“An Eye-Opener For A Lot Of Guys And A Lot Of Coaches On This Team”
December 12th, 2025
After last night’s choke job against the miserable Falcons, Baker Mayfield fell on his sword.
He said his interception and off-target throw to Emeka Egbuka late in the game were huge plays. The loss was on the QB, Mayfield said.
Todd Bowles addressed Mayfield’s comments this morning and expressed respect for Mayfield’s accountability.
“[Baker] can look himself in the mirror and be honest with himself. You know, coaches and players have to do that alike,” Bowles said. “That’s what makes him who he is.
“So if everybody did that, we would figure out our problems real quick. So I think it’s an eye-opener for a lot of guys and a lot of coaches on this team. So if we come back Monday and look in the mirror, and everybody can work on the little things, I think that’ll carry us the rest of the way.”
Timeout! Why exactly would Mayfield talking about how he looked in the mirror be “an eye-opener for a lot of guys and a lot of coaches?”
The Bucs have been talking about looking in the mirror since getting steamrolled by the Rams weeks ago.
Heck, Todd Bowles should have purchased mirrors and put one in the locker of every player and coach.
Joe has worked in high-pressure corporate sales environments. More than once mirrors were passed out and ordered to be hung in cubicles of all salespeople. The concept is that improvement requires looking in the mirror regularly.
If truly watching a player take full accountability Thursday was an “eye-opener” for any Bucs coach or player, that’s a huge problem.
December 12th, 2025 at 12:17 pm
Blah blah blah blah blah blah
December 12th, 2025 at 12:17 pm
Put the mirrors in the lockers for SVD, Hassan, Zion, Kam, And especially AWJR.
December 12th, 2025 at 12:18 pm
losing to the saints wasn’t “an eye opener”. The Rams could have put 60 on us and we have back to back home losses to 2 of the worst teams in the league. By close of business today the coach should be fired or the problem players should be cut… or both.
December 12th, 2025 at 12:18 pm
We got captains (Winny) that do not give a damn.
December 12th, 2025 at 12:21 pm
Yes. Been huge problems for years. The new staff will have mirrors. Ill supply them
December 12th, 2025 at 12:21 pm
Falcons 19 penalties.
100+ free yards.
28-14 Bucs up starting 4th quarter.
Falcons 3rd/28 then 4th/14 and get a 1st down.
Falcons fumble twice and get the ball …
That extremely bad coaching!
players lack luster playing, pull them for the hungry next player up at least!
December 12th, 2025 at 12:23 pm
Thank you, Joe for being a conduit to the Bucs for us fans. I can’t speak for everyone, but for myself, I can see the fine line you have to walk in order to maintain that conduit. You can’t be calling for people to be fired while maintaining that information flow. I do appreciate that you’re more open about your disappointment and frustration with the team and coaches. Now that many pundits are all delivering the same message that Bowles is failing. I find it hypocritical of Bowles complementing baker for falling on his sword (he should with the int and bad pass to Egbuka), but Bowles does not fall on his sword and even points out that some players are to blame. He is the coach and it’s his responsibility to get those players in line and this isn’t the first few games. This is the end of the season that’s his responsibility and his failure, but he doesn’t fall on his sword.
December 12th, 2025 at 12:24 pm
I don’t want to read or hear anything from Todd ever again.
December 12th, 2025 at 12:24 pm
Bowels has run out of runway!
December 12th, 2025 at 12:25 pm
Todd Bowles was hanging on what was left after Tom brady left. On his own he is an average head coach at best. He is much better as a DC. None of your really good coaches have to tell players to look in a mirror. If they are not doing their job they are gone along with the head coach. It makes me sick to hear Bowles say some of the coaches also need a mirror. Why the hell are they still there????
December 12th, 2025 at 12:26 pm
Mike McCarty where art thou?
Only a proven OENSIVE minded head coach can fix this team.
And hire a competent DC, not a buffoon.
The mirror on the wall says, “Fire Bowles Now!!!”
December 12th, 2025 at 12:26 pm
OFFENSIVE*
December 12th, 2025 at 12:29 pm
What they all should do, as a team, is get a mirror and etch into it “Week 6 MVP” – when they see that greatness, it should motivate them.
