What The Hell Was That Gameplan?
September 20th, 2026
Bogged down.
For a while there this afternoon, Joe thought the Bucs were playing ping-pong the way they were throwing so many short passes.
And not just short passes like 5-8 yards downfield. Try a one-yard pass.
Late in the first half, Joe was screaming (silently) for Bucs offensive coordinator Zac Robinson to start throwing the ball downfield more than three yards.
Look, we’re talking about the Browns here. Maybe the worst team in the NFL. Last Joe saw, they did not have Darrelle Revis or Deion Sanders or Ronnie Lott in their secondary. The Bucs may have the most talented group of receivers in the game.
Joe nearly jumped out of the press box when Baker Mayfield lobbed a pass to Kenny Gainwell when Gainwell was maybe one yard away from Mayfield.
What. In. The. Hell! You can’t tell Joe the Bucs couldn’t find a way to scheme open Chris Godwin or Ben Hurst or Emeka Egbuka or Tez Johnson on an intermediate pass or two.
Those runs up the middle and less than dink-and-dunk passes went nowhere, which allowed the Browns to get the ball back.
Gainwell and Bucky Irving combined for 7 catches totalling just 6 yards — SIX!
Allow a team to hang around instead of putting it out of its misery and don’t be surprised if that team beats you. That’s exactly what happened to the Bucs today.
It was an outrage to watch that dink-and-dunk crap. Joe knows quarterback Baker Mayfield claims this collection of Hall of Famers the Browns have in their secondary had taken out all the Bucs receivers.
Well, Joe had a Bucs receiver tell Joe after the game they were not locked down by the Browns’ secondary.
That dink-and-dunk crap that wasn’t working allowed the Browns to hang around before they made a play in the fourth quarter — and you look up and all of a sudden the Bucs are losing.
Just shameful football. And if you ask Joe, if this continues, that tells Joe the Bucs aren’t that talented. Otherwise, dudes can get open.
When is the last time a good team’s air attack got squeezed by a Browns secondary?
September 20th, 2026 at 8:26 pm
Called it last week! Coordinator is garbage. Over f’n thinking it! No Milo’s for you!!
September 20th, 2026 at 8:26 pm
The gameplan was for Baker to hit a wide open WR to win the game.
September 20th, 2026 at 8:27 pm
Your number one is Godwins!!! If you start to scheme otherwise you suck!
September 20th, 2026 at 8:27 pm
“The Bucs may have the most talented group of receivers in the game“
You can’t be serious,,
September 20th, 2026 at 8:28 pm
Joe what did Robinson say when you asked him why he schemed up a dink dunk game plan? yeah thats what I thought, so when you find out the answer then let us know–ok?
September 20th, 2026 at 8:29 pm
They don’t have to tell you joe they just showed you believe what your eyes see not what they tell you.
September 20th, 2026 at 8:29 pm
This guy was fired by the Falcons for a reason. Anyone can gameplan or make adjustments against Bowles and his defense. Ask the Browns.
September 20th, 2026 at 8:30 pm
Robinson is terrible.
September 20th, 2026 at 8:32 pm
Fireable performance all around. Shame we paid baker. This team needs to start over. Bowels at his very best is average. He’s lost this team. That’s why Evans bailed.
September 20th, 2026 at 8:33 pm
Offensive line is overrated
WRs are overrated
Baker is terrible
Scheme and play calling =
Total joke
September 20th, 2026 at 8:34 pm
I’m not impressed with Zac, but facts are facts.
If Baker doesn’t singlehandedly lose the game last week, the Bucs win, and the offense has a solid output.
This week, Zac put Baker in a position to win the game, and Baker again missed a throw that every single NFL QB is expected to make.
If Baker didn’t play like garbage in week one, if Baker doesn’t choke in week two, the Bucs are 2-0 and feeling good about themselves.
September 20th, 2026 at 8:35 pm
We took a few shots downfield but only connected on one to Tez that I can remember. Mayfield is just not accurate on the deep ball and/or he and the receivers aren’t on the same page.
