Blaming Baker Mayfield
December 8th, 2025
So two big names in NFL media pointed fingers at Baker Mayfield after yesterday’s ugly 24-20 loss to the miserable Saints.
One is Richard Sherman, whose “I know some things” comment about the Bucs is even more interesting now than it was a month ago. The former Buccaneer said on his podcast that the decline in Mayfield’s play over time, not just Sunday, “is the biggest concern for this [Bucs] team.”
Sherman noted Mayfield being able to carry the team without star receivers was why the Bucs were a contender. And now that’s gone.
Over at CBS Sports, NFL insider prickly Pete Prisco, who picked the Bucs to be the No. 1 seed in the NFC this season, also pointed at Mayfield as a major reason for the Bucs’ struggles.
Prisco, who had private time with Mayfield at One Buc Palace this summer, told his CBS audience that he believes Mayfield is much more injured than what is known publicly. Whether Prisco has intel on that is unclear.
Mayfield is struggling, so are his receivers and playcaller. But for the Bucs defense to allow the miserable Saints offense with a rookie quarterback to drop 24 points on the Bucs easily, with 8:26 remaining in the game, that’s more than Joe can stomach.
December 8th, 2025 at 8:10 am
Yep….Baker isn’t sharp…he lacks protection & his WRs don’t get open and drop passes…..
He’s not the reason we are losing but he’s not helping us win.
December 8th, 2025 at 8:13 am
Anything Richard Sherman says is a look at em hot take. Don’t care.
December 8th, 2025 at 8:16 am
Even when Baker is completely healthy he is not a top 5 QB , top 10 yes, but not top 5. When a QB sees a WR that has totally beaten his man by 5 yards or more that is the one time when a slight underthrow with some air under the ball is preferred to a rocket high , Baker does that a bunch .
December 8th, 2025 at 8:16 am
So the whole reason is that an injured Mayfield can’t carry Todd Bowles’ sorry ass unprepared and disinterested team by himself.
Got it.
December 8th, 2025 at 8:18 am
We were KILLING it until the Detroit game, when our D was unmasked. Baker hasn’t been the same either, some long term injury makes sense
December 8th, 2025 at 8:20 am
He’s been playing hurt and he won’t sit down and even give his body a chance to get healthy. That tells us a lot about the bucs back qb situation, you want us to believe Teddy couldn’t get the team past N.O. if that’s the case why is he even on the roster. As for Mayfield because the bucs qb play outside of D. Williams, B. Johnson and Winston 1 pro bowl year and Brady the qb situations here are always patch work. Mayfield plays reckless and he’s always going to play like that so the Bucs know that comes with his play style. I just don’t think it’s a recipe for success long term hence he’s been a journeyman QB, all that raw raw stuff etc ain’t helping now. Take his first read away and he struggles that’s always been the knock on him because he has to move around to make plays. The situation is what it is.
December 8th, 2025 at 8:20 am
I agree with Todd. Also, if we need 10 yards for a first down, why do our receivers constantly run 8 to 9 yard routes?
December 8th, 2025 at 8:21 am
Baker would probably have to have a ruptured spleen to take himself out of a game. He is dinged up, no doubt about that and if he was not playing at his best in the first half of the season, this team would be down there with the Falcons. Baker at 35% must be better than Bridgewater at 100%, else Baker would not have played in the Card game. Now he is going to have to keep pace with Cousins in a Thursday night shootout? Baker will give it 110% but the ATL D will outplay Bowles putrid schemes so it will be a long night for Buc fans. Get used to it unless changes happen at the top.
December 8th, 2025 at 8:21 am
Lack of a top tier TE is why.
December 8th, 2025 at 8:24 am
Nope…. Perhaps he didn’t play well on every snap
But his HEART was 100% in the game.
The rest of OBP is in question now!
There is something fundamentally wrong in the halls of OBP
Time for Bruce Arians to exit the building and go to his lake house and TV side hustles.
JL is OK but doesn’t need BA looking over his shoulder and whispering to the Glazers.
Everything below needs a shakeup and shake OUT!
Of course 💩 needs to go!
December 8th, 2025 at 8:24 am
Don’t be surprised if the Falcons whip us too.
December 8th, 2025 at 8:28 am
Nice try Joe. Quit running cover for clueless Todd. You’ve reached a new low.
December 8th, 2025 at 8:30 am
Baker has been off since the Lions game. He played his way out of a contract extension this off-aason imo. He should have to earn it in 2026. Very disappointing considering he was playing at an MVP level the first 5 weeks. He’s been MIA since
December 8th, 2025 at 8:30 am
TBBF, perfect take!
December 8th, 2025 at 8:31 am
Everyone stunk yesterday. Not just one guy. SMH.
December 8th, 2025 at 8:34 am
Well if his injuries are causing his bad play what the hell is he doing on the Field? How selfish of him if that’s true
December 8th, 2025 at 8:35 am
Yes the defense is awful and yes their is something definately wrong with Baker. He is off and has been for while. However, their are much more problems than him. Does he have injuries?, Well something is amiss that is foe sure.
