Facing A Stud Quarterback For The Third Straight Week
November 22nd, 2025
Will Matt Stafford be the third QB in as many weeks to shred a Todd Bowles’ defense?
Since the bye, the Bucs have shown they are at the mercy of opposing quarterbacks.
Coming off the bye, the Bucs faced one of the best young quarterbacks in the game, Drake Maye. He only lit up the Bucs defense.
Then the Bucs faced a future Hall of Famer. He only tied a near-60 year old record, a record Josh Allen himself had established by being part of six touchdowns in a game: three throwing and three running. Allen is the only quarterback to do that in the Super Bowl era.
Tomorrow, the Bucs may be facing the best quarterback in the league, Matt Stafford. In primetime. Without their best corner.
Oh, boy!
Earlier this week, Bucs coach Todd Bowles wasn’t so sure Stafford is playing his best ball. That wasn’t a blast at Stafford at all. Instead, Bowles believes, Stafford has been playing elite ball for a long time.
“I’m not sure he’s playing his best – he’s been great for years now,” Bowles said. “He knows exactly where to go with the football.
“He’s very accurate, a heck of a competitor, and one of the toughest guys to play against. He knows the offense inside and out, and he’s having fun – he’s really driving the boat for them.”
Given how the Bucs’ defense has been diced and sliced the past two weeks by top-shelf quarterbacks, and Stafford runs a Sean McVay offense (McVay is Bowles’ kryptonite), Joe doesn’t know how the Bucs will slow down Stafford.
Joe guesses the best thing about Sunday night’s game is that Cooper Kupp won’t be on the field for the Rams.
November 22nd, 2025 at 9:12 am
I like Mayfield but he is a tier 2 quarterback. The only way we win a Super Bowl with him is if we have an elite defense which we don’t have.
November 22nd, 2025 at 9:21 am
No worries – we have a genius as our D/C. hahahahaha
November 22nd, 2025 at 9:23 am
We got a tier 3 coach
November 22nd, 2025 at 9:53 am
Speaking of the Cooper Kupp game. Where’s Aqualung?
November 22nd, 2025 at 10:01 am
Bowles and Licht especially deserve this game. The lack of attention to the pass rush will get the heat on both after this upcoming debacle. If I’m ownership I have a sit down with Licht about the 35 million he paid Godwin and Reddick.
November 22nd, 2025 at 10:02 am
McKay is Bowles’ kryptonite?
November 22nd, 2025 at 10:02 am
No Joe, Cupp may not be there anymore, however Puka could be better than cupp. Unless Bowles makes adjustments(cough), we are going to get ripped a new one.
November 22nd, 2025 at 10:03 am
I have absolutely no faith that a Todd Bowles led defense can even slow this team down. Let alone give his team a chance to win. I’ll be shocked if the Rams score less tha 30 points.
November 22nd, 2025 at 10:05 am
I quit drinking almost 2 months ago. Boy is that going to be tested tomorrow night.
November 22nd, 2025 at 10:26 am
Get some root beer. With N/A beer you wait for the initial rush but nothing happens. It’s more disappointing.
November 22nd, 2025 at 10:29 am
Those teams with stud QBs the last three weeks have been facing a team with a stud QB. Baker loses this one it’s tough to make an argument he’s top tier. Our defense has proven it can get turnovers. Kickoff team had better have more pride than has been exhibited. Baker needs to have one of those days where he’s the best player on the field. Then we could easily win this game. He’s made a career out of playing his best when he’s an underdog. We saw it in Seattle. In Green Bay. At Chargers. All away games we were supposed to lose. Gonna be a great game.
November 22nd, 2025 at 10:34 am
Inwood Jeremy, for sure!
November 22nd, 2025 at 10:39 am
Maye lit up the Bucs??????
Idk man. Watching the game, short of a couple big throws – Maye wasn’t exactly killing us. 16/31 with 270 yards isn’t exactly putting us up.
