Ira Kaufman’s 10 Takeaways From Buccaneers-Bears
November 9th, 2026
Click through to visit BillCurrieFord.com and see their November discounts. Family-owned in Tampa since 1960! Bill Currie Ford general manager Sean Sullivan is ready to help you PERSONALLY and give you the famous Ira Kaufman discount. Don’t Worry, Drive Currie!
BY IRA KAUFMAN
The Buccaneers have a Baker Mayfield problem. A big one.
There’s no use sugarcoating what has become obvious: since the 2025 bye week, Mayfield has been a pedestrian quarterback.
That issue came to the forefront before a national audience Sunday night when Tampa Bay dropped a 27-24 decision at Chicago, falling to 3-6. Only the overall wretchedness of the NFC South is keeping the Bucs in the playoff hunt.
The Bucs just found a way to lose a game in which they generated five takeaways and registered a partially blocked punt. That’s hard to do, but Chicago pulled out a victory on a last-second field goal after a valiant Buc defense lost track of tight end Colston Loveland on a 38-yard reception.
“We busted,” said Todd Bowles. “Shouldn’t have happened.”
What shouldn’t have happened was Tampa Bay’s inability to capitalize on great field position. Four of Tampa Bay’s 14 possessions began in Chicago territory, but the Bucs went 2-for-12 on third down while Mayfield struggled.
Although he threw for 243 yards, including a 58-yard strike to Tez Johnson, Mayfield was sacked four times and intercepted twice, including a pick-6 that put the Bears ahead 24-13.
In Mayfield’s 15 games since the middle of last season, he has thrown 16 TD passes and 13 interceptions. The Bucs are over reliant on Chase McLaughlin field goals and the only consistent weapon on offense is Bucky Irving, who ran 20 times for 97 yards and both Tampa Bay touchdowns.
Caleb Williams, who smiled his way through a rollicking 14-point opening quarter for Chicago, spent the rest of the night bedeviled by Bowles’ clever blitzing schemes. Williams was picked off three times in the second quarter alone as the Bucs applied constant pressure.
After the Bears went ahead 17-3, their next seven possessions ended with four punts and three giveaways, including a forced fumble credited to Rueben Bain. Williams had thrown for only 48 yards in the second half before finding Loveland wide open along the left sidelines, setting up the winning FG as time expired.
The Bucs have now forced 13 turnovers in the past three weeks. Alex Anzalone registered his third pick in two games, Zyon McCollum had two interceptions and Tykee Smith began the defensive turnaround with a second-quarter theft.
Special teams standout Miles Killebrew got a hand on a Chicago punt that traveled only 25 yards in the third quarter as the Bucs seized momentum at Soldier Field.
After Tampa Bay pulled within 24-22 late in the fourth quarter, Mayfield bolted up the middle on a 2-point conversion that capped a sensational comeback effort on the road.
Instead, the Bears used one defensive breakdown to send the Bucs back home with a stinging setback. The absence of Mike Evans as a go-to target has crippled the passing game and Mayfield’s penchant for critical mistakes remains a major issue heading into a bye week.
“Got to make the throws, got to be more accurate,” Mayfield said. “It sucks.”
Here’s how the Bears managed to stumble their way to a dramatic win on a bizarre evening in the Windy City.
* On a night the Bucs were desperate for a play-making WR to emerge, rookie Ted Hurst was targeted once … incomplete.
* Through nine games, Mayfield and rookie Jalon Daniels have combined to throw six TD passes and nine interceptions. The long pass to Johnson helped the Bucs top the 200-yard passing mark for the first time all season.
* The sloppy Bears, coming off a dismantling of the defending NFL champs in Seattle, started fast and then spent the final 40 minutes waiting to get beat. They were flagged for nine penalties, including a holding call that wiped out a 91-yard kickoff return.
* Chicago LB Devin Bush, signed from Cleveland as a free agent, looked like the second coming of Derrick Brooks as he terrorized the Buc offense.
* Riley Dixon enjoyed one of his best games as a Buccaneer, averaging 48.8 yards on six punts, including two downed inside the Chicago 20.
* Many of Irving’s 97 rushing yards came after contact as a defensive line led by new arrival Jeffery Simmons proved difficult to block.
