Sacks Eater Drake Maye
November 6th, 2025
Takes blame.
Relying on the Bucs offense to win a game feels foolish right now.
The offense has struggled the past two games and slightly improved health for Baker Mayfield may not be enough to revive the unit that was balling without Mike Evans and Bucky Irving in Seattle and against the 49ers.
That was when rookie playcaller Josh Grizzard felt like a super genius and Rachaad White was playing more like a No. 1 running back, and when Tristan Wirfs and Graham Barton were looking like standout first-round draft picks.
It feels like the Bucs have a lot to snap out of to perform again at a stellar level offensively, especially Sunday against a top-10 Patriots defense that’s allowed the fewest rushing yards in the NFL.
So Joe is looking for the Bucs defense to have a heavy hand in eating a “W” against New England.
Game-changing plays is what the Bucs will need defensively and those often start with a sack. The good news is Patriots second-year quarterback Drake Maye has taken 34 sacks this season, second-most in the NFL.
Maye is a sack magnet. He completes 74 percent of his passes, an extraordinary total, but he hasn’t mastered self-preservation.
“A lot of the sacks I have taken have been my fault, me holding the football,” Maye said yesterday.
Joe’s research revelas nearly every Patriots fan agrees with Maye.
The Bucs rank tied for eighth in the NFL in sacks and tied for 20th in hurrying quarterbacks. Joe’s not into hurries because good quarterbacks don’t crumble when hurried, but Maye is still young and lacking experience, so maybe hurries matter more for him.
Regardless, an array of Todd Bowles blitzes are sure to be coming for Maye, who has never faced the Bucs. That chess match likely determines the game.
Maye has eaten 16 sacks and fumbled three times over the past three games — all Patriots wins. The Bucs likely will have to maintain that kind of pressure to have a shot.
November 6th, 2025 at 10:58 am
NE 24 Bucs 3. This is Denver all over again from last year. Pats coaching is vastly superior and NE is healthy compared to the Bucs. Bucs going to lose 3 in a row. They finish 10-7, tied with Carolina, but win the tiebreaker.
November 6th, 2025 at 11:03 am
The title of this article is crazy…
November 6th, 2025 at 11:03 am
Is that some type of sick joke ?
November 6th, 2025 at 11:06 am
Every Bucs victory you have predicted as a loss. Including the Saints game which was an easy win.
Not a great batting average…!
November 6th, 2025 at 11:06 am
Joe, your commenters are the worst! ^^^^ these guys should move up north and become fans of other teams. we have the play makers bucs win sunday 24-20
November 6th, 2025 at 11:07 am
The formula for beating the Bucs is established. Get the ball out quidk to the middle of the defense. We have yet to stop it consistently. Todds blitzes are not effective when the ball is already gone. It also leaves us a man or two short on defending those passes. Pressure from Nelly and the front four would be ideal. We need Baker and the boys to come out firing. Get a lead and then pressure Maye into some mistakes. Trurnovers to get the ball back in to Baker’s hands.
Just my two cents on a game plan.
Go Bucs!
November 6th, 2025 at 11:11 am
Joe Says; So Joe is looking for the Bucs defense to have a heavy hand in eating a “W” against New England.
I’m feeling nauseous. That colloquial term conjures up visions of Jaboo in my head. Let us earn not eat.
November 6th, 2025 at 11:12 am
I may be alone on this hill. But can I see someone talk some tier 1 sh** to this qb after we get the first lick on em. No reason to be buddy buddy this game. Let this kid know we’re looking to make him look pedestrian, and lets do it with actions and words, within the whistle. Bring back hardnosed football.
Go Bucs!
November 6th, 2025 at 11:48 am
Bucsd defense will pick up right where it left off!!!!
Bucs offense will be productive on the ground and we’ll rush for 90+ yards between white, tucker and williams
GO BUCS!!!!
November 6th, 2025 at 11:50 am
Somebody remind me again how many wins New England has against quality teams this season? I imagine Buffalo didn’t take their game against NE as seriously as it should have. Sunday’s game against the Bucs will be the Patriot’s toughest game so far this season.
November 6th, 2025 at 11:52 am
NE just won a squeaker against the Falcons. We got some rest. I think we got this.
November 6th, 2025 at 12:01 pm
Vita, Elijahs, Nellie, Yaya, Logan and Gaines – take over. Push the middle of the line up Maye’s…..nose.
November 6th, 2025 at 12:49 pm
Jeff Says:
November 6th, 2025 at 10:58 am
NE 24 Bucs 3. This is Denver all over again from last year. Pats coaching is vastly superior and NE is healthy compared to the Bucs. Bucs going to lose 3 in a row. They finish 10-7, tied with Carolina, but win the tiebreaker.
^^^^^^
Is this the same Jeff that “predicted” the Falcons to go 13-4 this year? Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
November 6th, 2025 at 12:53 pm
The Pats haven’t played anyone literally the bear the Bills the only team the beat it played with a winning record as of now every team they have beaten has 1 or 2 wins besides the Falcons they have 3
November 6th, 2025 at 1:01 pm
We’re going to need take aways to win this game, and if the offense hasn’t found this out we may need to score on defense/special teams to have a shot a the “W”.
Drake Maye has been playing fantastic football, he’s been accurate at all 3 levels and efficient from the pocket actually targeting his WRs. So to me, the key to cracking that offense will be to keep Maye as uncomfortable for as long as possible.
Don’t care where it comes from, or who gets there first, but we need to put him in a position where’s he’s pressing as much as possible. I think our scheme and the players within the scheme can get this done, but we have to start the game bringing down after down on defense.
November 6th, 2025 at 1:15 pm
Jeff needs to stay off this site. We’re tied for the best record in the NFL. Great coach and GM. If we are lucky and can get healthy by the end of the season, we’re going to be tough to beat in the playoffs.
November 6th, 2025 at 1:31 pm
I think it’ll be a tight game. Vrabel will have his team prepared, already said Bucs will be one of the toufhest teams they face this year so expect the Pats to be putting fourth their best efforts not that they dont try to every week. Despite the wins the Pats have had, they all have come against bad teams aside from one. I think these next few games are playoff caliber games the Bucs will need to prove they can execute in. The offense cant play the way they have the past two games, the run game will need to be somewhat efficient and the defense will need to play lights out. Both teams good at stopping the run. Right now the Pats pass game is executing, Bowles will need to play tight coverage to get those sacks we need.
November 6th, 2025 at 1:34 pm
If the run game gets shut down early, cant abandon but I’d like to see some screens and tosses in there rather than just up the middle. Lets mix it up like Coen used to last year and get them off balance.
November 6th, 2025 at 1:47 pm
The key is to keep Maye from running and don’t give him enough time to go deep. Expect Bowles to dial up all kinds of Blitz packages.
Think the Bucs can score against the Pats, if Grizz doesn’t just try to run up the middle or off tackle. The Pats defense is too good against the run. Bucs need to use the pass to setup the run. Lots of screen passes to White and passes to Otton.
November 6th, 2025 at 1:57 pm
“to have a shot” – 5 of the Patriots wins are against the Saints, Falcons, Browns, Titans and Dolphins, and they lost opening day to the Raiders.
They have 1 quality win vs Bills and they beat the Panthers.
Maye is having a good season, but Patriots’ schedule has been envy of the league.
November 6th, 2025 at 2:03 pm
Jeff must be from the Atlanta area…lol