Bucs Offense Has To Learn How To Play “The Chicago Way”
November 9th, 2026
Dragging Bucs down.
Trading field goals for touchdowns never works. But boy, it sure seems like the Bucs are hellbent on trying to change that line of thinking.
Joe doesn’t know how Bucs offensive coordinator Zac Robinson stays employed after last night. This is the worst Bucs offense Joe has seen since the launch of this site in August 2008.
And yes, Joe knows that’s saying something.
The Bucs finally have a good special teams unit. The Bucs finally fixed the defense. But now, behind an expensive quarterback who sure looks broken, it is the offense dragging down this team.
One element KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles has to get over is his habit of settling for field goals. He and the Bucs can get away with that against the dregs of the league, otherwise known as the NFC South landfill. But Bowles cannot get away with that against good teams, as was evidenced last night.
Nothing screams a Todd Bowles team (Zac Robinson offense?) like field goals. Where would this team be without team MVP Chase McLaughlin?
The Bucs, yet again, were trying to fight a bully with field goals last night. It reminds Joe of the line in the movie “Untouchables” (about the Chicago mob in the 1920s).
“He pulls a knife? You pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital? You send one of his to the morgue. That’s the Chicago way.”
The Bears’ offense played with .45s. The Bucs’ offense played with butterknives.
Zac Robinson’s passing attack is truly mierda de pollo.
Does Jason Beck want to make easy money in Florida? Yes, it’s just about that bad. (If you don’t know who Jason Beck is, feel free to Google him, as Curt Cignetti might say.)
The ceiling for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is severely capped by this passing offense.
That’s pretty much my first half assessment.
— Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) November 9, 2026
November 9th, 2026 at 7:06 am
Bucs don’t have the talent to be much better than their record
November 9th, 2026 at 7:09 am
Great Line from the Untouchables!!
While the Bucs are at it, get RID of the Pressure Blitz, it Sux!!
That is what cost them the game last night!
November 9th, 2026 at 7:13 am
SB-LV must’ve been watching another game than I was. If we had an offense we would have put belt to a** last night. Defense started off a little weak but once they got it together Chicago offense couldn’t do much. Better coaching would do this team wonders
November 9th, 2026 at 7:13 am
The play calling lost this game.
At least 2 times , once in the 1st half and once in the 2nd half, the Bucs had the ball inside the 5 yard line and 2 times the Bucs wasted downs by trying to pass to a covered and pedestrian Cade Otton …instead of using Otton as a blocker and give Bucky the ball and pound it in.
On top of that, they actually thought Mayfield could score on a QB sneak against that line???? Like he’s Josh Allen or something???
That’s twice they settled for FG’s instead of scoring TD’s.
November 9th, 2026 at 7:15 am
It’s a sad commentary to the knowledge of modern football fans.
So many angry posters last night. So many clueless people still blaming Mayfield.
If you thought this was a good team, and are disappointed- then you don’t know a thing about pro football.
If you thought this horrible offensive line, and talentless group of Wide receivers were gonna be anything but a huge liability and weakness- then you don’t know anything about football.
If you thought our lack of a pass rusher- AGAIN- wasn’t gonna cripple the defense, then you don’t know anything about pro Football.
AT ALL.
These are all issues from last year. They didn’t get addressed this off season.
How could you expect improvement. Unless you thought rookies were the answer.
And if that’s the case, you know less than nothing.
All of you disappointed in this team, had no idea who this team was.
I’m actually surprised they are doing this well. I didn’t think the Running backs and secondary could carry the rest of those losers as much as they have.
I predicted 5-12 back in May. We may do a little better.
But this is a bad team. Was last year. Is this year.
Like I’ve said for an almost a year.
– This is gonna be a long Season.
I was happy last night, that we were able to keep it close, and not be embarrassed on National TV.
Thank you to the Running backs, Mayfield, and our great Secondary.
You kept the rest of this lousy team from embarrassing us!
