Baker Mayfield Shoulders Blame, Says Lay Off The Defense
December 12th, 2025
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield.
Baker Mayfield doesn’t want to hear any smack run about the Bucs defense.
Oh, the Bucs quarterback understands why Bucs fans are outraged at a defensive collapse, coughing up a two-touchdown lead in the second half to put the Bucs on the brink of collapse for the 2025 season.
Mayfield, instead, believes he set the table for the collapse. Mayfield threw a gruesome interception in the second half that gave the Dixie Chicks life and they responded.
“Falls on my shoulders,” Mayfield said. “Can’t turn the ball over. Can’t have that interception. Just got to hit [Emeka Egbuka] in stride on that third down.
“Listen, you can say what you want about being up two scores and the defense right there. We have to be better on offense. It comes down to how I play.”
While Mayfield’s play has slipped a great deal the past six weeks, he had a decent game on Thursday night. And despite having a terrible post-bye season, Mayfield is still the ultimate team guy. So Mayfield taking the blame is what he does to protect his teammates.
This loss is absolutely on the defense and, in particular, the defensive coordinator who still hasn’t learned to hatch a defense to stop Kirk freaking Cousins.
December 12th, 2025 at 2:05 am
How is the loss on the defense? Did they play great? No, but Baker threw a CRUCIAL interception in field goal range when you could’ve gone up 2 scores.
You cant say this was just on the defense. Both offensive and defensive collapse.
December 12th, 2025 at 2:07 am
Our Guru Bozo learned how to be a Guru from Timothy Leary. His defense shows it.
December 12th, 2025 at 2:13 am
T-Bucs, they were up two scores. Baker didn’t have his best game. But the defense gave up the booty, no matter what rod munching haters say.
December 12th, 2025 at 2:13 am
Baker if you are hurt then don’t play. I love you as a player but you had multiple weapons on the Browns and failed and you have the same on the Bucs….that ain’t no 6/7….Coach in my opinion is already fired but the QB play has also gotten me worried as of late. Go Bucs! Maybe next year!
December 12th, 2025 at 2:20 am
Zion lost the game with his neutral zone infraction before halftime. He solely changed the scoreboard from a field goal to a touchdown. Four point differential due to his mental mistake. He got bored and cost his team a victory.
December 12th, 2025 at 2:29 am
This loss is on everyone in creamsicle to a certain extent.
But the worst consistent through line is the defense and the the poor special teams play.
Grizzard and and banged up Baker and Oline and WR core and Bucky didn’t help either.
Hoping the Glazers will make wise and prudent decisions going forward to improve the future.
Namaste
December 12th, 2025 at 2:38 am
3rd and 28
4th and 14
That’s on ReTodd and his miserable useless defense.
December 12th, 2025 at 2:40 am
What complete waste. Why should I watch? The players clearly don’t care. The coach just stands there, no fire at all! Utterly embarrassing
December 12th, 2025 at 2:50 am
Munch is right, If Baker is hurt then he should sit but imagine under the bridge in there. Baker seemed out of sorts for the past 2 weeks but he is all we have now. Maybe they can beg Trask back. Sorry….. Just kidding. I still think for next year Bowles must go. He is really a bad head coach. Nice guy bad head coach. Go bucs
December 12th, 2025 at 2:51 am
14 scored in the 2nd, 15 scored in the 4th….I like you Bake, but no, im not laying off the D and todd, and neither should anyone….lets be intelligent here.
December 12th, 2025 at 3:04 am
BOWLES HAS GOT TO GO.
The reality is, we squeaked out so many close games early in the season. We should probably be sitting at like 5-9 right now.
The fact that they cut Trask in favor of Bridgewater is also ridiculous.
With Trask, at least you had a guy with some upside potential that could have played some when Mayfield was banged up. Instead, you have Mayfield under pressure to feel like he has to play no matter how hurt he is.
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR = FAILING GRADE
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR (BOWLES) = FAILING GRADE
HEAD COACHING = FAILING GRADE
SPECIAL TEAMS = FAILING GRADE
Glazers needs to CLEAN HOUSE and rebuild the entire coaching staff.
December 12th, 2025 at 3:10 am
Unfortunately for Baker & todd, it’s really hard to control the narrative when people can see what’s happening with their own eyes. This defense has been cheeks since before he was here. That being said, Baker is doing what MANY other players (and coaches) should be doing and shouldering the blame for his shortcomings. Not in a vague, passive way, but in a specific “here’s how I screwed up” kind of way. The next part of that SHOULD be “here’s what I’m doing to fix it,” but I guess we’re taking baby steps. Either that or he doesn’t have any answers either.
December 12th, 2025 at 3:23 am
I challenge anyone to tell me these linebackers are playing at the same level as the linebackers in 2020 including Lavonte David. meanwhile blame it on the DC who is the same DC as 2020. hmmm. GET SOME LINEBACKERS, and RBS won’t cut through our D