* As usual, Tampa Bay’s run defense was outstanding as the Bears averaged only 3.3 yards per carry. No opponent has rushed for 100 yards against the Bucs since Week 2.
* Bowles no longer has any complaints about his defensive players holding onto the football. The Bucs lead the league with 16 interceptions, including four apiece by Anzalone and McCollum.
* The Bucs wouldn’t be within shouting distance of first place in any division other than the NFC South, where the four teams own a cumulative record of 12-22. At home, the Bucs, Panthers, Saints and Falcons are a combined 4-15. Go figure.
* Following the bye, the Bucs face a tough trip to Detroit, where the Lions are 4-0. The schedule softens after that point, but the Bucs won’t be much of a threat in the NFC unless they can put juice in their passing game. Analyst Cris Collinsworth suggests the Bucs need a wide receiver who can get downfield. Anybody listening at One Buc Place?
* This defense deserved better — a lot better.
November 9th, 2026 at 9:40 am
They finished 2-7 last year and are 3-6 this year. How much more of this garbage do I have to sit through before the owners address it? Been a fan here in Chicago since I was a kid and I was there last night. I am ready to quit on this organization. I’m tired. I stuck with them for decades. This just doesn’t make sense to me anymore.
November 9th, 2026 at 9:42 am
How much does this team miss Mike Evans? Baker hasnt been good but it’s not like the WR’s are roaming wide open all the time. I think Licht over estimated how good that group would be.
November 9th, 2026 at 9:43 am
Especially considering we have such a Jason Licht drafted elite wideout room……..
November 9th, 2026 at 9:45 am
You said it this bears defense dismantled the super bowls champs the week before and darnold has jsn as a weapon. I get bashing baker is what is driving traffic to this site but this team has no weapons for him to throw to, the coordinator started the season with the wrong run blocking scheme the offense is a mess and Baker is just living in it.
November 9th, 2026 at 9:45 am
Ira, did you watch any games before the bye last season? The defense won the Nola game before the bye where Bake didnt score a TD, Nelson did. Baker has been bad and unreliable for years. It doesn’t matter how much they paid him, if they want to win they have to get another QB.
November 9th, 2026 at 9:45 am
So, in a passing league, being #1 at running the ball, and #1 at run defense, puts you at 3-6.
Outdated philosophies.
Living off the blitz is great, right up until it burns you. Blown coverage happens more frequently when guys on every play have to remember if they are pass coverage or pass rush this time.
Dumbest offensive plays and routes imaginable.
Mayfield never should have gotten that contract… what a mistake. Idiot sons that own this team forced Licht to do that, almost guaranteed. Same with Vea.
November 9th, 2026 at 9:47 am
The Bears’ coach postgame gave 1 game ball to his player, Jaylon Johnson – pick 6 vs Mayfield
November 9th, 2026 at 9:47 am
did todd forget what time the game started? was he late? why didnt the “exotic” guru stop the first two TDs? he wanted to give them a head start?
November 9th, 2026 at 9:47 am
I know you and the Joes all picked Chicago to win the game during your last podcast. However, had anyone told you the defense would get 5 take-aways during the game, I think you would have all picked the Bucs to win. So, I can’t get too upset about that defensive coverage lapse late in the game. It was clearly the offense that lost this game.
November 9th, 2026 at 9:49 am
The Glazers are perfectly happy being mediocre in a cow pie fragrance division.
And the fact that the HC isn’t on the chopping block is proof positive of that.
Bowles is responsible for the team and gets paid well to do that job.
But unfortunately he really sucks at that job. Lifeless and boring.
He prefers FG’s over TD’s. That’s why he stacks losses like he’s building a house out of L’s.
Taj Mahal to the ghetto.
November 9th, 2026 at 9:53 am
wretchedness – Lee is gonna love this one!
They really do need a true number one WR. And is this offensive line just bad against the pass rush or does mayfield get happy feet. I know none of us are writing the check, but $55M is a nuisance at this point.
November 9th, 2026 at 9:55 am
One thing I learned from poker, you should either be folding or raising. The Bucs either need to decide this division is up for grabs, and trade for a QB (I hear Daniel Jones and Kirk Cousins might be available) and a wide receiver (Brian Thomas Jr may be available) … or they need to decide this team is toast and unload all the veterans for draft picks.
