Todd Bowles Doesn’t Kill Baker Mayfield Over Fumbles, But That Doesn’t Mean He Liked Them
September 13th, 2026
Ball security wasn’t an issue for Baker Mayfield on this play. It was too many times otherwise.
NFL defensive coaches hate turnovers, maybe worse than Joe hates warm beers.
And no, KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles was none too pleased at the Bucs playing Santa Claus with four fumbles that led to 24 Bengals points in a one-score loss at Cincinnati today, 33-27.
Bowles was asked if Baker Mayfield had fumbles that were on the offensive line or if he didn’t get rid of the ball soon enough.
Bowles seemed to think two of the fumbles were not on Mayfield.
“One or two of them was scramble,” Bowles said. “The one in the pocket already held a little bit, but the one behind him he didn’t see. He was running, trying to make a play.
“But we’ve got to hold onto the Ball. Bucky [Irving] as well.”
Watching from not-that-high over the field in the press box of Mike Brown Stadium, Bucs left tackle Tristan Wirfs sort of whiffed on Cincinnati defender Myles Murphy. The two briefly engaged at the snap and Murphy broke loose running to the outside past Wirfs.
Murphy kept up his pursuit and clobbered Mayfield from behind as Mayfield was about to release the ball. That fumble turned into a scoop-and-score for a Cincinnati touchdown.
The fumble in the fourth quarter with the Bucs marching down 10, Mayfield was in the pocket and kept pumping and got blasted, losing the ball. That was on him.
Turnovers sunk the Bucs today. The defense didn’t play awful, especially when you factor in the Bucs set the table with the Bengals to score 24 points off turnovers. Yes, Joe realizes the Bucs’ third-down defense was sad, allowing the Bengals to convert on 8 of 14 third downs.
Not the best way for a quarterback to celebrate just signing a $165 million extension.
September 13th, 2026 at 6:58 pm
Baker gave the fans 165 million reasons to hate his performance
He played more like a rookie UDFA than a $55 million a year veteran
September 13th, 2026 at 6:59 pm
I saw on one play that Bucky was twiddle his fingers on the tip of the ball as he was running.
September 13th, 2026 at 6:59 pm
Sloppy team coached by an incompetent. No discipline, no fire, just a matter of time before they tune Bowles out, and quit on him.
September 13th, 2026 at 6:59 pm
Is this the Joe that said Lamar Jackson is overrated? That take aged as well as my Baker won’t get extended take. Lol
But as WBL pointed out on another thread Baker leads the league in fumbles (41) since he came to the Bucs. Its in his blood. Its who he is. He turns the ball over and this team is going nowhere with him as the starter.
September 13th, 2026 at 7:02 pm
Anyone want to bet Deshaun has a career day on Sunday?
September 13th, 2026 at 7:07 pm
Baker Winston. We have lived through this before. Distractions turnovers bad play bad coaching. This looked like a typical bowels coached team with Mayfield at qb. Just bad enough to lose. Just like last year. What are we 2-8 now in last 10 games. It’s a Bucs life.
September 13th, 2026 at 7:25 pm
Where are a couple things. Yes Baker needed to get rid of the ball on one sack. The one from behind simply a great defensive play.
My thoughts:, I thought the o line was weak!!, not as advertised. Baker had little time. The Buc defense continues to be poor on 3rd down.
I give NcColumn credit I have been his biggest critic. He played pretty good.
I said the Bucs would start slow this year and unfortunately they did just that today. The o line better get better quickly. This is maybe a 9 win team folks. It is why Evans left.
September 13th, 2026 at 7:28 pm
Licht gave up all his leverage five days before kickoff just to watch his $110 million guaranteed investment drop the ball three times in the very first game.
September 13th, 2026 at 7:28 pm
2-8 in the last 10 games so the Glazers decide to open the vaults for Mayfield, VV and Otten. SMH!!!!!!!
September 13th, 2026 at 7:29 pm
“But as WBL pointed out on another thread Baker leads the league in fumbles (41) since he came to the Bucs.“
36 times out on the ground, 11 Lost the only other QBs close to him in that regard are Lamar Jackson & Jalen Hurts and they do it because they run more frequently, not for having 1 bad game like this.
We’ve also played this type of game before, in New Orleans back in ‘23 Baker had like 3 turnovers but the defense was damn near lights out and got the ball back with 2-4 forced turnovers of their own. This is what it looks like when your D is put into bad spots by your offense and they just couldn’t save the day.