September 20th, 2026 at 8:36 pm
What did we expect… he was the best we could get with what should be a lame duck coach… oh wait we extended him lol… and we for the cherry on top we extended a Qb who is average at best minus the coen year
September 20th, 2026 at 8:36 pm
Facts are facts this is a bad team doesn’t matter where you are pointing your finger it’s bad.
September 20th, 2026 at 8:38 pm
Ever hear of a slant Zach? Tf r we doing
September 20th, 2026 at 8:38 pm
Joe seems to be blaming everyone except Baker.
Robinson failed up a long shot on the first drive and Baker missed.
I agree, stop throwing the ball 5 yards behind the LOS.
But perhaps, just maybe there were more shots down field that were called and Mr Happy Feet, either didn’t see them wide open or he was too busy scrambling for no reason.
I agree though with Joe, gotta get “Ben” Hurst more involved. Wtf??
Bad QB, bad fans and hack job media.
September 20th, 2026 at 8:41 pm
Zac, Todd and baker are who we thought they were
I say gauge Jason Taylor’s interest on being an NFL HC
GO BUCS
September 20th, 2026 at 8:41 pm
Flush Bowles Says:
September 20th, 2026 at 8:35 pm
We took a few shots downfield but only connected on one to Tez that I can remember. Mayfield is just not accurate on the deep ball and/or he and the receivers aren’t on the same page.
———
And the only one he hit was because he slipped and didn’t have time to set his feet and overthrow him.
But Baker has never ever been a good deep ball thrower. Coen knew that, rarely asked Baker to throw it deep – but also didn’t throw everything behind the LOS. But Baker at least looked accurate in 2024 on short passes, but last year and this year, Baker isn’t even accurate on those. With that said, taking a couple of deep shots is fine, to keep the defense honest, but to just throw half the passes behind the LOS because you have no faith that Baker can accurately pass down the field is too much of an overcorrection.
September 20th, 2026 at 8:41 pm
Todd and staff reviewed the Jaguars Browns and decided that the Browns couldn’t defend the pass so they ran the ball and threw backward passes for six yards. Folks that’s the genius of this Bucs staff. Do exactly what doesn’t work…and we’ll be called genius even if we lose.
September 20th, 2026 at 8:41 pm
Well Joe. If the Browns are the worst team and worst organization in the NFL. Then, what are the Bucs? This is not rocket science. The Ghost of McKay knows. Wait til Halloween it will become clear. The odor is wafting around the Ray Jay. Phew.
September 20th, 2026 at 8:42 pm
“The Browns are always tough”.
Text from my son who thinks he’s funny. And this isn’t funny.
Just watched Mahomes lead blocking for Walker.
September 20th, 2026 at 8:43 pm
bucs should have kept running it with bucky after the delay. started off nicely then went away from it . robinson mentioning earlier this week how macmillan can separate and then going to hurst back to back in clutch time is an indication of how bad godwin has become.
September 20th, 2026 at 8:44 pm
If the bucs lost to the worst team in the NFL that means, well, there’s a new worst team in the NFL
September 20th, 2026 at 8:47 pm
Just watch the Chiefs tonight. They have possibly the best RB in the league that gets blocking down field. While I think Bucky is pretty good, he’s no K9, and he doesn’t get the blocking that Walker does. If you watch Mahomes, he has a lot of time, and the pocket holds up instead of immediately collapsing. This is what good teams do. Same with Jones. And when they do blitz, Jones has had someone open on some type of quick release route. This is what good football looks like. So, I don’t know. I guess we don’t just have mediocre players, but also a mediocre coaching staff.
September 20th, 2026 at 8:48 pm
If you include the coaches in the equation, the better team won today.
September 20th, 2026 at 8:50 pm
Where the hell was Jalen McMillan? I thought he was active?
September 20th, 2026 at 8:50 pm
Zac doesn’t believe the tight ends are up to snuff. He’s probably right. Baker doesn’t seem to have a “ hot” read to Otton more often. Aside from Chris, are the receivers really getting any separation? I thought bakers comment on the last play was telling. He didn’t allow for the wet field, and led egbuka a tad too much. The saints look really well coached.
September 20th, 2026 at 8:51 pm
Well the Falcons lost last week 20-13. This week 34-3. So we are just one of the worst teams in the NFCS garbage dump.