November 9th, 2026 at 7:22 am
It’s a shame. This Bucs defense is as violent and nasty as they’ve been since 2020. Excellent pair of starting corners and safeties – Melifonwu btw is a better player than Winfield. A violent, active defensive line. Bain playing A LOT better, Trotter is EXCEPTIONAL and Anzolone has not only stymied the tide – but he has been really good. What a damn defense. And wouldn’t you know it – the strength of this team the last 5 years (the offense) is now a bottom 3 offense with by far the worst receiver room in the NFL, and furthermore – we run plays for Cade Otton like he’s Trey McBride or Brock Bowers. Which is hilarious, he is not even close to being that guy. If you’re gnna run those go routes and jump ball plays atleast run them for SHARP, who has more of a chance to make some athletic plays. And then of course – Baker. The pick 6 was THE difference in the game. Does our play design by the worst offensive coordinator in the league help? No. But neither does staring down receivers
November 9th, 2026 at 7:24 am
If only….ben johnson coached the bucs and todd coached the bears…no other change in coaching staffs or lineups…would the bucs be 3-6 ??
November 9th, 2026 at 7:28 am
Josh Freeman went mental after the 2012 season. Baker Mayfield went mental after the Seattle game last year.
This is our history with quarterbacks. They go cold out of nowhere, for mystery reasons, and never play the same again
November 9th, 2026 at 7:32 am
I was surprised to see an article early this morning about heroic defense. The D gave up 14 points before I poured my first glass of wine. So, whatever running game plan they had to control the clock was thrown out the window. I’ve posted before that this team can’t play from behind especially two scores. Turned the game off so the was probably some heroics because that’s a Bucs life. Get behind make it close lose at the end. That game probably should have been 42-10.
November 9th, 2026 at 7:38 am
Also, whether you blame Robinson or Mayfield keep in mind that this is Bowles game script. I keep hearing fans complaining about Robinson’s lack of passing attack, but that is who they hired. This is what Bowles wanted out of an offensive coordinator. Out of all the possible hires, he was by far the most conservative.
November 9th, 2026 at 7:38 am
One thing this season has shown me is we have a bunch of #2 receivers. We need a clear cut no. 1 receiver that can separate. All of our current receivers looked great when they were not expected to be the no. 1.
November 9th, 2026 at 7:40 am
“So, whatever running game plan they had to control the clock was thrown out the window. I’ve posted before that this team can’t play from behind especially two scores. Turned the game off so the was probably some heroics because that’s a Bucs life. Get behind make it close lose at the end. That game probably should have been 42-10.”
We scored 10 points off 5 takeaways, lmaoooooooo
November 9th, 2026 at 7:40 am
BM is obviously not healthy and his head is not in the right place. JL screwed up not finding a solid veteran back up qb. We knew a good team would load the box and dare BM to throw and here we are. This will be the first team with a really bad record to win the NFCS. As always, the Bucs are the kings of pee wee football.
November 9th, 2026 at 7:42 am
I’m wondering about Mike McDaniel for an offensive coordinator. I know the chargers didn’t work out for him but I think Baker is his type of QB. I’d love to see him in her tomorrow. Anyone who says we’re not close is way off. This defense, special teams, and run offense is not only good but dominating. We miss Evans terribly but make the changes and let’s get it this season. I still believe this is our year!!!
November 9th, 2026 at 7:42 am
Todd Bowles is an excellent Defensive Coordinator, but like EVERY DC who’s dual-hatted as the Head Coach, he NEEDS a very strong Offensive Coordinator to be successful. One who can operate independently for the my part. He doesn’t have that in Zac Robinson, nor did he have that in Grizz last year.
The same though applies to the reverse. Teams with offensive minded Head Coaches (like Chicago with Ben Johnson) NEED a very strong Defensive Coordinator who can operate independently. Bears obviously have that with Dennis.
November 9th, 2026 at 7:44 am
Bucs are as of today picking at the 8 pick
That means only 7 players will have been selected before the next GM turns in the card.
The Bucs WR and TE room is EMPTY!
Keep up the losing and select a QB
I support Baker because he is the best shot at winning.
They Bucs are lacking TALENT and Todd Bowels is over his head as a NFL head coach.
Bucs will have a TOTAL OF 3 wins and it’s mid November
Please stop with the hopium foolishness
November 9th, 2026 at 7:49 am
yea scoring field goals when you are already down 14 in the first quarter isnt going to get it done.