Now Josh Allen in the other hand – we smoked us and didn’t leave a roach
November 22nd, 2025 at 10:40 am
Kenton Smith, agreed. Baker has to show he can step up against a great team, even when the D shats the bed. I mean look at Josh Allen against us last week, his D got gashed for almost 300 yds rushing, bills had 3 TO’s, and he still found a way to get it done. If Baker wants to be considered elite, he needs to win more games like this. Not blaming him at all, he just needs to find that next level in prime time games, like he did in that last drive against Houston.
November 22nd, 2025 at 10:48 am
By the way, that Houston D reminds me somewhat of our early 2000’s D. It’s amazing what happens when you have your edge rushers actually rush the QB. They sacked Allen 8 times, while we had a big fat donut in that column against him.
November 22nd, 2025 at 10:52 am
For all the colossal idiots who post here about players, here is a concept that might matter. Football is a team game. No QB can win an MVP if he is on his back for most of any game. Last year’s MVP Josh Allen ,who destroyed the Bucs last week, was on his back most of Thursday night. Did Allen change materially in just 4 days? Mayfield can make every throw a pro QB is required to make. He has outstanding leadership skills and is a great competitor. Really remarkable how this season has played out with an injured Mayfield throwing apart from EE, to his 4,5 and 6 receivers most of whom were doubtful to make the team in preseason. Finally, include yet another new OC still trying to find his way. A healthy Mayfield is a top 5 QB. The rest of this stuff is just noise.
November 22nd, 2025 at 10:57 am
I refuse to believe that these men did not pick their pride up off the floor after last week.
I expect a bunch of crazed dogs on Defense.
I think they beat the Rams and get back to the conversation about being a top team.
Believe!
November 22nd, 2025 at 11:00 am
@Kenton:
“Baker loses this one it’s tough to make an argument he’s top tier.”
Kenton, I say that is a but unfair. Maybe a lot unfair. Rams are lucky they are in good health. Us? No ME, Bucky, a gimpy Godwin at best, back-ups at both Guard positions, no Kancy…
And that is without factoring in our DC sending F_ing OLBs into coverage. Come on man!
November 22nd, 2025 at 11:12 am
Gipper, couldn’t agree more that it takes a team. Senor Harry in Costa Rica. Baker had chances to win the last two games. He knows it and he’s probably thinking about it right now. No bigger Baker fan out there than me.
November 22nd, 2025 at 11:16 am
It’s a little early to be calling Drake Maye a stud quarterback. He’s having a nice season this year and he’s in his second year. Time will tell if he turns out to be a stud. Now Allen and Stafford are definitely studs. Definitely in the top 4 along with Lamar and Mahomes.
November 22nd, 2025 at 11:20 am
Stafford and prime time. Two strikes already. 😉
November 22nd, 2025 at 11:23 am
“Baker loses this one it’s tough to make an argument he’s top tier.”
Kenton, plain and simple: You’re full of sh!t! We will likely lose this game as everyone expects due to the fact that we have lost our best WRs, our best RB, our best DB (Dean!), and we are coached by a rookie OC and the ever famous Todd Bowels (the MASTER of defensive coaches (GAG!)). If we lose this game it won’t be because of Baker.
November 22nd, 2025 at 11:29 am
I don’t understand how people think. We scored 32 points against the Bills last week, with freaking (Ive been sitting on the couch) Shepard as our lead WR. It is not Baker’s fault the da@# lousy D gave up 44 when the Dolphins held them to 13pts the week before. The J Allan coughed up 3 COs and STILL scored 6 TDs.
Yeah, ok, its all Baker’s fault. That is just lazy stupidity.
November 22nd, 2025 at 11:30 am
3 TOs*
November 22nd, 2025 at 11:35 am
Would be nice to beat Rams and then Az,,, that would be every team in the NFC West ,,, this will make 8 teams out of 11 that we played w a winning record ,,, when you lose ME, CG, JMac, you basically have EE and need Otten to really step up,, just keep fighting and make the dance and once your there who knows ,, as for Todd and the D,,, stop giving up big plays and we will be ok,,, I can’t ever remember a Bowles defense giving up this many big plays ,,, sure up the special teams as well..