September 20th, 2026 at 8:51 pm
Zac knows what he has in Baker Mayfield
A dink and dunk QB
He’s calling plays comparable to Baker strengths
September 20th, 2026 at 8:51 pm
Zac, with the pressure on, called the right, put Baker in a position to win the game with a throw every NFL QB is expected to make every time.
September 20th, 2026 at 8:53 pm
“Allow a team to hang around instead of putting it out of its misery and don’t be surprised if that team beats you. That’s exactly what happened to the Bucs today.“
That last series before the half where we settled for 3 instead of taking 7, we could’ve scored their come out of the half with the ball and scored some type of points again building an actual lead. That was the time to put the dagger in them, but that’s way too much to ask of this offense. No killer instinct, because all that BS is just talk.
Please get me a QB that can function, fully from the pocket, because this ain’t no way to live as an NFL offense. 3 steps drops out of the gun, yuck. Overthrowing his receivers all game, but I’m waiting for somebody to call him out. It’s gotta be done at this point, we’re 0-2 and averaging 19 ppg. Can’t ask a defense to defend nothing, and just hold the opponents down all game while the offense scraps change together to make a dollar.
September 20th, 2026 at 8:54 pm
I fell asleep on this game TWICE. The way this is shaking out the league will attack as if baker can’t throw an accurate deep ball. Sure he’s gonna hit on a few here and there like last year but doesn’t seem there’s respect for this years receiver core
September 20th, 2026 at 8:59 pm
The lack of talent isn’t among the players.
September 20th, 2026 at 9:00 pm
Zac went to Coens wedding. It’s all good.
September 20th, 2026 at 9:01 pm
Can’t blame the OC. He sees Baker in practice every day and obviously knows that Baker can’t hit the receivers downfield. He’s trying to win the game and turning Baker loose to overthrow/underthrow or toss an INT is not the way to go.
Baker has no arm anymore. Whether it was the injury or not, the fact is that he’s not accurate AT ALL! You go with whatever works. Maybe Grizzard had that figured out as well. Either get a QB who can deliver, or trade our stocked receiver room for some good defensive players for the next coach. This team is a mess!
September 20th, 2026 at 9:03 pm
on DraftKings the Vikings are giving 2.5
the Bucs were favored prior to the Browns debacle
only the Falcons will be an underdog to the Bucs from here on out
September 20th, 2026 at 9:04 pm
Who didn’t see this coming. Guy came from the Falcons. They had a terrible offense last year. The only time they were good was against Bowles and his crap defense. Atlanta offense last year ran through Bijan he was the only one on that team that did anything.
September 20th, 2026 at 9:04 pm
Ted Hurst, not Ben… He and Evan Deckers were kind enough to stop in Cincy and acknowledge my young son who still idolized the Bucs in Cincy after they sucked. Wore Bakers jersey and he couldn’t even wave. Ted signed an auto and Evan gave him gear. A few seconds he will remember forever.
September 20th, 2026 at 9:04 pm
Not sure who is more worse at this pt… Our OC, HC or Alex Anzalone? Play calling is atrocious, defensive scheme is horrid and our FA LB can’t tackle.
Hey, only 15 more weeks. On the positive side we did double our sack total and saved Watson’s career.
September 20th, 2026 at 9:05 pm
We can all thank Jason for what we saw in the field today!!
September 20th, 2026 at 9:06 pm
@Buc4L
Yep I was saying for the last couple of weeks also that it wouldn’t surprise me if they ended up losing this game.
September 20th, 2026 at 9:12 pm
The coaches are a collection of Clowns. You know the answer. I may have overestimated my 4-13 prediction. 2-15 looks more reasonable. Save your money until Todd is gone.
September 20th, 2026 at 9:22 pm
that was no masterfully scripted game plan coming out of the locker room, after 2 and a half hours of playing footsie and thumb wrestling…
twas grizzardian like
September 20th, 2026 at 9:26 pm
That’s just it, this coaching staff COULDN’T scheme a way to get them open.
Stupidest coaching staff in football… and stupidest owners in the league for fawning over them and continuing to employ them and pay them.
