“It Helped Him Out A Great Deal”
October 26th, 2026
How injured — or how healthy — is Baker Mayfield?
That’s unclear after yesterday’s game. Officially, Mayfield threw only 11 passes and was hit just once in the blowout win against Carolina. It was a dream scenario for a guy playing with a healing dislocated thumb — a guy wearning a unique glove on his throwing hand who apparently had issues throwing in practices leading up to the game.
So Mayfield really wasn’t tested through a typical game battle.
Today, Todd Bowles said the Bucs were not trying “to protect” Mayfield but he acknowledged the light work was ideal for his quarterback.
“We got some runs and they were there, and they kept being there,” Bowles said. “And we kept getting runs, and we’re good at it, so we stayed with it. You know, it just happened to be a double-edged sword where it helped him out a great deal.”
Joe was intrigued to hear Bowles say the light workload helped Mayfield “a great deal.” Was he ready to play a full game and throw 33 times and take four or five hits?
Regardless, the Bucs’ gamble worked perfectly. Mayfield gets another week to heal. Bucky Irving gets another week to work on his pass blocking. And the Bucs are still chasing the NFC South landfill crown.
October 26th, 2026 at 5:13 pm
todd ” we never try to protect baker.”
October 26th, 2026 at 5:18 pm
Anyone want to do the math on how much Baker made per pass attempt (11), completion (6), or yards (64)?
Forget it. He’ll feel disrespected if we do.
October 26th, 2026 at 5:27 pm
“a guy wearning a unique glove on his throwing hand (who apparently had issues throwing in practices) leading up to the game.”
Why take that risk with him? We have a rookie to give him time to heal.
October 26th, 2026 at 5:43 pm
Apparently the coaches, who have forgotten more about football than we have ever known, made the right call to start Baker Mayfield. Why ? Because the Bucs won the game !! 43 – 13 !!
If the Buccaneers defense plays the same against the dirty birds as it did against the stinking panthers, I predict a win next Sunday!!
Go Bucs !!
October 26th, 2026 at 5:46 pm
SlyPirate. That would take some advanced ciphering. Let’s say someone was making 51 million a year. Little more, little less. 17 games is cipherable into that 51 million perfectly. So without looking at the minor passing stats, we’ll look at the big dog. Touchdown passes. According to the ciphering, factoring 3 million salary per game, Baker’s making about 3 million per touchdown pass. I’ve always said that throwing TD passes was the best barometer for a quarterback. Next to wins.
Yeah, not bad work if you can get it.
October 26th, 2026 at 5:47 pm
The Falcons are practicing on how to stop the Buccaneers running game. What are the Buccaneers counter measures to keep their running game dynamic. The Falcons versus the Buccaneers will be intriguing. Can Mayfield’s thumb condition hold up against a Falcons strong pass rush? Can his offensive linemen keep opening up running lanes for Bucky, Gainwell and Tucker?
Lots of unanswered questions. The Bucs are a slight favorite, but it’s anyone’s quess who walks away with the victory. This is another must win game for the Bucs. Will the Bucs strike gold again? Todd Bowles career is on the line. He needs his Defense to play lights out again on Sunday. Will this be a win for the Gripper?
October 26th, 2026 at 5:59 pm
The Bucs showed pretty clearly that unless they are down 2 or more scores in the second half, they should be a run first team.
October 26th, 2026 at 6:00 pm
It’ll be a different week. Carolina is bottom 3 in run D. Atlanta is top 10.
October 26th, 2026 at 6:02 pm
maybe the injury will cure Baker’s “happy feet” – Robinson won’t rely on Baker’s improvisation and will plan with Bucky Gainwell Tucker in mind – Michael Penix has 12 rushes for 4 yards total – the Falcons do have good RBs WRs TEs but so do the Bucs – so don’t put Baker at risk – Matthew Stafford has 18 rush yards
Bijan 708 Bucky 558 Bryce Young 34
October 26th, 2026 at 6:09 pm
We’ll need more balance against Atlanta (and everybody else) to keep winning but it was great coaching by Todd and Zac yesterday and great effort/execution by the boys.
It was great to see Kenny G and Tuck finally get some meaningful action too. IF we can get all 3 guys rolling we can pick and choose our shots with play action.
Hopefully we don’t return to EE being 1st read on every pass play when he returns. Zac has proven he can scheme a run game using all of our backs for at least 1 game…..he needs to show he can scheme up a pass plan that isn’t pedestrian @ best now
October 26th, 2026 at 6:11 pm
The question isn’t why they kept running in a game they could run at will in, it’s why did they pass so much in the second half of the Steeler game ? Most likely Bucs would have won the Steeler game if they commited to the run
October 26th, 2026 at 6:22 pm
Please Mr. Robinson…..don’t think like your boss. Just because the game plan worked against Carolina, that doesn’t mean it will work against Atlanta. Use the tape. Find some wrinkles in Atlanta’s defense and plan accordingly. The team woke up. Don’t put us back to sleep.
October 26th, 2026 at 6:23 pm
If the team played like that for Daniels, he would be 3-0
October 26th, 2026 at 6:36 pm
Bucs might have won the Steelers game if Daniels could recognize a blitz when it’s about to happen
October 26th, 2026 at 6:46 pm
“Beeej Says:
October 26th, 2026 at 6:36 pm
Bucs might have won the Steelers game if Daniels could recognize a blitz when it’s about to happen“
2 picks didn’t help, the Dean one being returned to our goal line certainly didn’t help
October 26th, 2026 at 6:58 pm
Allen Lofton … ‘The Falcons are practicing on how to stop the Buccaneers running game. What are the Buccaneers counter measures to keep their running game dynamic. The Falcons versus the Buccaneers will be intriguing.’
I have a hunch that the Falcons’ defense knows how to stop Zac Robinson’s run game pretty well already (since they went against him every day for the past 2 years?).
You hit the nail on the head though Allen with the question “What are the Buccaneers counter measures to keep their running game dynamic”?
I suspect that the Bucs will still try to run the ball on at least 50% of our plays. And that we’ll stree quick-release, short passes to keep Baker from getting pummeled. Falcons’ defense has gotten 17 sacks, 56 QB hits & 34 TFLs in 7 games (an average of 2.5 sacks, 8 QB hits & 5 TFLs per game is pretty good).
Although they’re good at stopping the run (ranked #4 in Rushing Yards Allowed), they rank #29 in terms of Passing Yards Allowed. Their weakness is their Pass Defense, and we can’t just run-run-run and expect to win. A nice Run-Pass split that uses the run to set up the pass can work even with Baker’s thumb thrown in there.
October 26th, 2026 at 6:59 pm
TampaBayBucFan, If the Bucs played the way they played yesterday all season, they would be 7-0!
October 26th, 2026 at 7:00 pm
If JD was playing that game the Bucs still would have won but it would have been closer ,, Canales would have sold out on the run knowing Bucs couldn’t pass with Daniels ,,,, He had to at least respect the fact that Baker could and has passed on his Defense before ,, Atlanta will be a different game plan but still feature the run