballgames, against a tired and WORN-OUT Defense.
September 28th, 2025 at 6:39 pm
Baker pick and fumble were bad. Yeah Godwin waved and ball was tipped but that’s a throwaway.
The fumble he recovered, if I recall, that’s the same play he started to roll out right and looked like there was room with a receiver moving that way with him… inexplicably turned back into middle of the field where Baun and the traffic were. No idea what he was thinking there unless my tv view was obscuring something.
September 28th, 2025 at 6:41 pm
Way too many 3 yard passes allowed Philly to stack the box and stop us short. Can we stop waiting until mid 2nd quarter to get to the stadium ready to play ? I am nervous as the next 3 are against solid teams and then a trip to NO. Cant let this get out of hand.
September 28th, 2025 at 6:43 pm
After the bye week look for key players returning front injuries and GRIZZARD’s improved play calling. the Bucs will be the team to beat.
The good times are a coming. JUST hang in there Bucs fans
September 28th, 2025 at 6:44 pm
It’s the same Bucs and I don’t blame anyone but the coaches. Every loss Bowles acts like he knows what’s wrong but he never fixes them
September 28th, 2025 at 6:45 pm
This is simple. It was not close enough. Bowles can not go down by 14 to start.
September 28th, 2025 at 6:45 pm
Godwin looked….old.
September 28th, 2025 at 6:45 pm
So tired of this Bowles era please bring in a real head coach with a past of winning
September 28th, 2025 at 6:47 pm
“Way too many 3 yard passes allowed Philly to stack the box and stop us short.”
Philly sat on those BS short passes all game. All they had to to was make the tackle, we weren’t moving the ball any other way. Our offensive identity is constipation
September 28th, 2025 at 6:47 pm
I gotta say, while I’m pissed we lost…I’m impressed at the fight. I watched the game late so coming in late. Are we forgetting we are still at a disadvantage with our I duties yet we competed and the D looked like a championship D in the 2nd half. The offense fought hard and unfortunately stupid mistakes doomed the day. Now on to Seahawks and lay the wood on them with this healing offense and surging defense.
LFG
September 28th, 2025 at 6:49 pm
So I’m studying the philosophy of Stoicism. The main tenet is learn to differentiate what is in your control and what is not.
The Philadelphia game is no longer in the Bucs or we fans. The rest of the schedule IS in the Bucs control.
I’m optimistic. The outcome was unsatisfying but the Bucs made a game of it against a team that was 19-1 over their past twenty games including a SB win as they entered this contest.
I haven’t seen the injury report but perhaps the Bucs escaped the reaper this time.
A clear problem are special teams. At least Chase returned now if somebody can produce a punter and an OL that can block for him. And SVD simply isn’t living up to the promise the Bucs brass laid on all off season.
He’s obviously faster than Britt but he’s no better playing in space. He seems to get easily confused and out of position, unable to cover backs out of the backfield, TE’s or anybody else for that matter.
Positives…iF Baker’s int doesn’t get tipped at the end there was a Buc in the end zone who knows…? Baker and the boys NEVER gave up in the heat. The so called horrible HC/DC made great half time adjustments and the D gave the O a chance for a dramatic comeback win.
My major concern at the point is health. CG was obviously knocking off some rust and testing that ankle. This was a successful outing. TW the same.
Newsflash – Currently the Eagles are not just on a 20=1 run, they are the SB champs, they were 3.5 faves…huge in wagering..and almost beat the line.
Right now Philly is simply the better team . But the Bucs played with them and if the two teams meet in the playoffs the Bucs will be ready if they get truly healthy. Need an ILB and an RT! AND an ST coach and PUNTER!!!
Other than that it’s all good.
September 28th, 2025 at 6:53 pm
Jacksonville about to go 3-1, and really should be 4-0.
