What Happened?
February 23rd, 2026
Offense was never the same.
The Super Bowl happened two Sundays ago. And all the while watching that game, and in the aftermath almost daily, Joe wondered, “What the hell happened?”
In Week 5 the Bucs traveled to Seattle to face the eventual Super Bowl champs. There, the Bucs offense thrashed the mighty Seattle defense. On the road.
And don’t give Joe the knee-jerk reaction “injuries.” The Bucs were hobbled that day. Mike Evans was out. Chris Godwin didn’t play the entire game because he was hobbled, and he had just three catches. There was no Luke Goedeke or Cody Mauch.
The Bucs offense thrashed the Seahawks. Thrashed.
The Bucs racked up 426 yards of offense and had 38 points that afternoon against maybe the best defense in the NFL.
Baker Mayfield had 370 yards passing. He never got close to that after that game.
Emeka Egbuka had 163 yards receiving in his homecoming. Only once (loss to New England) did Egbuka have more than 65 yards in a receiving in a game the rest of the season.
Cade Otton averaged 20 yards a catch that day. He never got close to that again.
Rachaad White had 41 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns, half his season rushing touchdown total (four).
What the hell happened? The Bucs offense was never the same after that day.
Again, the offense was riddled with injuries yet that didn’t slow the Bucs offense against a fantastic defense.
Yes, the Bucs went on to win a couple of more games before the bye after clobbering Seattle on offense. But it was never the same.
Joe would like to know what the hell happened. Hopefully, as Joe prepares to fly to Indianapolis this morning, Joe learns the answer to that question this week at the combine.
2025 Season Rewind:
In week 5, #Buccaneers WR Emeka Egbuka became the 1st player in #NFL history to have 25+ catches, 400+ receiving yards, and 5 receiving TDs in his 1st 5 career games. pic.twitter.com/VmV3OtseYa
— NFL Stats (@NFL_Stats) February 18, 2026
February 23rd, 2026 at 12:40 am
The Bucs had a solid win the next week, beating San Fran by double digits and then they got blasted by the Lions on prime time TV (like they usually do). Baker got banged up and the Bucs got exposed a bit. The next week the Bucs beat up the Saints but mostly on D, then came the bye and then the season fell apart. I really think the season ran through Baker. If he stayed healthy perhaps he could have minimized his mistakes and Grizzard may not have gone turtle in the play calling as the season unwinded. Of course some will say that Grizzard went turtle on play calling because Bowles told him to control the clock with the run, that could be true but I think a big part of it was baker was hurt, could not scrambe too much for a long stretch of games and was limited with the deep ball thanks to all the injuries he accumulated behind that soft interior OL.
February 23rd, 2026 at 1:45 am
If Baker was truly hurt that bad, and we’ve all hits he’s taken that few quarterbacks would ever get up from, why didn’t they do something about it? At some point Mngmnt has to step in. Bridgewater fell apart as soon as he took the field. I’m not sure of deadlines and dates but they could have traded for an actual QB. They also could’ve laid it on the line with the HC and OC. It never happened and it was standard status quo, freeze in the headlights and go down in flames in classic Bowles’ style. Many other teams would not have let this complete collapse happen. And now what? Why in the world does anyone think this is going to get better??? I hope it does but I sure can’t see it.
February 23rd, 2026 at 2:04 am
The above posters said it, Mayfield got too battered to perform to that standard and the OC and front office didn’t do enough to prevent or mitigate it in the form of OL depth or a worthwhile back-up. I would add that Grizzard got lucky against a seasoned NFL vet/McDonald because of lack of film to study/NFL coordinator beginner’s luck.
That doesn’t mean the the Bucs aren’t the best team in the NFL. They beat those parade-participators in their own house with half their starters out. Hello? The Bucs are obviously the best at football to anyone who knows football. Sheesh…
February 23rd, 2026 at 2:07 am
My guess is the O.C. the Wizz Grizz outsmarted himself and thought he would change up the offense after the bye because teams had it on tape now. So he’s go8ng to be super smart and switch it on up to hot a** trash
February 23rd, 2026 at 5:15 am
We were toast once we lost both guards and even their backups. Being short 1 guard and 1 tackle we could survive. Once you wipe out both guards and their backups, the pass rush/run stop gets penetration on every down.
February 23rd, 2026 at 5:23 am
Backup qb is a priority. We only signed teddy as a “good gesture” after what he lost trying to help the kids. Thus why jmac missed about all season with a neck injury.
February 23rd, 2026 at 5:40 am
Maybe Baker took just one too many 3rd n long scrambles in the SF game and it caught up to him, and his accuracy dropped.
February 23rd, 2026 at 6:06 am
We all were witnesses to the “crime of the season”. I suppose the only answer is to dissect every play, every missed opportunity, but it won’t make me feel any better. I remember watching a U of Miami game back when they started losing games in the ACC. Their announcer said of the other team: “They’ve got better athletes — and more of them”. We have been dealt the hand of Litch, Bowles, Robinson and Mayfield. Let’s add more of those better athletes and make magic happen for 20 games in 2026. If not, it will be time for the “Great Reboot”.