Doing nothing before the trade deadline would be the only mistake.
November 9th, 2026 at 10:00 am
Everyone talking Mike Evans. He was out injured for the 9ers Sunday, and they still scored 35! See how lame the Mike Evans excuse is? Why do you think he left? To find a team with a better coach, and QB that’s why. Were passes just dropped, or were they off target? Maybe both, but the real problem is a revolving door of OCs. Find the next Coen, or Ben Johnson. We’re not going anywhere with Bowles, and Licht.
November 9th, 2026 at 10:00 am
Since Oct 12,2025 game against San Fran. Baker stats are:
300-490, 61% completion
17 TD
14 Int
13 Fumbles
And so far this year a QBR of 32
6-12 win loss record
Is it Wr’s, OC, QB or all the above?
November 9th, 2026 at 10:02 am
Did you see what Kirk Cousins looked like playing under Zac? He also has Bowers to throw to. Bowers catches that td pass from baker when they settled for a fg
November 9th, 2026 at 10:03 am
Baker without Coen is barely mediocre, baffling how you extend a guy that is this bad for this long of a stretch of games
November 9th, 2026 at 10:03 am
The play at the end of the game looked like the exact play the Falcons ran against the Bucs and Penix couldn’t hit a wide open Pitts. The Bears ran the same play and again the tight end was wide open except Caleb Williams didn’t miss him and the Bears get the win on the field goal. The Bucs defense played great right until that busted coverage. If it happened last week, you would think the Bucs would have worked on that play during the week of practice to ensure it doesn’t happen again. Obviously the Bears saw it on film and when it was the right coverage they hit the big play. Side note, I am so sick with Chris Collingsworth and his favorites. Obviously he was rooting for the Bears and Simmons. He gushed over Simmons like he was the hottest chick he had ever seen. I was almost embarrassed for him.
November 9th, 2026 at 10:12 am
I don’t know about lumping Daniels and Mayfield in the same bucket. The former made some pretty clutch throws that helped us win in Dallas. What has Mayfield done? (apart from bitch about his contract, of course)
November 9th, 2026 at 10:15 am
I’d like to see Mayfield operating inside a better designed offense with better play-calling, and without the dumb mental errors (pre-snap penalties and dropped passes).
But Baker’s recent body of work can’t be ignored. He has regressed and is a shell of what he was in Liam Coen’s system. Deciding what to do – attempt a “fix” or to seek Mayfield’s replacement becomes the primary job of team leadership heading into this offseason (regardless of whether the Bucs claw their way to a division title).
The terrible decision to give Mayfield the bag is now exhibit 1 for those who want to blow up the entire front office.
November 9th, 2026 at 10:22 am
We have a Mayfield problem he is regressing
November 9th, 2026 at 10:32 am
Evans played 5 games the last 2 seasons
Tell me how in the hell ,hes missed!!
Hes hurt now!!
Please stop
November 9th, 2026 at 10:33 am
We need Jalon Daniels back at the helm.
November 9th, 2026 at 10:38 am
It isn’t just Mayfield, our entire offense is sub-standard.
Penalties, WRs not getting open & dropping passes… poor pass protection and above all…poor playcalling.
If it weren’t for Bakers’s heroics, we wouldn’t have won any games at all last year.
Now that he has stopped….we can’t seem to win.
November 9th, 2026 at 10:43 am
Licht is never held accountable…resign Baker and Vea-Glazers, hire Bowles as HC – BA, retain Bowles-Glazers, Evans walks- Bowles, annual swoon – Bowles/OC, underperforming/no depth WRs – OC, Winston-who wouldn’t have….poor hapless Licht, a GM with no voice or control
Oh but wait, Licht is credited with BA (NOT the Glazers or BA puppeteering JL), Licht geyser credited for Gronk and BA (Brady was just an observer), Licht was the force behind a SB (nevermind his sub 0.500 record without BA and Brady).
That good ol bourbon sipping boy can do no wrong. As long as he hides after losses and is highly visible after wins. This franchise needs true leadership, not this vapid head scout
November 9th, 2026 at 10:48 am
Caleb Johnson had a few great throws but was mostly terrible. The difference is the Bears have a great HC/OC who knows how to scheme guys open, understands play calling. If Ben Johnson was our OC this would have been a Bucs blowout.