September 28th, 2025 at 6:53 pm
StPete we’re on the same wavelength…I was only so pissed with the Baker INT because we had a real shot and that took away at least 3 points
September 28th, 2025 at 6:54 pm
Penalties, Turnovers & Special Teams
They weren’t called on Phil……2 Turnovers, One Blocked Punt for TD
That’s perhaps about 21 points
September 28th, 2025 at 6:56 pm
Yes, pleSsse bring in a coach that will win every game and win decisively because if not we will be on his ass from day one. Bowles of did not win lose this game. The Buccaneers lost it, though due to outstanding play by Hurts in the first half and a bad call on the Bucky fumbles.
September 28th, 2025 at 6:57 pm
Munch what about Canales and the Carolina Shrimp?
September 28th, 2025 at 6:58 pm
I think Baker’s injury was underplayed this week, he only practiced on Friday – right? If you didn’t need to practice, if you could get away with doing it only once a week, that’s all teams would do. Baker looked wrong, in particular early on, on his first two third downs, he had White wide open to pick up a 1st down, and Baker didn’t even look his way instead trying to force passes to guys that were tightly covered. I thought he got better as the game went along, right up until that awful INT in the end zone – you can’t make that throw. But, considering the lack of practice, and my expectations for this game, I’m OK with it. I figured the team would be 3-1 right now, and they’re 3-1, and considering the injuries they have looked better than I would have thought.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:01 pm
HC Grover Says:
September 28th, 2025 at 6:57 pm
Munch what about Canales and the Carolina Shrimp?
———-
I was meh on Canales, his offense was middling and it was a huge surprize he got a HC job. But Coen was special. There wasn’t anything the Bucs could do to keep him.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:01 pm
Honestly they lost the game in the first half, then teased us with a possible come back that sputtered out in the end. The Eagles kicked our butt from the getgo, then played sloppy in the 2nd half. Bucks made some nice plays for a while, got within 8 and then fizzled when Baker threw a terrible desperation pass while being tackled. Can’t always be lucky against a tough opponent. Three wins by hair of their teeth and an ugly loss. Truth is they could easily be 0/4. Long season to go but so far can’t say they are looking like a superbowl team. They do have some very exciting young guys on offense so who knows. 3/1 looks very good on paper. 3 squeaker and an ugly, h?mm.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:06 pm
LVMYBUCS
I appreciate the tribute act, but the tribute band never sounds as good as the original. Maybe try creating your own legacy instead of living in mine? 🎤
September 28th, 2025 at 7:07 pm
BillMFl – Wow, I can tell you’re a true lifelong fans of the BUCKS.
Go choke on cheesewiz you Philly trash.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:09 pm
I would have been in no huddle at 6 mins left in the 1st quarter when we went down 14 let alone down 18. If we had done that, we would have had another drive left at the end despite the mistakes. Poor clock management AGAIN!!! Just ran out of time. It’s not against the rules to go into 2 minute or hurry up offense earlier!!! This would have likely wore out the Eagle’s defense and we probably win. How can Bowles and Grizz not see this? Unfortunately no one has the balls to take Bowles to task on this and ask him why!!!
We get Evans and Goedeke back we should be hard to beat. Defense played excellent the 2nd half. The whole team has to come out ready to play. Got to fix our blocking on special teams. 2 blocked punts, another punt almost blocked and a blocked FG so far is unacceptable.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:09 pm
Damn Grover,
Godwin hasn’t played in a year.
Ease up.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:12 pm
3-1 to some of you Einstein’s. Tons of injuries, new OC, same ole Todd. Guys just coming back from IR and you expected to beat the 19-1 Super Bowl Champs and zebras at the same time? Come On Man! The season is just getting started.Boo Hoo.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:13 pm
Grizz has never called plays at any level and it’s showing. He’s also still missing 40% of his offensive line which doesn’t help.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:14 pm
And his #1 wide receiver
September 28th, 2025 at 7:15 pm
Cometowin2 – The Bucs had plenty of time to tie it up, Baker instead threw a terrible interception into the end zone. Not bashing Baker, but it’s fake news to claim clock management or anything else, Baker had the ball, chance to tie it up, and all he had to do was throw it away. Giving a pass since he’s been clutch the previous weeks and was injured all week and didn’t practice.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:19 pm
All indicators of a poorly coached, poorly prepared team who came out flat like so many other times in the Bowels tenure.