December 12th, 2025 at 12:30 pm
Nothing against Todd Bowles the person but as the Head coach, Why is Todd Bowles not fired yet ? Geeeeezzzzzz !!!! 🤬🤦🏻♂️🤬🤦🏻♂️🤬🤦🏻♂️
December 12th, 2025 at 12:31 pm
If the Bucks’ brain trust had a spec of honor, they would have resigned after last night’s game.
December 12th, 2025 at 12:32 pm
this jack-ass turned on BAker now? Baker is the reason we have been able to be decent. freaking garbage
December 12th, 2025 at 12:34 pm
a 1-5 start gets you fired before Thanksgiving
time for a change
Baker saved his job after the wasted Brady season and then every year after that
now he’s throwing Baker into traffic?
writing is on the wall — let’s snag an offensive minded coach and build a new staff
December 12th, 2025 at 12:34 pm
Todd’s record as a head coach is sixteen games under (or worse). He is who he is. He will crap on everyone but himself. He doesn’t understand current football. He coaches his players to play the type of football he played twenty years ago. Todd hires his assistants which explains their inability to make players better. This game shouldn’t have been close. 125 yards of penalties and they lose. Atlanta shows up with a mediocre QB and two good players. The defense of eleven can’t stop two players. Poor team construction, lackluster coaching, players regressing, all signs of a well coached Todd team. I think the Bucs lose the next two games and win the last against Carolina, but it won’t matter for the playoffs. Todd and house get cleaned.
December 12th, 2025 at 12:36 pm
It’s really frustrating nobody is naming names. Why protect a player that isn’t committed to the team? Cause they’re a good guy? They’re actively hurting the team, I don’t care how nice they are. Somebody’s got to name them publicly so they are either forced to change their ways or the team is forced to cut them.
December 12th, 2025 at 12:36 pm
We get the ball leading 28-26. Offense gets a first down, nice little 3rd and 2 4 yard out to Chris. Man he’s good 3rd down receiver. Atlanta uses all of their timeouts and on 1st and 10 defense is on our running back 4 yards deep in the backfield. Missing blocks that blatantly can get you beat. 2nd and 14 has alot less chance of being successful than 2nd and 4. Lots of little things are the difference.
December 12th, 2025 at 12:37 pm
Fun house mirrors for this clown show.
No going back with Bowles…he may lose out.
Licht’s goodwill for begging big brother Bruce Arians to come in a turn around the moribund franchise has run out. GM Tom Brady in actuality brought in Gronk, Fournette & Antonio Brown. Those 3 did all the scoring in the SB win.
When it was handed back over to Licht…he early extended Winfield Jr., My eyes ain’t lyin’ Zyon and Luke Goedoke…which may or may not age well. Licht’s “Chef’s Kiss” was making Reddick the 3rd highest paid Buc in 2025.
All new regime, por favor.
December 12th, 2025 at 12:39 pm
Todd has to win THREE GAMES to hold on.
Same with GRIZZ
Same with BAKER
Otherwise gone.
December 12th, 2025 at 12:39 pm
I like Coach Bowles, but saw a stat that said he was 16-51 as a head coach when losing at halftime…. That’s a lot of games over before a second hand kick off. Players make plays, not enough on defense which is the HC specialty, might be time to move on
December 12th, 2025 at 12:42 pm
Vince Lombardi and Woody Hayes used to say there is only three things that can happen when you throw a pass and two of them are bad
What we are seeing from Baker is a clear case of loss of confidence. Simply put the fear of the two bad things are lodged in Baker’s head and he is struggling to get his mojo back,
Its not easy. They did sack him 5 times all night while Cousins enjoyed time to throw and open receivers and so the old pro was able to flip the script on the Bucs
Baker was running all night long and ground out the 3TD lead but every time Bake took the Bucs in the defense promptly returned ths favor and with much great ease. Ridiculous ease.
IN fact Bake has been running for his life all season and it beat him and you can see it is wearing don’t. Just like it did the last two years only this year it was worse because he has faced the heat mostly without his best guys and willingly sacrificed his body for the cause.