November 9th, 2026 at 7:55 am
Warren, I’m not sticking up for the offense here I’m just stating statistical facts. NFL teams that go down early by 14 points have a 13% chance of winning the game. DEFENSIVE HEROICS would have been holding the Bears to 3 points early in the game instead of two touchdowns. This is on the entire team. If fans don’t like Robinson blame Bowles since he hired him. Kind of like that worthless special teams coach that he refused to fire last year until the end. Robinson is a ball control OC that is it! If they wanted an aggressive guy, they should have hired one.
November 9th, 2026 at 7:56 am
Everyone says they didn’t have it in Grizz last year, but Grizz had Baker looking great through the first 6 games of the season until he got hurt. The defense and special teams were awful last year and after Baker got hurt, everything was awful. I think everyone misses Coen but…
November 9th, 2026 at 7:59 am
The Bucs Offense scored more than the Bears Offense.
November 9th, 2026 at 7:59 am
Rather lose the rest of our games and get a real HC and future franchise QB
November 9th, 2026 at 7:59 am
Egbuka was such an awful pick. Jason Licht lucked into a couple good picks in his time, but has generally been absolutely horrible at drafting, especially with his top picks. Our receiver room is made up of a bunch of nobodies, that play like nobodies.
Even with the lack of receivers baker still has absolutely sucked, he has done this crap his entire career. Just amazing that certain players like BM get a pass and keep their jobs, while other talented QBs are never given a chance.
November 9th, 2026 at 8:02 am
Except for that bomb to Tez,no passing game what so ever. Got to either let the rookie play or go get a #1 receiver.
November 9th, 2026 at 8:04 am
Dandy Don
Youz youngsters won’t know about this one from classic MNF
“ turn out the lights… the parties over “
90% on the time, I am being generous,
The better talent WINS!
Bucs have ZERO explosive talent in the WR and TE rooms.
Bucky runs like Earl Campbell but he is a LIGHTWEIGHT and a luxury specialty player.
November 9th, 2026 at 8:04 am
Not a fan of Chucky as a head coach even with winning a Super Bowl. This team needs a boost on offense and Chucky is a good fit for the remainder of the season to get by and be better than the trash we have now. Heck, bring back Arians as an OC for the rest of the year. At this point let Sean Sullivan do it….. somebody, anybody at this point!!!! You’re talking about a D that could the best in the league and we can’t score 30-35 points after 5 turnovers and a blocked punt….. cmon!!!
November 9th, 2026 at 8:09 am
“Warren, I’m not sticking up for the offense here I’m just stating statistical facts. NFL teams that go down early by 14 points have a 13% chance of winning the game.”
Teams’ that finish ENTIRE games +3 in the turnover margin win those games 90% of the time. There’s 25 years worth of NFL data that backs that. Thank, come again.
November 9th, 2026 at 8:10 am
This feels so much like 2001. Time for a hot offensive head coach and keep Bowles as DC. Man, this team could do things.
November 9th, 2026 at 8:10 am
Baker lost the game with that awful pick six. End of story.
November 9th, 2026 at 8:10 am
Mayfield Stats 2026 through week 9.
3 TD passes / 4 interceptions / 6 total fumbles / 3 lost fumbles / QBR 32.4
Here is the kicker:
He is directly responsible for losing to Bengals, Browns, Bears, and counting.
He had nothing to do with wins against the Panthers & Falcons.
November 9th, 2026 at 8:10 am
Two things can be true at the same time. In this case, three:
*Yes, Baker is not playing well at all
*It would be good if this all-world OL knew the snap count
*I would love to see the All 22 and see who (if anyone) is open
November 9th, 2026 at 8:13 am
The offense was terrible. The defense did what they do. They gave up the scores first 14 points but got 5 turnovers. Offense failed to score. Totally uncalled for. But in the end it was just like the Commanders game. The offense gets it tied and the defense lets the Bears go down the field and score the winning FG. Now who didn’t see that coming?
November 9th, 2026 at 8:15 am
Baker is Jameis 2.0 sprinkled in with a little Tua contract commitment along with a Manziel Character. Why was he watching the Bears offense throughout the first half and not scheming with his O Coordinator and/or team????
