“Huge For Morale”
October 30th, 2025
Baker Mayfield speaks.
Who remembers the Bucs’ touchdown Sunday on try No. 8 from the Saints’ 1 yard line?
Joe does. It was about five tries after Joe was screaming for the Bucs to call a timeout to pull their heads and hearts together.
Somehow, the Bucs failed on four runs from the Saints’ 1 yard line or closer. Then faced with another 1st-and-goal from the 1 later in the game, the Bucs again sputtered on their first three tries — two of those were ill-advised throws.
Another 4th-and-goal arrived from the 1 again and this time running back Sean Tucker slammed in the touchdown. Center Graham Barton and right guard Dan Feeney provided the critical crease, but Tucker was hit behind the goal line.
Baker Mayfield had an interesting take on the score during a postgame chat with the Buccaneers Radio Network.
“Huge for morale, you know, just because we had gotten stopped there earlier, same situation to be able to change the outcome and give the defense a little bit more room to stay aggressive,” Mayfield said. “Yeah, that’s big-time.”
The “morale” line from Mayfield is intriguing. It is likely the Bucs offense would have hit a rock-bottom moment if Tucker didn’t score. A miss there would have been more than just a lost scoring opportunity.
As Mayfield went on to say later, just grabbing the “W” on a short week after a physical Monday night game was an accomplishment. And he advised Bucs nation to turn on the “tape” and “watch how hard [the Bucs] play for each other and that’s what it’s all about.”
đź“ş: #TBvsNO on FOX pic.twitter.com/CPdCfWtLm4
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 26, 2025
October 30th, 2025 at 2:46 pm
That was the worst playcalling in the History of the NFL. What is the definition of keep running into a brick wall and expecting different results. Running up the middle is not the Bucs speciality. Ever hear of a bootleg? How about a halfback opyion?
October 30th, 2025 at 2:49 pm
grizz has to do a better job with his run game creativity….
with that said, i have all the faith in the world with this staff!!!!
6-2!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
October 30th, 2025 at 2:50 pm
No rushes for Baker the last two games…giving credence to the thought he’s banged up. I also can’t remember any QB sneaks from him including the tush push. He’s feisty and fiery…but simply not big enough to get any short yardage with Vea picking him up and chucking him over the line. That was maddening when the Bucs kept getting stuffed at the goal line…made much better by Anthony Nelson making The Rattler a meme and basically crushing his NFL dreams.
October 30th, 2025 at 2:51 pm
reminded me of RoJo in Super Bowl vs KC.
October 30th, 2025 at 2:53 pm
Does Harvard teach creativity? I mean really that was so sad. Literally trying to run through a solid mass of 20 humans. Seems more reasonable to go where there aren’t 20 bodies. Ooooo i know maybe fake running up the middle after 7 tries and run to the side. Hmmm, naaaaa. Go Bowles
October 30th, 2025 at 3:01 pm
For those asking about the name of the playcalling and using the “insanity” definition, I submit a more accurate title: The Byron Leftwich Special.
October 30th, 2025 at 3:02 pm
Vita up the middle , if that’s your play call
Baker on a bootleg roll out.
White on a slip out route in the flats
Durham for a jump ball
Otten for a jump ball
Culp for a jump ball
Anyone over 6’3 on the roster for a jump ball
October 30th, 2025 at 3:13 pm
I know Grizzard is more creative than 9 runs up the middle (if you count the one that didn’t count because of a penalty but we still got stuffed). I think perhaps Grizz was a bit miffed that Bowles called him out publicly after the Lions game saying we need to run more. So Grizz was like “you want more runs eh? here’s 9 runs up the middle for no gain” to be defiant
October 30th, 2025 at 3:15 pm
Grizzard channeling his best Marty Schottenheimer play call was infuriating.
The Refs are con men
October 30th, 2025 at 3:34 pm
I’m wondering who called a fade to Shep? Grizz or Baker?
Was it a choice route, because Shep is the last WR on the squad you’d want to throw that pass to. He’s not only short but hes not a great jumper either.
Pressures on the offense (O-line and Grizz specifically) to figure it out over the bye.
* Whatever happened to the “dive” play @ the goal line? Never see it anymore… Did defenses figure it out?
October 30th, 2025 at 3:41 pm
Actually Heck pushed him over the line.
October 30th, 2025 at 3:53 pm
Yeah I can see that. My morale was toast if they got stopped there again.
Every week we see teams do creative things in goal to go situations. All I hear is it’s a copy cat league but somehow those plays never show up while watching the Bucs.
Mesh concepts out of heavy package with end of the line TE… 2 RBs one for a pitch out option. Saw those plays on Sunday and the guy walked in untouched.
October 30th, 2025 at 4:02 pm
Grizz is terrible with the run game.
Hopefully he improves or we should prob replace him this offseason.