Paying together again can only help Bake and his friend’s and who knows maybe the element of desperation will fire them up.
Thw hell with those two bad things, Sling the ball with bad intentions an manifest those completions and score.
Afterall people seem to perform at their best when their backs are to the wall.
Might as well go down swinging.
December 12th, 2025 at 12:43 pm
Eye Opener? LMAO. If Carolina beating us next week means the last straw for Todd Bowles and his staff? I’m all in. GO PANTHERS. I’m sick of the same ole excuses every week. Send Bowles and his straff packing.
December 12th, 2025 at 12:45 pm
In a normal organization people would resign or be fired.
December 12th, 2025 at 12:46 pm
It’s game 14 and you are talking about mirrors? Mirrors why you even talking Todd you shouldnt be able to move with the amount of mirrors that should be around you. You lost the team with the malpractice you call coaching take all the zone soft coverage bullsh!t out of your playbook put it in your suitcase and GTFO.
December 12th, 2025 at 12:48 pm
They lost against the 2 and 9 saints right? I didnt Dream it, It’s fantasy to think Todd has a future here with the bucs.
December 12th, 2025 at 12:48 pm
It’s all on Bowles and even the GM. If a players are causing this many problems then roll with scrubs off the street. Maybe you get lucky with someone will to be 10% better than the problems. But you know the problem people are going to cost you in the end, they proved it to you week in week out. I would guess Riddick is one and it sounds like Winfield’s time is over. Saying that, Windfield has played for Bowles for a long time now and maybe Bowles message is just total BS to a lot of these guys anymore. All in all…. The main part of the fault rests with Bowles for not doing anything about it
December 12th, 2025 at 12:57 pm
Jason Licht is a FRAUD. That’s Brady’s SB ring he wears. No more of Licht’s choir boy strategy. Give me dawgs all day long. We go to church on Sundays for choir boys. We want winners and dawgs during football time. Fire everyone. ANd fire that dumbass Arians for going on ESPN and bashing the Bucs. Hey man…you’re on the payroll as an advisor so you suck too. SMDH
December 12th, 2025 at 12:58 pm
What would be an eye opener is Bowles remains in the organization in some capacity and a new HC arrives and puts people in their place or moves them out or to the bench. I’m pissed as a manager and a coach throughout my life what these clowns are doing to Bowles. The dude is stand up. They’re going to look back after changes come and when they’re held accountable and cry and moan they’ll wish they’d not let down Bowles. They need to learn that the organization is bigger than them and if Bowles is repurposed into another role it shows that the players are not running the show which is what appears to be one of the issues. Not doing your job on the field isn’t a HC or GM issue until you make it an issue and having been in the corporate world for many years, I’m hear to say it’s rare for the rank and file to affect meaningful change to mgmt other than a change that ultimately screws over the rank and file so these players better be careful. If they’re going to execute their coach for their failures they’re going to pay the price down the road. And maybe that’s what they need.
December 12th, 2025 at 12:58 pm
One good throw by Baker one good stop by defense one good play call by oc could have won this team game. They all failed miserably. Remember we won against atl last time when their kicker missed a fg. We haven’t gotten any better. Fire over confident mistake prone clueless opposing qb loving Bowles! Immediately.
December 12th, 2025 at 1:02 pm
Once you identify the problem: Defense, you find the root cause: Bowles.
You either resolve the root cause or you continue the same behavior expecting a different result.
To summarize you either choose insanity or take the path to sanity.
December 12th, 2025 at 1:14 pm
Fire Todd Bowles, end of story.
I’m tired of seeing this lackluster defense get bailed out by the offense. Our 5-1 start is because of that! We should have been 0-4 to start the season the way the defense carried itself. Only 2 wins were by 8 or more points!
The entire coaching staff, all the way to the strength and conditioning guys.. need to go! Don’t know if it was a joke or not, but last week i saw something about Goedeke complaining that the Bucs didn’t have big enough dumbells in the gym? ???
What the hell is going on with this team? What happened at the bye week that caused this self-immolation? Since that bye week this team looks completely different!