December 8th, 2025 at 8:35 am
Baker actively tried and tried. When at the end, he was sitting on the bench with his head down, we could all relate. Not fully his fault at all. Unfortunately, he has been beat up along with others and they are not playing like they did. We know they have it in them. But yesterday, was sad. They should have won. Hopefully, they practice in the evening to get ready for Thursday night at home. Go Bucs!
December 8th, 2025 at 8:35 am
To blame Baker is nuts! Is he playing great, no, not when after every snap the defense line is in his face before he knows it, he is getting killed! The Offensive game plan is Awful, beyond Terrible! The Defensive coach needs to change the gameplan at halftime when its not going well and players need to play better. We should be getting better at this point and we are getting worse. Love Todd as a human but it is time to let him go! We should of never let Canales go then let Liam go without giving him the Head Coaching Job… Soul searching time fellows.
December 8th, 2025 at 8:38 am
Panthers & Jaguars in the Superbowl !!!!!!!
December 8th, 2025 at 8:39 am
Ive said this before and Ill keep saying it. When NOBODY is playing well, thats on the garbage HC.
December 8th, 2025 at 8:40 am
I want to vomit when I think about this team. We were out muscled at home against a two win team. The same team that stopped us 9 times in a row from punching it in from the one yard line. The defense is vulnerable over the middle ALL season long and the KO coverage unit smells like rotten eggs. I just tasted the puke in my mouth thinking about it.
December 8th, 2025 at 8:41 am
I’m waiting for someone today to blame the “water girls”.
December 8th, 2025 at 8:41 am
I like Baker – I agree he is probably a top 12 QB when healthy.
However – his downfield throw accuracy is hot garbage and has been since day one.
People wonder why the Bucs offense is “dink and dunk” – well the answer is very obvious to me…
December 8th, 2025 at 8:44 am
Excuses, excuses. Theres always excuses when Baker doesn’t play well. Injury seems to be the media’s favorite and if he is injured, so what, he still played in the games.
Baker has been off since he got here. He can’t throw deep at all, hes not accurate and he has streaks of games where he disappears. That last drive against the saints he threw a near pick on 2nd down. Couldn’t even get the team to midfield.
Its not all on Baker and hes far from a scrub but hes an average QB with flashes of brilliance. His golden opportunity to prove himself was in the wildcard game but he got outplayed by a rookie. Its time to try something new. Why pay $50 million a year for an often injured 30+ y/o inaccurate streaky QB?
December 8th, 2025 at 8:45 am
Fire Todd
December 8th, 2025 at 8:49 am
He constantly underthrows open receivers deep. But yesterday, Mayfield didn’t drop the TD pass to Egbuka. He didn’t drop the pass to Godwin on fourth down. He did throw the low, lame pass to Otton to end the game.
December 8th, 2025 at 8:51 am
I hope the Browns shop Sheduer Sanders this offseason.
December 8th, 2025 at 8:52 am
Baker was definitely not the problem yesterday.
Prisco might wanna sober up when he drops columns like that…
The route concepts are pedestrian, and there’s no creativity to this offense whatsoever.
Godwin & Ebuka both dropped important passes yesterday. One to score & the other to keep a good drive moving forward.
Otton seems to have constant focus breakdowns…
Everyone is making mistakes….
The team has ADHD from the lack of discipline that Bowles has provided.
Bowles’s defense is a complex scheme that no longer works.
Grizzard as a playcaller is not ready for the role but he was handed a losing hand with all the injuries that’s piled up this year.
No more sugarcoating…..
Blow this coaching staff up!!
December 8th, 2025 at 8:52 am
Ive been saying for weeks, this is last season in Cleveland Baker. He is hurt. He was hurt during the Detroit game. You could see it in his face. He hasnt been the same since. This season is lost. The defense is not good enough to overcome the offense.
December 8th, 2025 at 8:53 am
Fire toilet Bowles and $hitzard 🗑️🗑️
December 8th, 2025 at 8:54 am
Baker is ranked near the bottom of starting NFL QB’s. He has been hurt I agree. But starting the game 8-8 and finishing 6-22 is ridiculous.
December 8th, 2025 at 8:54 am
Warren Brooks Lynch – I am with you on Sheduer and/or get someone in the draft from college. A young rising QB would do well with Baker mentoring them for when it’s their time to really play and to be able to play if Baker is hurt. I was hoping that Teddy may have been a help, but we really can’t count on it.
December 8th, 2025 at 8:55 am
the only thing close to being the reason for the bucs problems is consistency. whether it is offense or defense or special teams or coaching of any part, the problem is consistency. there isnt any, on any part of this team. up down up down. how do the bucs allow 3 points against the saints one game and then 6 weeks later allow 24?
the offense scored about as much in the two games. 23 in one and 20 in another. thats relatively consistent.
what happened to the defense yesterday?
December 8th, 2025 at 8:56 am
Blow it Up
December 8th, 2025 at 8:56 am
@ Warren
That would be interesting but I would be a little weary of the giant circus that would follow young “Prime” to Tampa…
But at least the kid can throw a decent deep ball.