September 13th, 2026 at 7:31 pm
black out the Yuccaneers
September 13th, 2026 at 7:31 pm
Black out the Yucs
September 13th, 2026 at 7:46 pm
Mayfield has been in the league for a significant amount of time. The fact that he needs to work on not fumbling the ball is comedy in and of itself. News flash: It ain’t going to change. The ship be sinkin’ and the sky is the limit.
September 13th, 2026 at 7:48 pm
Baker said the headsets didn’t work. Are you kidding me? They worked fine on the sidelines but not on the field??? Wow. Nothing surprises me.
September 13th, 2026 at 7:48 pm
Oh, so Mayfield got a raise, huh? I would make him refund it after the fumble around the endzone. He stunk!
September 13th, 2026 at 7:48 pm
Investigate it.
September 13th, 2026 at 7:49 pm
Did they work for the Bengals?
September 13th, 2026 at 7:54 pm
Baker makes $2.17 million per game. With only 52 snaps today, he made $41,855 a snap—meaning the Bucs paid him $125,565 just for his 3 fumbles. No TDs, and is the 3rd highest paid QB in league…..
September 13th, 2026 at 7:58 pm
Something fishy guys.
September 13th, 2026 at 8:01 pm
Watson may not play next week. Todd Monken stated that he will evaluate the qb position ahead of week 2.
September 13th, 2026 at 8:04 pm
Was that Baker Mayfield playing today… or Jalon Daniels making his NFL debut?
September 13th, 2026 at 8:11 pm
This may be the biggest waste of money in bucs history- the Baker deal
September 13th, 2026 at 8:33 pm
Baker didn’t drop the pen, huh?
Quickest zero to total bum in major contract signing history? Jon Koncak has a challenger for the title after 1 week.
Bet he won’t drop that paycheck either.
September 13th, 2026 at 8:45 pm
Again unprepared Bucs. Coaching coaching coaching.
September 13th, 2026 at 9:19 pm
Right now all these guys are eating their humble pie after their pre-season hype tour and the drama BM created with the media regarding his contract extension. Bowles is proving again why he is not HC material and BM is making excuses after running his hole to the media all off season and during training camp about how great he is and how he deserves a contract extension. They both look like complete idiots.
September 13th, 2026 at 9:25 pm
Baker played great today. The fumbles weren’t his fault. The refs were letting the Bengals get away with everything.
September 13th, 2026 at 9:30 pm
Would someone please explain to this quartrtback that it his job to take the snap and either hand it off to the back..or throw the ball to a receiver in the NFL average time of 2.86 seconds before he is sacked..There are more than enough playmakers on this team…Elite paid quarterbacks don’t hold the ball trying to make a play on every down..and they certainly don’t carry the ball like a loaf of bread..
September 13th, 2026 at 9:50 pm
Watching from not-that-high over the field in the press box of Mike Brown Stadium, Bucs left tackle Tristan Wirfs sort of whiffed on Cincinnati defender Myles Murphy. The two briefly engaged at the snap and Murphy broke loose running to the outside past Wirfs.
Murphy kept up his pursuit and clobbered Mayfield from behind as Mayfield was about to release the ball. That fumble turned into a scoop-and-score for a Cincinnati touchdown.
————–
Baker held the ball literally for nearly 5 seconds. That was not on Wirfs – that was 100% on Baker showing zero pocket awareness, something that a QB in their 30’s shouldn’t be suffering from.
September 13th, 2026 at 10:02 pm
Haters must stop. Baker fumbles not his fault. Bowles coached them up, the energy was great. Refs stole the game.
September 13th, 2026 at 10:14 pm
Seems Baker squeezed that $165M contract so much this week that his grip was worn out come game time. Would much have preferred to see “disrespected Baker” than over paid Baker.
September 13th, 2026 at 10:26 pm
You guys can’t have it both ways.
Sure Baker needs some better awareness but no one would be happy if he went Eli or Tom and just turfed the ball when he sniffed pressure. The guy is trying to make plays and got hit from behind thrice! The RZ one the defender make a great rip, wasn’t like Baker slippery fingered it.
0-4 on recoveries is bad luck. Baker was Winston-esque today but these fumbles are akin to an INT that was tipped at the line.
Munch don’t give me the 5 second crap. Wirfs was getting beat up on the broadcast and was shown beating himself up. Then he got squirrelly cause of it and was jumping offsides.
OL was not good today. Cincy OL protected way better.