December 12th, 2025 at 1:15 pm
Watching Evans walk off the field even before the ATL kicked the game winner kind of says it all. Despite Baker being accountable and owning up to his shortcomings, those who have pride on that roster must be thoroughly disgusted about how the defense gave up the booty yet again. I think it is to the point where it does not matter if a few entitled defensive players are a locker room cancer or if Bowles is just a complete imbecile when calling this idiotic soft zone time and time again: the D and Bowles have destroyed the culture on this team. the rot is showing. Bowles allowed it to happen so he must go: question is who on the roster should also be held accountable. Perhaps JPP is taking notes and letting the powers that be at OBP, who should be jettisoned along with Todd and a majority of his defensive and special teams coaches.
December 12th, 2025 at 1:20 pm
Too many melodramatic comments here. This team needs a new HC and a competent DC. Could also use some competent offensive guards also. Right now, we don’t have them. Not much talent on defensive side of ball. Football is not a game of perfect but losing back to back to teams that are barely competitive tells ownership all that is needed.
December 12th, 2025 at 1:21 pm
Captain Checkdown has a mirror everyone!
December 12th, 2025 at 1:22 pm
I don’t see his comments as throwing baker under the bus
I see Him as saying its good people see baker taking responsibility because there are players who aren’t
As for all this other repetitive pounding with confidence “bowles is done”. and “rebuild” and he can take baker with Him”
Its amazing how little some of you guys grow. Delusional
This aint madden
You make no calls and none of you have the last name Glazer. So calm your daydreaming selves down. You’ve been calling for people’s heads for years and simply ben ignored .Learn the pattern.
December 12th, 2025 at 1:22 pm
There are actually 2 silver linings from last night’s debacle ( more if it creates change at OBP ).
Atlanta may now decide to keep Kissin’ Cousins another season given his typical inflated performance vs Bowles defenses
Owner Blank-Check may also keep Raheem The Dream after that moral victory for the season. That makes Atlanta very beatable under most normal conditions. He no doubt has a touch of the ‘tism watching him celebrate his version of a Super Bowl.
December 12th, 2025 at 1:25 pm
We can still make the playoffs. Season ain’t over. A 1-5 stretch is absolutely disgusting but we still control our destiny. It’s not too late to get our team on the same page and win some freaking games. It’s now or never use this as fuel to curb stomp the Carolina kitties twice in three weeks. Why not
December 12th, 2025 at 1:28 pm
Sombrero, are you delusional?
December 12th, 2025 at 1:30 pm
The Bucs beat the 49ers, Texans & Seahawks and damn near beat the Patriots. Yet they lose to Aints & Dirty Birds. Why do they play down to the level of competition?????
December 12th, 2025 at 1:57 pm
Anyone remember Jamel dean calling this team a superbowl team and said he can see making noise in the post season what was he drinking and smoking? I guess he forgot other people that is not him has to do their jobs to make that happen.
December 12th, 2025 at 1:59 pm
Please stop with talk of playoffs. Bucs are in total collapse for all to see.
December 12th, 2025 at 2:15 pm
The problem is, Bowles has never taken personal accountability for HIS poor coaching decisions. He just continues to make excuses for why he does certain things, or calls certain plays. And it rubs off on the entire team.
These players are full of excuses, because that’s what comes from the top down. It’s actually sad that Baker is the one that has to set this example when it should be the head coach doing it.
December 12th, 2025 at 2:46 pm
It is hard to believe that Las Vegas has the Bucs still favored to win the division (-130) over Carolina (+105). I am not sure I understand the logic because if Carolina beats the Saints (surprisingly only favored by 3), then Carolina locks up the division with a win over the Bucs. I would imagine Carolina will be favored by 3 or 4 points over the Bucs in Carolina. So, it just seems like that is easy money. How many of us truly believe the Bucs will win in Carolina at this point? Oh, don’t get me wrong, Baker will come out firing and Evans will play hard and we might even have the lead for a little while, but, then Carolina will make some key 3rd down passing plays on our sorry defense and loosen it up and then start to grind out their physical run game—-and some on the bucs defense will quit and Carolina will win by 10 points at the end as the Bucs walk off the field with shocked looks on their faces. We all can see this coming from a mile away.