November 22nd, 2025 at 11:47 am
P Mahomes may lose 3 games in a row this week. He sucks too. Such stupid takes.
November 22nd, 2025 at 11:49 am
Joe … ‘Given how the Bucs’ defense has been diced and sliced the past two weeks by top-shelf quarterbacks, and Stafford runs a Sean McVay offense (McKay is Bowles’ kryptonite), Joe doesn’t know how the Bucs will slow down Stafford.’
Oh ye of little faith. The 49ers showed others how to beat the Rams in Game 5 (49ers won 26-23 in OT).
1 – 49ers jumped out ahead 17-7 at the half, then 20-7 at the start of the 3rd qtr. And ya, then they hung on to win 26-23.
2 – 49ers for the most part shut down the Rams’ run game. Rams ran 17 times for 78 yards, but 1 was for 20 yds. That’s a 3.6 YPC average on those other 16 rushes.
3 – Rams fumbled twice (on runs) … and lost both of them. 49ers turned 1 of those into a TD, and the 2nd fumble on the 49ers 1-yd line (with 1 minute left in the 4th qtr), kept the Rams from winning the game. 49ers won the Turnover Battle 2-0 and the TOP Battle 40:04 to 26:20 .
4 – Stafford passed a LOT more than what he normally does, apparently because they were trailing at halftime. He was 30-for-47 (63.8%) for 389 yds & 3 TDs (0 INTs), but that still wasn’t good enough.
5 – Stafford threw deep 16 times in the game, completed 7 for 183 yards and 0 TDs.
So all we have to do is get way ahead early, then hang on for dear life. We got this, as long as we don’t punt to keep giving Stafford the ball.
November 22nd, 2025 at 11:52 am
🕊️ A Tribute to Our Brother, SB
Hey Joe, and Loyal readers here on JBF.
It is with heavy hearts that I share some sad news: we have lost a brother, SB.
SB wasn’t just a screen name on JoeBucsFan—he was a diehard Bucs fan who stood by the team through every storm, celebrating the wins and enduring the losses with equal devotion. He was truly one of ours. He was one of those rare voices that didn’t just post; he showed up. Consistently loyal, sharp, and solid. He was the kind of steady presence you could feel across the screen, even if you never met him face-to-face.
SB was a man who lived by strong Christian values. He honorably served our country, stood for something bigger than himself, and gave his time, his voice, and his energy to the team and the community he cared about.
He has now gone home, leaving behind a cherished legacy:
A wife who loved him enough to walk beside him through the real storms of life.
A son who carries his name, his habits, his laugh, and his stubborn strength.
Rest in peace, Bredren. We will miss you.
November 22nd, 2025 at 12:16 pm
Stafford and Dak are the best QB’s in the league right now, and it’s not even close enough to be debated with anyone else. Not even close. Everything looks just SO CRISP with them. Everything is moving in ‘slow-motion’ for them.
November 22nd, 2025 at 12:43 pm
Stafford is unbelievable even at age 37. But he’s been the same guy for a long time even going back to his days with the Lions. He was undoubtedly even better in his prime years. But never did much winning with the Lions outside of maybe 2 playoff appearances. So as some have pointed out here it is a team game and no QB can carry a team by themselves. What more proof do people need? Maybe people just have a deep seated need to believe in superheroes. Some were elevating Baker earlier this year to that status but it should be clear all that one person can only do so much.
November 22nd, 2025 at 1:15 pm
Well, saw on College Gameday this morning where it looks like, Good Ole Bake might be doing ANOTHER ‘in-season’ (30-for-30/E60 style) segment for the nation. This time on Sunday Countdown, called “48-Hours with Baker Mayfield,” or something like that!? Hmmmm… Okay. Well… Guess, we‘ll see what happens.
November 22nd, 2025 at 1:35 pm
Rams 42 Clueless Todd’s 13
November 22nd, 2025 at 2:08 pm
Shouldn’t matter who we face if you have a truly great defense
Did we care about Favre when we had Sapp?