Pull someone else in from the McVay tree.
October 30th, 2025 at 4:09 pm
Great calls (except for the passes)!! The line has to learn how to smash one yard ahead and runners have to learn how to drive a wedge through the crease. If you can’t do it against the Saints, you deserve to lose. Keep them out there for as long as it takes. Most of the alternatives I read are about finessing. You need to be able to blast. You don’t build morale by being cute.
October 30th, 2025 at 4:20 pm
Also have to think Wirfs was a little banged up, because they ran to his side twice down close in Seattle and he just mauled people, but two goal line series and it was up the middle every time.
October 30th, 2025 at 4:22 pm
Grizzard is not a good oc. He should go back watch ly offense under coen
October 30th, 2025 at 4:46 pm
As much as people say it was predictable I feel like if you are at the 1 yard line and can’t fall forward for a yard with 4 tries that is less on play calling and more in execution. I myself have often said in similar situations to just keep handing it off think surely you’ll get it with 4 attempts
October 30th, 2025 at 4:54 pm
Horrible play calling on both trips to the 1-yard line! Hope Grizz learns from this!
October 30th, 2025 at 4:57 pm
Grizzard is a rookie OC. 4th one Bucs have had to deal with in 5 years. Some of you bozos need to think about it. What if you had to deal with a different boss every year? That’s right; it’s not easy. On top of it, Bucs have to deal with major injuries. The referee calls in at least 3 of their games are pointing at serious collusion with organized gambling. I’m sticking it out cos I have good memories even through the Bucs’ Dark Ages. What is Jax’s record with Coen? How about the Panthers? Bet they’re not 6-2. Grizzard better be reviewing the first 8 games. We’ll know when they play NE here.
October 30th, 2025 at 5:20 pm
Let’s be honest here.
It was so stupid and embarrassing.
If they want to try it again, hand the ball to VV or at least put him at FB.
October 30th, 2025 at 5:46 pm
Two things …
First, I kept yelling “sneak, sneak” but they kept doing the same slam it up the middle play. When did we stop running QB sneaks? Seems that play works more than 50% of the time, so why not try that three times in a row?
Second, lately, it seems as if the Bucs are intrigued with all of their running backs having identical skill sets. An inch here and a pound or two there and they are all the same. Pass catching RBs, some twitchier than others but more or less the same. What happened to the days of having an always can get you are yard or two bruiser?
There are no Alstotts out there to be had, unfortunately, but with all the trade talk and rumors, NOBODY has even hinted at getting a big, bruising back. There’s one just down the road that would fill the bill nicely – the Dolphins’ Ollie Gordon II.
October 30th, 2025 at 6:23 pm
I would’ve like to see some quick play action after the 3rd/4th run tbh. We got guys like Cade & Payne with big bodies. Just tell’em curl off the ball and put their damn hands up
October 30th, 2025 at 7:22 pm
I really miss Mike Alstott instilling fear in defensive lines.
We’ll probably never get another player like him… especially with the way HBs are used now.
Personally, I think if they brought it back, other teams would not know how to handle it.
October 30th, 2025 at 7:24 pm
No QB sneak is probably due to QB soreness.
October 30th, 2025 at 7:26 pm
Scotty Mack, Ollies is around 30 lbs lighter than Alstott was. He would not be nearly as effective in the same role.
October 30th, 2025 at 7:49 pm
Any word on Rachaad White’s injury status?
October 30th, 2025 at 8:43 pm
Fosbury Flop by Desmond Watson would roll in a TD.
October 30th, 2025 at 8:45 pm
Who would of thought by mid point of the season they d have
WR1 WR2 WR4 out for the year. With Irving out most of
The first half of the season. And half the Oline on the shelf!!
Thier very lucky to be 6 -2. Irving is supposed to be back
Next week. Who knows about godwin. Most likely they
Go 1 – 2 over the next 3 weeks as Mayfield seems hurt too.
The play calling hasn’t been great lately’ but the line can t
Pass or run block and besides egbuka who is now doubled
Most snaps arent running sharp routes. So it ll have to be the
Defensive to win us some close games later this year.
October 30th, 2025 at 10:52 pm
TODD BOWLES AND LEFTWITCH CSLLED THOSE PLSYS . GIZ IS NO COEN ! JASON LIGHT BLEW IT ! DUMBEST PLAY CALLS I HAVE EVER SEEN . HAD TODD BOWLES ALL OVER IT !
October 30th, 2025 at 10:55 pm
WILL GODWIN BE BACK , WILL JALIN MCMILLION BE BACK . WILL BUCKY BE BACK , WILL LUKE BE BACK ???????
October 31st, 2025 at 5:27 am
It was try number 9 (The first series had two first down plays due to a N.O. penalty [half the distance to the goal line = 1/2 yd. line for the next 4 attempts – still no joy.])