November 9th, 2026 at 8:24 am
The passing game is broke for sure. The special team coverage units were mierda de pollo tambien. The defense is getting real close to championship caliber. They made Caleb Williams look like an undrafted free agent for the last 3 quarters until the busted coverage happened. Everyone was ready to anoint him the goat before he ran into this defense. This defense > than the Vikings defense! The only things missing for this team is more stout interior pass blocking and a stud receiver. Oh, and an offensive coordinator. Just because the identity of this team is running the ball doesn’t mean you have to run it on first down every time.
November 9th, 2026 at 8:24 am
ZR has zero feel for the game. All the routes have receivers running to a spot and waiting for the ball. And none of them appear to be getting separation. One play, the bomb to Tez, looked natural. With the way the Bears were bull rushing Baker, it took until the fourth quarter to throw a running back screen. And why didn’t Hurst play last night? The only time I saw him catch a pass was the one Caleb threw into the Bucs bench. Yeah, I know he’s had some critical drops, but he has the most upside of any receiver on the team. Play him! And if we’re protecting a hurt Baker it’s time to consider a healthy JD is probably better than a perpetually plagued Baker.
November 9th, 2026 at 8:25 am
“But now, behind an expensive quarterback who sure looks broken”
And you can’t leave out a very expensive WR. How the hell do you give Otten 8 targets and Godwin only 2? Zac Robinson is as bad as it gets, and Baker making terrible throws and reads is not helping this offensive passing game which is at the bottom of the NFL.
November 9th, 2026 at 8:32 am
Two key dropped passes, two key interceptions. Other than that, the offense was meh/okay against one of the better defenses in the league.
Everyone around here claimed the Bucs had zero chance against the league’s best team and league’s best player in a scary nighttime game in primetime. The Bucs outgained the Bears and lost on a field goal with a couple seconds left in the game.
Get a grip.
November 9th, 2026 at 8:32 am
Two key dropped passes, two key interceptions. Other than that, the offense was meh/okay against one of the better defenses in the league.
Everyone around here claimed the Bucs had zero chance against the league’s best team and league’s best player in a scary nighttime game in primetime. The Bucs outgained the Bears and lost on a field goal with a couple seconds left in the game.
Get a grip, Nancy!
November 9th, 2026 at 8:36 am
Who were you going to get as a Offensive coordinator with Dead man walking HC Bowles? It was always going to be this way. Fire Bowles and get a high-end offensive head coach.
November 9th, 2026 at 8:37 am
Bates just got traded from Atlanta to Jacksonville. Glad to see that guy leave the division.
November 9th, 2026 at 8:42 am
I’ll settle for they need to learn how to score.
November 9th, 2026 at 8:47 am
Special teams got lucky too. Let’s not forget the TD wiped out on the return./
November 9th, 2026 at 8:48 am
Jason Lite is RESPONSIBLE for the show
The roster is full of Ted Hurst make up picks for draft players taken just ahead of the players he coveted and Todd Bowels is not a good head coach
November 9th, 2026 at 8:48 am
The lions barely beat the dolphins. Just run the ball and,surprise,play action bombs on first down should get a split on the Nfc north double. Don’t play like Caleb Loser. What a deer in the headlights c with four picks.
November 9th, 2026 at 8:54 am
We don’t not scheme up creative play action passes to match our under center running game. It makes no sense at all.
November 9th, 2026 at 8:58 am
This clown has 2 weeks to fix this.
November 9th, 2026 at 9:01 am
The Chicago way? They have wrs that catch screens and they flllyyyy smh ours can’t even get open
November 9th, 2026 at 9:02 am
Take the points because your little man QB can’t convert turnovers to touchdowns.
Bowles made the right move, offense sucks and can’t be trusted simple as that
November 9th, 2026 at 9:10 am
63 MILLION?????? F0R WHAT!!!! NO MORE 6 FOOT QB”S
November 9th, 2026 at 9:14 am
A new Head coach and GM, a better OC, a number one WR, develop a TE and put the O line into the T-Rex cage to work on their “nobody move” skills and the Bucs will be fine.