But the second half – Jason! Please!!! Order Todd to start the game with that defense and not the “let’s blitz but let the safety valve receiver be 15 yards open.”
September 28th, 2025 at 7:19 pm
Bake was behind on a LOT of throws today, the bicep appeared to have been an issue – he gutted through like always
I’ll take 3-1 with Evans and Luke coming back soon
September 28th, 2025 at 7:21 pm
We should bring back the CFL punter we signed in off season and cut Dixon. He has been awful and even when he gets his kicks off the opponents get good returns.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:24 pm
Munch, totally agree about Bake, pissed me off but he’s been good otherwise. I was yelling to throw it away before he threw it and damn it, turns into an INT on a tipped pass and there a DB in front of Godwin anyway
September 28th, 2025 at 7:26 pm
VOT Says:
September 28th, 2025 at 7:19 pm
Bake was behind on a LOT of throws today, the bicep appeared to have been an issue – he gutted through like always
———–
Yeah, I think he was off because of the injuries, but he was also making some really bad decisions right out of the gate. He had White wide open on the first two 3rd downs of the game, and instead tried to force it to covered WRs. You need those practices that he missed. Again, not bashing him, actually giving an excuse for why I think he was off. Hopefully he’s feeling better this week and is able to go all week, because Seattle might be the best defense we face all week, and he can’t be off like he was today.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:27 pm
OC is clearly green at calling plays. We got fortunate with Liam and Dave. To have three solid OCs in a row in as many years is a lot to ask.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:35 pm
Chuckys Bucs – Griz is already better than Canales.
People only think fondly of Canales because Leftwich was so incredibly inept. But his offense was very basic and very predictable, and Baker was very middling in it, which is why he resigned to the Bucs for a very cheap deal. Had Baker been on a year-to-year contract after last year, he’d be making $60M a year right now, because that Coen play calling was specular.
As for Grizz, he’s already better than Canales, by the simple fact he’s running a much more modern and effective offense. And it’s hard to take much from his performance so far considering all the injuries.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:43 pm
You guys to bi**hing like little school girls. The Bucs were not going to go 17-0. The Eagles are a good team, We committed 2 turnovers and a block punt for a TD and we were in it to the end. We didn’t lose to the Panthers. This team is only going to get better as we get players back. We will see the Eagles again.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:47 pm
Everyone needs to relax. Bucs played an entertaining game against an undefeated, last year’s Super Bowl winner.
The entire right side of the Oline is new and it showed as Baker got a lot of pressure from that side. With a little luck, the team may have scored on the last couple of drives. Eagles really play tight coverage and more than a few of those break ups looked like PI. Referees seem like they look the other way on a lot of pass plays.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:53 pm
So much for the heat advantage. Can we put that myth to rest that we’re better conditioned to the heat? More like we’re already exhausted from practicing in it all summer. Think our high rate of injuries is related to over training in dangerous heat. Bucs should train more indoors July, thru August.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:57 pm
Speaking on Cade Otton if we can land Kyle pitts in a trade we should be going for atleast 2 in next yr draft cause Otton not it at all
September 28th, 2025 at 7:58 pm
good lord some of you people have the memory of a goldfish.. coen didn’t start out at the same level he ended up last season. they scored 7!! pts against the BRONCOS in game three last season. it takes a few weeks to really get things going-especially with a new oc who has no experience and a decimated oline. i remember some of you calling for coen to be fired last season as well, and now you all act like he was the second coming of christ or something. im pretty sure coen didn’t do a great job during the 3-4 weeks when they had injuries last year-didn’t they lose all but one game?
if grizz is still making the same mistakes in a few weeks and the offense doesn’t settle in, then there might need to be some questions asked but he’s a long way from being considered a bust at 4 weeks in.