Bowles made this bed by telling JL he was fine with THIS PERSONNEL
And I didn’t think injuries really matter on O – did anyone know Tyler Shavers before he went yard against this defense?
No one is going to wake up until they lose to the Cardinals and/or Panthers or if Cousins goes off again on prime time
We need an offensive HC and innovative DC
November 22nd, 2025 at 2:47 pm
Bowles is completely incompetent and outmatched by McVay.
Baker is as tough as they come and truly inspires his team. But Stafford is miles above him in talent and equally above him in clutch moments.
Baker will need a great defense to reach his full potential.
Possibly a Brad Johnson type guy that can find his place in that ring of honor.
Under Toad Bowels this simply is just a pipe dream.
November 22nd, 2025 at 3:01 pm
“ModHairKen Says:
November 22nd, 2025 at 10:57 am
I refuse to believe that these men did not pick their pride up off the floor after last week.
I expect a bunch of crazed dogs on Defense.
I think they beat the Rams and get back to the conversation about being a top team.
Believe!”
YES exactly plus the Bucs havw a way of winning game we are supposed to lose and losing games we are supposed to win lol finally someone on here showing some team spirit instead of bashing thw team they “love” im with you honie my Hillsborough pride won’t allow me to think we can’t win!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
November 22nd, 2025 at 4:28 pm
OneAndThree Says:
November 22nd, 2025 at 2:47 pm
Bowles is completely incompetent and outmatched by McVay.
Baker is as tough as they come and truly inspires his team. But Stafford is miles above him in talent and equally above him in clutch moments.
================================
Yet another know it all who writes with an authority he knows nothing about. Stafford first 7 full years in NFL with Detroit–181TD’s 107INT’s approx 64.5% comp. Mayfield first 7 full year in NFL including the spilt year with Car and LA—171TD’s 90 INT’s approx 63.5% comp percentage. Mayfield’s first full 4 years in NFL were with a really bad team far worse than Stafford w/ DET. Mayfield playoff record first full 7 years 2-3. Stafford playoff record first full 7 years 0-3. Mayfield is entering his prime QB years. The record for the first full 7 years speak for itself.
November 22nd, 2025 at 4:40 pm
Bowles D not only make MVP caliber QBs HoFers. They also allow rookies, 3rd stringers, and castoffs have career best games.
Never going to change. Expecting Bryce Young to destroy the Bucs defense in two games for close to 800 yds and 5 TDs combined.
November 22nd, 2025 at 4:42 pm
Bucs defense is currently 21st in PPG allowed and 22nd in YPG allowed. After the Rams Bowles D will be bottom 5 in both. Same thing every year.
November 22nd, 2025 at 5:03 pm
The last game I can remember winning we were supposed to get thrashed in was the Steelers game like maybe 10 years ago. Napolean Dynamite won that game.
Other than that we’ve had some close calls but always managed to lose it one way or the other in the final minute.
November 22nd, 2025 at 5:04 pm
LUVMYBUCS … ‘It is with heavy hearts that I share some sad news: we have lost a brother, SB.’
Thanks for sharing LUVMYBUCS. He had some wonderful, meaningful comments about ‘his Bucs’ over the years. And yes, SB will be missed.
November 22nd, 2025 at 5:44 pm
I don’t expect anything but a Rams blood bath. The Rams have a better offense, defense and special teams. Discounting the head coach who likes to embarrass Todd something easy to do. Todd who doesn’t do well against equal or better teams during day or night games. I look forward to laughing at the Bucs on Monday and Todd’s repetitive well worn excuses.
November 22nd, 2025 at 6:06 pm
SBucs. Chill. No shlt.
November 22nd, 2025 at 6:10 pm
Stafford is not better than Baker. Rams have a better offense right now. Baker won’t lose this game, but bad coaching, horrible special teams and the most pathetic excuse for a defense will.
Also, Licht is so hard headed , he makes a few good draft picks and fails miserably on others. Can’t understand why he didn’t address the need for an edge rusher. Guess we will need to wait for the draft next year when licht drafts another project edge rusher in the second round from a div 3 team that should have been a UDFA. lol.