September 20th, 2026 at 9:29 pm
Unfortunately it is starting to look like Baker “ took the money and ran” he is pathetic. They did throw down field several times today but Baker couldn’t connect with anyone. Until later. If your QB can’t connect down field why keep trying to put him in a position to continually fail, unfortunately that maybe why he has to throw one to two yards because that is all he could complete. The better QB today won in “The Battle Of the Overrated Quarterbacks”. Same on you Jason, signing this guy long term when you didn’t need to, and Vita also, is why you will be standing next to Bowles in the unemployment line next year. This whole organization has become a disgrace again. Someone please pull your head out of your Arse, anyone. Anyone, Bueller, anyone. Welcome back to the Den of Depression.
September 20th, 2026 at 9:33 pm
The Browns aren’t the worst team in football.
That moniker belongs to the team the Browns defeated today.
Your 2026 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Bottom of the barrel.
September 20th, 2026 at 9:40 pm
And they paid him like a top 10 QB! How ridiculously stupid. This team is an absolute disgrace!
September 20th, 2026 at 9:42 pm
Mayfield’s deep throws were terrible. He looked like a rookie. He hasn’t built any continuity with his receivers. It’s obvious he misses Mike Evans. And the play calling by OC is mysterfying. Maybe that why Evans bolted to the 49ers.
September 20th, 2026 at 9:48 pm
Josh Grizard is better than Zach Robinson!!
September 20th, 2026 at 9:49 pm
The OC ain’t great but we could have Bill Walsh and baker has to hit open receviers
September 20th, 2026 at 9:50 pm
JOE again get off the sauce. Did you even watch the game ? For crying out loud man. How many times did baker go deep and over throw I know 4 just off my head. He hit 1 to Tez and hurst dropped a TD then baker misses another wide open EE that was a TD over thro Otton yet Otton made a hell of a catch ohhh yea he can’t catch. Joe you’re about as bad as the terrible fans. Let me guess it’s Bowles fault baker thru another terrible pick or he over thru his receivers all game. Get a grip man
September 20th, 2026 at 9:53 pm
Purdy had a 149.1 rating today. Just saying.
September 20th, 2026 at 9:56 pm
CosmoKramer Says:
September 20th, 2026 at 9:33 pm
The Browns aren’t the worst team in football.
That moniker belongs to the team the Browns defeated today.
———
Pointed this out before the game,
But the Baker lead Bucs were 2-8 in their last 10
The Browns were 3-7 in their last 10
I had no idea why the Bucs were 8 1/2 point favorites, Baker gives the Bucs no chance to win with how he’s been playing for nearly a year now.
September 20th, 2026 at 9:59 pm
If we could only get Taylor Swift like star, as a Bucs cheerleader. We could win!
September 20th, 2026 at 10:02 pm
BucaneroJim Says:
September 20th, 2026 at 9:59 pm
If we could only get Taylor Swift like star, as a Bucs cheerleader. We could win!
———
We had Tom Brady and won the SB.
Now we have Baker, how did all those great commercials where he lived at the stadium, they were so funny. Baker is a great guy, I wish he was my friend, he’s so likeable.
September 20th, 2026 at 10:03 pm
When will yall get it I have constantly said ever since Mayfield has been the QB he is a short passing QB he cannot be consistent with deep balls therefore the oc has to set up a game plan for the short game
Small ball baker
September 20th, 2026 at 10:24 pm
Am I banned for telling the truth? It’s a circus sideshow. 2-15 as the ceiling. I knew this was coming. I wonder how many massages Deshaun Watson got while he was in town.
September 20th, 2026 at 10:25 pm
We did go deep 6 times. Wide open every time. And Baker badly missed on all but 1…the one he slipped before chucking it down the field. That turned into a dime. What this team needs to do is mainly stick to passes in the 15-20 yard range, where Baker is fairly accurate, and pull the defenses away from the line a bit. Maybe still take a couple of shots deep from time to time, just do it when it’s not going to cost you a drive (i.e. first down after a good run). The screens aren’t going to work with the defense bunched up short all of the time. We made it to easy. Liam Cohen maxed Baker by using the whole field from the line of scrimmage to 20 yards out and having Baker spread it around. Kept the defense guessing. Robinson needs to do this as well. Otherwise, we’re cooked. Your QB is limited. Treat him and the offense like it.