December 8th, 2025 at 8:58 am
Talking about QB play after yesterday’s game is akin to rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
December 8th, 2025 at 9:03 am
Baker is protecting himself because he cannot afford to take anymore hits
December 8th, 2025 at 9:04 am
We need him to play like he did with Dave Canales
December 8th, 2025 at 9:05 am
When we fix the coach issue then we can find other ppl to blame.
December 8th, 2025 at 9:10 am
“A young rising QB would do well with Baker mentoring them for when it’s their time to really play and to be able to play if Baker is hurt.”
1. Don’t think Baker would be much of a mentor to any young QB, tbh
2. We’ll have to do this whether we bring Baker back or not, as I don’t expect Bridgewater back next year. Meaning we, at some point this offseason, might not have a QB period.
3. Like that Bonnie Tyler song, whomever it is “he’s got to be strong, he’s got to be fast and he’s got to be fresh for the fight” 😂😂
4. Not much pickings in the project QB class for next season. There’s a few I personally wouldn’t mind, but they’re all project players and need work as pocket passers.
5. For those wanting Coach Bowles canned that’d almost be the end of Mayfields’ tenure here in TB should that happen.
LaNorris Sellers is probably my favorite athlete at QB collegiately, but as a QB he’s as polished as Anthony Richardson was so “eh”. Sellars needs to spend his entire draft process fine tuning hid mechanics and accumen as a pocket passer.
Arch Manning needs to incubate 1 more season at Texas, his name will get him drafted high but that’s the plot from a really good Eddie Murphy movie, that was based in Flordia called “Distinguished Gentlemen”(check it out, its’ still super relevant)
I like Mendoza(Indiana) & Moore(Oregon), but those two also aren’t guys I’d want starting year 1.
Maybe kick the tires on Trey Lance or Malik Willis in free agency, the one thing that’ll carry over into 2026 is we’ll still be pretty talented at the skill positions.
We should 100% be looking to upgrade our personnel at OG and push out some of the less talented depth at WR and/or TE.
December 8th, 2025 at 9:10 am
Change is coming, the Glazers are already behind the scenes contemplating a change. How deep those changes run we don’t know as of yet. Too much money is invested for the results that are being returned.
If no changes are made, imagine trying to renew or sell season tickets in the off season, the sales folks may starve..
If changes are made, it is time to pluck one of the up and coming OC ‘s from anther team rather than letting one walk out the door.
December 8th, 2025 at 9:12 am
The Egbuka drop was bad but so was the throw. An NFL QB needs to deliver a better ball to somone who is that wide open. The Godwin 4th down play was open earlier but Baker threw it late. Baker’s play is making everyone else’s job much more difficult. Perfect example was the low Cade Otton throw on 4th down. Baker is currently an inaccurate QB who is missing reads, and is skittish in the pocket. He plays with a lot of heart and guts but that means nothing if the overall play is bad
December 8th, 2025 at 9:12 am
Receivers aren’t separating and it is nonsense to think any QB always throws a perfect pass to high priced WR’s. Have said when Bucs picked EE in first round they got the 3rd best receiver at Ohio State. He is fine but he should have held on to that ball yesterday. Liked the fact that he owned the drop. CG bobbled an important 4th down ball on sideline yesterday. Football is not a game of perfect but all players are paid to make plays. Here is a well known football rule: If you get two hands on the ball, you ought to catch it.
December 8th, 2025 at 9:13 am
If you’re one of the ones who gave all the credit and praise to Baker during those first six games then you have to blame him for this one and several others. It’s the exact same thing. You cannot have it both ways, while continuing to make excuses for Baker. He had every opportunity to win that game yesterday, and came up short again. The throw to Otten was a straight up choke job. The pass to EE was typical Baker rushing it when he didn’t have to (when he had a clean pocket) and trying to throw it into a tight window when he didn’t have to. He threw it high and behind him like he consistently does. Instead of leading him towards the middle of the end zone where anyone would expect the ball to go and where EE was obviously heading to since there was literally no one there within 15-20 yards.
December 8th, 2025 at 9:14 am
Warren Brooks Lynch: Jason restructured/guaranteed Mayfield’s contract for next year at $30 million. I think that means a big cap hit if he gets launched so as Buc fans we know who will be under center in 2026 barring catastrophic injury.
December 8th, 2025 at 9:15 am
That would be interesting but I would be a little weary of the giant circus that would follow young “Prime” to Tampa…
@Marine
The only circus that follows him is the media, that turns his presence into a….circus. The kid really isn’t that eccentric or attention seeking, outside of the attention he gets for having an HOF dad. That’s also what people don’t like about him is that he’s kind of like his dad, w/o the generational athleticism.
I watched him throw a TD pass yesterday to Njoku, throwing off the back of his right foot(fading away) with perfect outside and away placement on the left side of the endzone and I squealed to myself “damn!” and fwiw, I think he’s much better from the pocket than our guy.
December 8th, 2025 at 9:23 am
Every other team has figure out both sides of the ball on this team it’s over there isn’t any saving this dumpster fire of a team and don’t even get started on the special teams it’s over. Can not wait for a clean slate next season and start to rebuild this team properly.