February 23rd, 2026 at 6:19 am
yes i was gonna type the other day that egbuka’s season turned basically to crap after 5 games…he washed out quickly…with that one last glimmer of a game after the bye vs new england, to remind us again that he was a crash test dummy about to slam into wall ever so hard, he would disappear for the season…
the way joe says “the lost decade”…and i kinda think this was”the lost season” in so many ways…
we were real contenders – and everything just turned to sh!t over night…it was a really really baffling lost season…and one might title it “3rd & 28”
February 23rd, 2026 at 7:03 am
It’s called catching a team by surprise. The Seahawks had little to no tape on Grizzard’s play calling. Once teams figure out what you’re trying to do it becomes much harder. Unfortunately, Grizzard wasn’t experienced enough to adjust his play calling when teams took away his bread & butter plays.
February 23rd, 2026 at 8:02 am
Other teams watched with film, stopped playing zone against us. Bunch of 2nd string receivers couldn’t get separation
February 23rd, 2026 at 8:30 am
Joe … ‘What the hell happened? The Bucs offense was never the same after that day.’ (Game 5 – Bucs beat Seattle 38-35).
THAT’S THE QUESTION Bucs’ fans should’ve been asking all along Joe. That game is actually one of the easiest to break down from last season:
o Bucs’ offense had 426 total yds (370 pass – 56 rush)
o Seahawks’ offense had 463 total yds (341 pass – 122 rush)
o Bucs’ offense had 58 plays (24 rushes – 33 passes – 1 sack)
o Seahawks’ offense had 54 plays (20 rushes – 34 passes)
o Bucs’ offense had 0 turnovers.
o Seahawks’ offense had 2 turnovers.
o Bucs’ offense kept the ball for 33:12 TOP.
o Seahawks’ offense kept the ball for 26:48 TOP.
It was definitely an offensive show. Both teams had 9 drives, 4 drives each in the 1st half, and 5 each in the 2nd half. Most of the ‘defense’ occurred in the 1st half (score was 13-7 Bucs at halftime).
Bucs scored 4 TDs, 3 FGs & punted 3 times. Seahawks scored 5 TDs, missed 1 FG, had 2 turnovers & punted 1 time. Bucs’ offense scored 1 TD & 1 FG (10 pts) off of Seattle’s 2 turnovers.
Baker was on fire that game. He completed 29-of-33 (87.9%) for 379 yds, 2 TDs & 0 INTs. He was 5-of-8 deep for 154 yds. Unfortunately Sam Darnold was just as good, completing 28-of-34 (82.4%) for 341 yds, 4 TDs & 1 INT (that interception by LVD occurred in the last minute of play with the score tied & cost Seattle the game).
Bucs’ run game was abysmal however. We ran it 24 times for only 56 yds (2.3 YPC), but off that running we did get 6 first downs & 2 TDs. Our defense played very well for the first 28 minutes (Bucs led at that point 13-0), but got burned repeatedly after that by explosive plays, and didn’t show up again until the end of the game (to get that INT when the score was tied).
Reality IMO is that if we played that Seattle team 10 times in a season, we’d lose to them 9 times. Yes we beat them that game with a lousy run game, inconsistent defense, but with Baker on fire going 29-of-33 passing. And oh ya, Seattle helped big-time by committing 2 turnovers, allowing us to put up 10 pts off those.
February 23rd, 2026 at 8:46 am
Joe never thought of that but it is a very interesting angle.
February 23rd, 2026 at 8:55 am
The Bucs couldn’t overcome all those injuries is the answer. The final straw was when Mayfield played through injuries. we witness a meltdown.
The media thinks the NFC South is below the College play. If the Bucs lose they are last weeks trash.
I expect Bowles and Licht have the Glazers 🙌 blessing (within restrains) to turn 2026 around.
I understand the news media is hard pressed to write articles in the off season and at times go overboard in their columns.
We are months away from the meaningless Pre Season games as Joe likes to say, Until then the void has to be filled.
February 23rd, 2026 at 9:22 am
At some point, the media started covering for this administration and refused to ask any difficult questions; instead, gaslit we the fans into thinking we were good and have a genius coach
thats my view of what happened
February 23rd, 2026 at 9:25 am
The Lions exposed our recievers on and put it on film for the rest of the league. Man coverage with a spy for Baker. Especially with Evans out, our WR room are great targets in zone but can’t shake man quickly.
Add practice squad guys at guards and quick pressure with recievers running too long of a route or not able to get free on the first break and that’s what happened.
Part of this is on Grizz for not implementing more man beater routes.
February 23rd, 2026 at 9:31 am
Mike got hurt in Detroit, wheels started falling off on the way to the bye week, then we came out of the bye turning the ball over more just as much as we took it away.
When you win 3 of your last 11, there’s no single issue or fix that’ll tell the entire story
February 23rd, 2026 at 9:49 am
What happened was that Seattle was missing both their starting safeties.
February 23rd, 2026 at 1:32 pm
I think Injuries most of it and opposing defenses adjusted to the limitations of what the offense could do because of it. Go bucs.
