Todd Bowles Details What May Be Going On With Baker Mayfield
December 24th, 2025
What has happened?
Joe has to believe Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield is too hurt to throw. Otherwise, why would a guy go from maybe an MVP candidate to, in a few weeks, where his play has been much closer to Dillon Gabriel than Jared Goff?
The drop off in Mayfield’s play has been no less than shocking. It’s also a reason why the Bucs haven’t wrapped up the NFC South despite starting out 5-1 and were alleged to have one of the easiest schedules in the second half of the season.
The Bucs have lost seven of their last nine games and six of their last seven games since the bye. Even though they have gotten healthier, they’ve gotten worse. Much worse.
Mayfield hasn’t helped, throwing picks in the fourth quarters of recent games. Bucs coach Todd Bowles was asked about Mayfield’s sharp decline.
“[Mayfield has] kind of picked up a little bit,” Bowles said. “A few times he got it out a little early and got a little antsy. A few times the protection broke down.
“A few times there [were] different route combinations and we could have better play calling, as well. So, it’s not just one thing that contributes to that or one guy. It’s a combination of things that we’ve got to stop.”
As you would expect from a defensive head coach, Bowles said it all boils down to turnovers.
“We know when we win the turnover battles, we usually win ball games,” Bowles said. “We didn’t win the turnover battle and the two in the fourth quarter the last two weeks are disheartening and he knows that.
“We know that as an offense, we know that as a team. Everybody has got to do their part and do their job and he’ll be fine.”
Look, Joe knows of no other quarterback who has better intangibles than Mayfield. He’s everything you want from a leader and a locker room presence.
Unfortunately, as former Bucs coach Dirk Koetter famously said, the NFL is a production league. It’s all about producing. And since the bye, Mayfield hasn’t produced well.
This feels really weird to type, but Joe hopes Mayfield is hurt. That makes his struggles fully understandable. If Mayfield is perfectly healthy and is still struggling, well, that’s not good.
December 24th, 2025 at 4:01 am
Todd needs to just STFU…its over…..only your fault dummy….
Draft, here we come!
December 24th, 2025 at 4:23 am
This really is a league of inches. Of course Baker isn’t fully healthy. But Grizz stinks, their IOL stinks, and the poor play of the defense and ST doesn’t boost the morale of the offense. It’s a perfect storm in Tampa.
December 24th, 2025 at 4:26 am
VARIANCE. the NFL HAS IT and in droves. we won a LOT of close games early on, that were not winning now. it should be expected we split with Carolina, Atlanta and even New Orleans. IF we go out and do what we have to do, we’ll be in a winner take all game with Panthers. there will be no excuses. you lose, start drafting
December 24th, 2025 at 4:40 am
the bottom line is baker is not eating his wheaties…
he should expect a call from mary lou retton…
and he should pick it up !
December 24th, 2025 at 4:40 am
Love Baker, and he was baking early on. MVP status. Nonetheless, if he is really hurt, then that’s on the Bucs. They should have been thinking about what ifs, because instead of Teddy they should have traded in a stronger backup in November. Teddy has been on the injured list; teeth, personal. Trask was not the answer either.
It will be interesting to see when the NFL decides what time our last game with the Panthers will be. If it plays out the way everyone is saying, I am really thinking it could be Sunday prime time and at home.
December 24th, 2025 at 4:43 am
Bowles still hasn’t figured out that the final score is more important than the “turnover battle”. Bowles says the Bucs could’ve had better play calling, when he was the one who wanted to run the ball 30+ times (with the Bucs at full strength with WR’s) because of the way the Bucs ran the ball LAST YEAR vs. Carolina. I’m getting more and more annoyed by Bowles with every word he says.
December 24th, 2025 at 4:44 am
The balls on this a-hole to mention “playcalling” lol
We know what Bakers capable of – we saw it in year one with Liam Coen
LIAM COEN was an offensive mind that optimized Bakers potential- this backwater franchise won’t compete for anything meaningful till they find another innovative OC
December 24th, 2025 at 4:50 am
So, it’s in Mayfield’s production? Not the play calling?
I dunno. Seems like a perfect storm. Defense is weak putting pressure in the Offense. Offensive line looks less solid than last year and Baker def gets happy feet worried he’s going to break his left shoulder. Hell, Words and Barton haven’t looked as good as last year.
Defense giving up the cookie EVERYTIME the other team needs between 8 and 30 yards.
Maybe Bakers hurt, maybe he’s fine. It’s dumb to suggest if he is reasonably healthy that the dropoff in his game is just him. The play calling has been atrocious. Maybe because if Baker, maybe because if the defense. Lots going on here.
December 24th, 2025 at 5:12 am
Always excuses for Baker. If he can’t throw and execute the offense that loaded with WRs why is he playing? Why did they sign Bridgewater and have no trust in him to play? The personnel moves make no sense.
One of these days you’re going to accept that this is who Baker is. He’s not injured, hes just not good. Is he not 100%, of course, who is at this point in the season?
Bowles is so stupid he’d rather start a QB that can’t throw it past 10 yards than sit him for his handpicked backup. Unreal. And yes, Bridgewater sucks but thats who Todd wanted so….