November 9th, 2026 at 9:27 am
Chicago made more mistakes!! It was all luck with that win
November 9th, 2026 at 9:44 am
Our major problem is the OC, and his system… the two weeks we ran great with the 12 or 13 offense but last night we tried running with an 11 offense which was not able to kick out the end or the OLB… thus allowing the Bears defense to get into the backfield. Also as far as passing routes go; everything is an out, curl, or stop…no crossing patterns where we can hit men on the run, and if we run one the QB’s throw is not in a catchable place. We never took advantage of FIVE turnovers, at least 2/3 were 3 and out. All this is on the OC and lack of using the correct personnel. We need to think long and hard over the bye and get the game plan fixed.
November 9th, 2026 at 9:56 am
Mayfield Stats 2026 through week 9.
3 TD passes / 4 interceptions / 6 total fumbles / 3 lost fumbles / QBR 32.4
Here is the kicker:
He is directly responsible for losing to Bengals, Browns, Bears, and counting.
He had nothing to do with wins against the Panthers & Falcons
November 9th, 2026 at 10:08 am
Hopefully by the end of today or tomorrow the Bucs find another offensive coordinator even if it is the guy selling popcorn. He would have to be better than who we have.
November 9th, 2026 at 10:18 am
“Hopefully by the end of today or tomorrow the Bucs find another offensive coordinator even if it is the guy selling popcorn. He would have to be better than who we have.”
Switching OCs isn’t going to make Baker Mayfield a better, more punctual QB.
What OC or HC candidate is looking at this team with this QB and saying: “yeah I can win with what Tampa has”
It’s almost guaranteed, that anybody that’d take this job would want their own QB because ain’t no way you win with a guy who looked worse than the QB on the otherside that threw 4 INTs.
Again, the only TD Chicago scored in the 2nd half happened with our defense on the field. For all that physicality Mayfield was praised for blocking Bates last week, trying to run down Johnson and getting washed out he looked like a kicker.
November 9th, 2026 at 10:18 am
*offense on the field.
November 9th, 2026 at 10:20 am
ZAC ROBERTSON WAS A CRAP BOWLES HIRE . CAN HIM AND BOWLES . WE LOOKED GOOD UNDER COHEN AND CANNELS . BOWLES HIRE SUCKS ! FIRE HIM AND GET SOME REAL OFFENCE ! HE IS NOT HEAD COACH MATERIAL. SORRY NOT SORRY . THAT OFFENCE SUCKS UNDER ZAC ! THST WAS GOD AWFUL AFTER 5 TAKE AWAYS ! A TOTAL EMBARRASSMENT.
November 9th, 2026 at 10:23 am
Brady had winning seasons where his receivers were..? Whoever
Scheme and coaching can help
November 9th, 2026 at 10:32 am
Todd is not going to change his conservative nature. It’s how he’s programmed. He coaches not to lose. Trading field goals for tds is a feature not a bug. He believes that in the end his defense will play well enough to give the offense more chances. In this particular week, he was correct.
But long term it’s a bad approach.
November 9th, 2026 at 10:33 am
Bucnjim Says:
November 9th, 2026 at 7:32 am
I was surprised to see an article early this morning about heroic defense. The D gave up 14 points before I poured my first glass of wine.
________________
And then 3 points the entire rest of the game. Holding a top-rated offense to 17 points on the road should be a recipe for success… but now when you have a broken QB, and incompetent imbecile for OC, and a gutless HC who goes into games trying to win with FGs.
The defense is fine. In fact they’ve been great.
30 total points given up in the last 3 games, complemented by 11 INTs and 6 sacks. But the offense hasn’t done a damn thing with that.
November 9th, 2026 at 10:46 am
“And then 3 points the entire rest of the game. Holding a top-rated offense to 17 points on the road should be a recipe for success… but now when you have a broken QB, and incompetent imbecile for OC, and a gutless HC who goes into games trying to win with FGs.”
That last bit, about winning with FGs when you go 1-4 in the redzone you take what you can get and we damn sure can’t get 7 with any regularity.
Ya’ll talk like Bowles chooses to take 3 as if we’re surely capable of taking 7.
Weird perspective to have as a fan of the game who clearly dislikes the HC enough to say stuff as irrational as that.