February 23rd, 2026 at 2:24 pm
What happened was other teams adjusted to what Baker Mayfield likes to do and that’s one read and he try and leave the pocket because he can’t see over the line to see the other receivers. Baker is to short just like Kyler Murray and other teams started to keep him in the pocket by not rushing to hard up the middle and the d line started raising they’re hands up block out the passing lanes because he can’t see over the line. And please don’t compare Baker to Russell Wilson and Drew Brees because he’s no were near those guys.
February 23rd, 2026 at 3:20 pm
What I don’t understand is why they didn’t put Luke Haggard back into the OLine lineup when he got healthy again I mean he was starting when they played an beat the Seahawks an he for sure to me look Alot better then Jordan an Freeney
February 23rd, 2026 at 3:52 pm
Hopeinonehand is spot on. That’s what Baker can do if he’s healthy even if EVERY Thing around him isn’t perfect. He proved this in Cleveland in his rookie season when he played on a trash team with no offensive line except for Joel Bitonio. Wyatt Teller and Jack Conklin came in 2020. Chubb didn’t start until later in the season as a rookie and Njoku was injured most of the season. The only receiver of note was Jarvis Landry. OBJ came in 2019. On defense they had a second year Myles Garrett and rookie Denzel Ward and that’s about it. The defense sucked. They went from 0-16 to winning 7 games. And he didn’t run much in those early years. So the Bucs have to make sure he’s protected and Baker must learn to protect himself by not running so physically. Unfortunately these las few seasons he’s had to. Also, if he’s too injured to play effectively, he needs to sit like Lamar and Burrow and most other quarterbacks do. Herbert plays injured a lot and he also is not as effective when injured but I’d say the Chargers have a better defense that Baker doesn’t have right now. The Bucs only won 8 games in the lousy NFC South in 2022. And that was with Tom Brady and a superior defense than what we have now which has gotten worse every season since. How the hell do you think the Bucs won 9 and 10 games in 2023 and 2024 and playoff appearances in both those seasons? A healthy Baker Mayfield that’s how.
February 23rd, 2026 at 3:58 pm
Playing injured got him almost tossed out of the league and now after 2 and a half mostly solid seasons, those old narratives are returning!
February 23rd, 2026 at 3:59 pm
It should be clear as to the reasons why his play deteriorated the second half of 2025!
February 23rd, 2026 at 4:20 pm
1) Injuries happened. Too many on offense. This unit never had a chance. Amazing they did what they did the first part of season, esp against Seahawks.
2) Baker’s poor play in 2nd half of season – likely because he was playing through injuries, or multiple injuries. Not making excuses for him. He did not play well at all. Dude should have been benched if he was that hurt. Shame on Bowles and Licht.
3) Defense stinks
4) Special teams was horrendous and cost Bucs a few games
5) Defense stinks
6) Todd Bowles
7) Defense stinks
8) Players quit. Players stopped listening to leadership. Bucs just didnt show up and they were “checked out.”
9) Defense stinks
10) What the hell happened in THAT locker room? Something was terribly amiss. They more than sh!t the bed.
Did I mention Todd Bowles and the defense stinks?
February 23rd, 2026 at 5:09 pm
Oneilbuc; Baker’s played 8 seasons in the league. I think everyone knows his strengths and weaknesses and if it were true that he’s a one read guy, they already knew that as well.
February 23rd, 2026 at 5:18 pm
You say don’t say injuries. Okay but I must say what happened when the Bucs went to Detroit? Missing entire Secondary and we missing a guard and a RB but we couldn’t get 10 points? So yeah I guess what the hell happened?
February 23rd, 2026 at 6:40 pm
What happened???
Todd Bowles lousy Swiss cheese defense happened.
His turtle approach to the offense happened. 30+ runs equal’s victory…..
The ST coach he refused to fire happened.
Refusing to manage a game properly still happened.
And the Glazers doubled down on mediocrity. Yep, that happened.
February 23rd, 2026 at 6:57 pm
Would love to know
February 23rd, 2026 at 7:06 pm
they hit a wall had some bad breaks that caught up to them… after losing to the patriots they just started pressing too hard and guys like awj and zyon were not playing up to their potential
February 23rd, 2026 at 8:59 pm
“Baker’s poor play in 2nd half of season – likely because he was playing through injuries, or multiple injuries. Not making excuses for him. He did not play well at all. Dude should have been benched if he was that hurt. Shame on Bowles and Licht.“
When the poor play “injured” looks the exactly the same as healthy poor play, weird
February 23rd, 2026 at 10:14 pm
“Shame on Bowles and Licht”. Newbie. Really? Jump in there Oscar. Oscar and Newbie jumping in there with WBL. Oscar says Baker is a 1 read QB. Hehehehe. Newbie says the second half of the season Baker did not play well at all. Hehehe. Once in awhile I think some of you guys might have a lick of sense. Then I, well, let’s just say I have a good laugh.
February 24th, 2026 at 6:40 am
When teams started playing us man, we should have put Culp in there and had him run straight up the field on every play. Of course, that’s before we lost both guards and were toast.