November 22nd, 2025 at 6:39 pm
hopefully its competitive
November 22nd, 2025 at 8:13 pm
Sounds like an excuse for the throat stomp that’s coming. Yeah, that’s what also happens in the playoffs. Thats called playing good teams, not playing the sorry NFC South.
November 22nd, 2025 at 8:16 pm
Stafford is a first ballot HOF. Baker is not even close to the HOF.
November 22nd, 2025 at 9:22 pm
Todd Blowes is a Loser.
November 22nd, 2025 at 10:12 pm
LUVMYBUCS … ‘It is with heavy hearts that I share some sad news: we have lost a brother, SB.’
sorry to hear that LUVMYBUCS. I agree with DR, I remember many great takes by SB. He will be missed.
November 22nd, 2025 at 11:07 pm
Rams – 1209
Toods – (square root of negative 1209)
November 22nd, 2025 at 11:58 pm
LUVMYBUCS Says:
A Tribute to Our Brother, SB
.
.
2 Corinthians 4:18
November 23rd, 2025 at 1:52 am
@ Gipper – that’s just not true. Those Browns teams were pretty good. You can say that he was playing ‘injured’ of whatever, BUT Baker did not look good for most of the time, while in Cleveland. And, if you want to be truly honest about it he didn’t in Tampa for the most part either, during that first year with Canales (it’s why EVERYONE wanted to see WTH Trask could do). Turned the ball over A LOT last season, too! Hell, only led the LEAGUE. He hasn’t this year either, for the most part… It’s the reason for why we had all of those close games in the beginning (he didn’t look great again, during the first THREE-Quarters). But, I know, I know… He’s ‘injured’ AGAIN. But, those Cleveland teams, in a VERY TOUGH Division, had some Tough Defenses and a great Running Game (when Chubb was healthy, for sure). And, Stafford never ‘dinked and dunked’ it. He was ALWAYS a STUD from the very moment he walked out on a football field. 5-Star and #1-ranked QB incoming outta HS. He is a future HOF’er. Baker will never even be on the ballot… Never even in the discussion. So, be REAL. There is NOBODY who would take Baker over Matt. NOBODY. It just is what it is.
November 23rd, 2025 at 8:09 am
*TEST* DR, I agree with you regarding Bucs beating Rams. It will be the Defense who will do it. Will miss the game tonight, but I’ll read up on it tomorrow. I also hope they win cos it will po off quite a few tiresome trains on here. Go Bucs!!
November 23rd, 2025 at 8:10 am
*brains, not trains
November 23rd, 2025 at 9:39 am
the whole trick tonight is to get stafford off his game…
i’ve seen him have bad games…
tonight’s goal: turn stafford into a hack, and have his worst game of the season…
bowles needs to do what he did to mahomes in the superbowl…somehow, someway…ruin stafford on this given sunday
November 23rd, 2025 at 10:12 am
MelvinJunior Says:
November 23rd, 2025 at 1:52 am
@ Gipper – that’s just not true. Those Browns teams were pretty good.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
If the Browns teams were “good”, it is because a healthy Mayfield made them that way. Mayfield is long gone from Cleveland. With the same coach and GM are the Browns still “good?” The stats for Mayfield first 7 full years are compared to Stafford’s first full 7 years. Only a fool would deny the facts. Have been reading your monologues for years. Most of it is incoherent and rambling.
November 23rd, 2025 at 12:32 pm
Gipper. Don’t give him credit. All of his monologues are incoherent and rambling.
November 23rd, 2025 at 3:55 pm
It just not true, “Gipper.” Those were some VERY talented Browns teams. STRONG Defense and RUNNING GAME (with Chubb and Kareem Hunt, in his prime). Stefasnki WON his ‘first’ of TWO NFL Coach of the Year Awards, and… THEY. WERE. LOADED. In an EXTREMELY TOUGH Division… THE ‘toughest’ in THE LEAGUE (and it wasn’t even close). So, WHY THEN, do you think Good Ole Bake was literally, RAN OUTTA TOWN!? Hmmmmmm…