September 28th, 2025 at 9:40 pm
Jimmy and Melvin are on the money here. Grizzard has so far been a disappointment. Offense hasn’t scored more than 23 points in a game and red zone has been horrendous
September 28th, 2025 at 10:25 pm
Hodad Says:
September 28th, 2025 at 7:53 pm
So much for the heat advantage. Can we put that myth to rest that we’re better conditioned to the heat? More like we’re already exhausted from practicing in it all summer. Think our high rate of injuries is related to over training in dangerous heat. Bucs should train more indoors July, thru August.
———-
I think you got it completely backwards. They practice so little compared to what they used to, and they’re using the indoor facility instead of being outside all the time, it means guys are not in as good of football shape as they used to be, and going to 100% for games, when they’re not ready, is what is getting guys hurt. I’ve heard ex-player after ex-player say the same thing – I’ve heard zero ex-players saying if their practices were more cupcake they’d be more healthy.
September 28th, 2025 at 11:13 pm
@HC Grover – Canales and Coen were NEVER even in the same stratosphere. I’m so SICK of people STILL ‘trying’ to push this narrative. And, I actually thought, that the majority of people already KNEW THAT. It’s apples to oranges. NOT even close to being the same thing. So, WHY even mention HIS name. Rod wasn’t talking about him. There was only ONE reason for why HE got that Carolina Job. And, that was ONLY because NO ONE ELSE, wanted it. Period. And, I was soooo damned happy that he took it! Hell, HE even KNEW that it’d be HIS ONLY shot! I was like, gooood riddance. We lucked-out!
September 28th, 2025 at 11:27 pm
THIS Offense is looking exactly like Canales 2.0 – Bake was really ‘bailed-out’ with TWO (TD’s) Completions that accounted for a ‘Buck-FIDDY’ (150-Yards). Late in another game, too!!!!
September 28th, 2025 at 11:44 pm
@sunny – NO. That Denver game snuck up on EVERYONE, including an overhyped and overconfident Bucs-Team, reading all of their press-clippings, and sniffing their OWN BEHINDS. You could tell an IMMEDIATE DIFFERENCE with Coen, and it wasn’t EVEN CLOSE💯. There was only just a ‘slight’ learning curve due to how complicated the scheme was, BUT they picked it up awfully quick. Though, it did help that Bake had some experience working with him in his short stint in LA. THIS OFFENSE of Grizz’s isn’t even close to being the same thing. NOT Even. The pace. The timing. The tempo. The originality. The predictability. The eye-candy. REDZONE Efficiency. NONE OF IT. And, the OLine seems to be holding up just fine to me, so you can’t blame THEM.
September 28th, 2025 at 11:47 pm
How many actual, ‘Offensive’ TOUCHDOWNS have we scored through 4-games this season!? Lots AND LOTS of FG’s.
September 29th, 2025 at 12:35 am
Baker had very little time to do anything today !! The Eagles were on him way too fast. It’s a miracle he was able to throw for two long touchdowns to EE2 and BI7 Baker just could not get comfortable in the pocket today !!
Baker will take all the blame for the loss today, and forget about it tomorrow ! We have 12 more games to play!!
Go Bucs !!
September 29th, 2025 at 12:45 am
I do think Grizz should cover his mouth when he’s calling plays or saying anything important. I saw him without his mouth covered more than once today. Our rivals are trying to take advantage of this by reading lips. It happens all the time !!
Go Bucs !!
September 29th, 2025 at 9:12 am
I thought the same thing.
C’mon Grizz – loose lips sink ships!
September 29th, 2025 at 6:16 pm
Haha Munch thinks only his opinions matter. Blah,blah. blah.