September 20th, 2026 at 10:27 pm
Playbook is awfully limited when the QB overthrows everything
September 20th, 2026 at 10:27 pm
Because like I’ve been saying since the summer….THIN at WR.
Don’t believe me? Just watch it play out.
September 20th, 2026 at 10:28 pm
Mike Tomlin here we.come baby!
September 20th, 2026 at 10:34 pm
Joe is so aggravated he’s trying to create a little dissension between the QB and his receivers. I can’t say that would be an accurate account, but I have heard when it rains, it pours.
September 20th, 2026 at 10:38 pm
this guy gives good podium…
real good…
but i’m yet to mutter to myself during a game “nice f’in call”
September 20th, 2026 at 11:11 pm
You can’t scheme anything up when all five guys up front are liabilities. Last year the excuse was injuries. This year it’s rust. Always some hogwash from this team. Facts are facts. 78 isn’t elite anymore. He’s barely serviceable. 62 makes me long for Bob Hainsey. 68 is playing in roller skates. 69 looks like a matador. 67 might be the best of the bunch- but that’s not saying much.
September 20th, 2026 at 11:20 pm
Fire the whole O and D coaching staff, make Special Teams coach or Gene the interim
September 20th, 2026 at 11:20 pm
Or might as well give Gruden a shot for the rest of year
September 20th, 2026 at 11:27 pm
TOMLIN….You’re up bud!!!
GET READY!!!
September 20th, 2026 at 11:46 pm
Joe… Your myopia is off the charts. The browns are not the worse team in the NFL. That honor belongs to the Buccaneers. The vaunted offensive line is a sieve. The defensive line cannot penetrate and cannot sack the opposing QB. And the defensive backfield cannot cover. Oh… And none of them can tackle.
If you are unable to see through your myopic haze, I suggest some therapy. There are many good psychologist in Tampa. Find one.
September 20th, 2026 at 11:49 pm
LOL the kiddies are out in force because they think they smell blood. Joe was talking about longer balls than 5 yards NOT merely deep balls . Only the severely challenged would claim Baker has issues 10-20 yards.
Chicken littles with the season is over and for all The Baker Deranged Syndromers – None of your garbage has been proven right after two games
Whine about “Baker Bois” all you want. He’s still signed up for 2 years after this one so we still rule. Get on board and be real fans for a change and stop hoping for a collapse of your alleged “own team”- because he’s here to stay and stomping your feet aint changing nothing little darlins. its just comedy now.
September 21st, 2026 at 12:14 am
Yeah, but Mike, Baker owes a solid 10K to Chase….at least he scores!
September 21st, 2026 at 1:03 am
Sad..
Very Sad..
Day in Tampa Bay. Missed tackles everywhere, zero killer instinct, awful situational football, and a coaching staff that looked completely incapable of adjusting once Cleveland punched back. You don’t blow a second-half lead at home while controlling the run unless the execution and coaching both fail miserably.
And the worst part? CLEVELAND delivered the daggers. 🗡️🗡️🗡️ We didn’t just lose, we handed them the knife and showed them exactly where to stick it. This one hurts. I hope the Minnesota game is blacked out for the sanity of our mental and emotional wellbeing.
September 21st, 2026 at 1:29 am
Kenton Smith Says:
September 20th, 2026 at 10:34 pm
Joe is so aggravated he’s trying to create a little dissension between the QB and his receivers. I can’t say that would be an accurate account, but I have heard when it rains, it pours.
———-
Joe has barely mentioned the QB.
The headline for the game is Baker, the high priced franchise QB who is going to be on the Bucs for $65M going forward, couldn’t make a simple pass to win the game – a pass every QB in the NFL is expected to make every single time.
That’s the headline… and instead we get 10 stories about the coaches… the coaches that put Baker in a position to win the game with an easy pass.
This loss was 100% on Baker.
Baker has singlehandedly lost 6 of the Bucs last 7 games. Any remotely decent middling QB wins all 7 of those games.