Baker Mayfield Wants Offense To Match Bucs’ Defensive Energy
October 27th, 2025
Jealous of defense.
Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield showed why he’s a leader and why his teammates respect him so.
Mayfield knew the Bucs’ offense had better days. He noted they need to improve, without singling anyone out.
And at the same time, Mayfield couldn’t heap enough praise on the Bucs’ defense.
“It would be nice if we matched their energy and their play,” Mayfield said. “But watching [the defensive effort against the slimy Saints], that is unbelievable. That’s lights out defense.
“The only reason they got points was because of the turnover right before the half, and they were damn near in field goal range
“[Bucs’ defenders] played a shutout ballgame in my eyes. Everyone was flying around making plays, and “Nelly” (Anthony Nelson) obviously had a hell of a game.”
The Bucs defense prior to the slimy Saints game had taken chunks of progress on third-down defense until yesterday. The Bucs’ third-down defense went from allowing around a 60 percent conversion rate to 40ish against the 49ers to an absurd 23 percent against the loaded Lions.
The slimy Saints converted half of third down attempts. Not good. But holding an NFL team to 48 yards rushing and forcing so many turnovers and getting a pick-six, that’s impressive ball.
October 27th, 2025 at 9:09 am
Offense looked like it was run by Tood and the defense looked like it was being run by a competent coordinator for once
6-2
Rest up and let’s make a run to the division
R.I.P. to the Todd Blows nickname after he got them to 6-2
October 27th, 2025 at 9:12 am
Bowles haters will refuse to give credit where it’s due for the defense. Bowles could wingman these guys Sydney Sweeny and they’d still hate.
October 27th, 2025 at 9:14 am
At the beginning of the season, any Bucs fan would say they’d be happy to be 6-2 after eight games.
That said, there has never been a team more in need of a bye week than us. Get healthy, guys.
October 27th, 2025 at 9:18 am
Tackling much improved; cornerback coverage much improved Safety play outstanding. Three rookie draft choices playing significant minutes. Future is bright.
October 27th, 2025 at 9:24 am
Need to get healthy, Need to get help. hear the Steelers might be shopping Highsmith or Herbig. Also there is talk of trading Freirmuth.Two excellent edge rushers and one excellent TE. I imagine the potential cost could present problems but the fact remains there are guys out there who could help. Just sayin.
October 27th, 2025 at 9:26 am
It’s such a pleasant rarity NOT to have defensive backs playing who have no business being on an NFL team
October 27th, 2025 at 9:30 am
Jamel Dean is finally playing like a Top 5 corner. He has been flying around anytime the ball is anywhere near him.
Winfield finally looking like he is hungry.
Vea playing like an All Pro. Nelson was incredible. Parish and Smith are sure tacklers and great blitzes.
Whatever “communication” issues the Bucs had, was corrected in second half vs Lions and completely cured at the Saints game.
The issue with the offense is a lack of physical, hard-nosed play on the offensive line and Mayfield playing poorly because he has been taking too many hits and sacks.
White reminded me of how he looked running the ball in the past with the lack of commitment to hit the holes. He had the hesitation that we saw earlier in his career, where he waited and refused to run hard, instead waiting for something to open up. He wasn’t very physical yesterday at Saints.
October 27th, 2025 at 9:43 am
our first real win 🙂 nobody can say bowles is lucky he has any wins at all this year
October 27th, 2025 at 9:48 am
Jamie Erdahl just broke the Angry Runs Scepter. I guess Nellie won’t be getting it for B slapping Spencer Rattail yesterday.
October 27th, 2025 at 9:51 am
Baker should focus on his rest cause his game was awful yesterday. More then likely cause he’s hurt.
October 27th, 2025 at 9:52 am
Baker has to roll out more play calling needs a reboot line very bad after lions destroyed line formula is blitz baker because o line sucks need more imagination in play calling good luck bucs
October 27th, 2025 at 9:57 am
The D rose to the occasion!! Solid play every where! Nelson and Winfield played their best!! The Bucs O hasn’t looked so good the past couple games! Rest up, get healthy, regroup, and come back scoring 30pg!! 6 and 2 !!! Great start!! Final push needs to be great!! Both sides of the ball should come back swinging!! LFG!!
October 27th, 2025 at 9:58 am
I think our D learned a lesson watching the Lions D last week attack our offense and whoever had the ball. Super aggressive yesterday trying to force turnovers!
6-2!! Get healthy over the bye, fix some issues and let’s roll! 13-4 here we come, Go Bucs!
October 27th, 2025 at 9:58 am
What is very frustrating is that we have no idea whether we get any of our injured players back after the bye.
Godwin, Irving, Jmac (still in a brace)…….Goedeke?
It would be nice to have at least some progress report.
We fans deserve that.
October 27th, 2025 at 10:10 am
Good thing our defense really showed up yesterday. That was huge. It’s obvious the last 2 weeks Mayfield is playing injured. I had no problem with the Bucs running the ball as much as they did but, it’s how we did it that caused me to put chicken wire in front of the TV. The two goal line series calls were absolutely criminal in the lack of creativity. A simple toss pitch outside to White or Tucker or a rpo outside or a two back set with motion, anything but a Shiano-like we’re going to pound it up the middle til we get it right crap! Not sure if that was Grizzard’s doing or Bowles’ doing. Either way it was boneheaded. As some have mentioned already, we’re missing the creative motion and deceptive sets that Coen used so effectively. Even with the receivers we have available we could be far more productive than we’ve displayed. Still scratching my head as to why not more 2 back sets or 2 tight end sets in the mix. Quick hits and screens? Grizzard & Mayfield need to take advantage of this bye week and lock horns and figure it out real quick with the Patriots, Bills, and Rams looming.
October 27th, 2025 at 10:22 am
I’m intrigued: WHY has Todd continuously been of the opinion that Nelly isn’t starter material?
October 27th, 2025 at 10:29 am
Dennis is still a matador out there in pass defense far too often.
October 27th, 2025 at 10:31 am
“I’m intrigued: WHY has Todd continuously been of the opinion that Nelly isn’t starter material?”
Because he’s been a role player since we drafted him in 2019. Nelly has never been our best athlete in that OLB room, but what he has been is a solid rotational piece and player we get a lot of production from relative to his share of snaps.
Nellys’ snap count has always been between 20%-35% of our total defensive snaps. Bowles also has put him in on the interior to get him looks. 21 tackles, 12 solo, 3 TFLs, 3 sacks, 1 FF, 4 QB hits and now 1 INT-TD in just 178 total snaps which counts for 34% of our total defensive reps in 8 games. Not bad for a guy drafted 107th overall in ’19. Glue guy for sure.
October 27th, 2025 at 10:53 am
Am I the only one that thinks AWJ got robbed of 2x TD? He didn’t get touched after he completed the INT. He got touched before the catch was completed.
Anyway, my point is the Bucs D should have had 21 points while holding the Saints to 3.
October 27th, 2025 at 10:55 am
2ND THOUGHT
If you’re going to commit 4 plays to to 1 yard and Goal, why not put Vea in as RB or FB?
October 27th, 2025 at 10:56 am
if they want energy they need to stop playing white.
tucker or williams have way more energy. white is subpar and on his way out, we saw again why yesterday.
October 27th, 2025 at 11:19 am
The offense has taken a step back. I know folks are saying Baker is injured im not sure and hes out there so im going to judge him as if hes not and my complaints are more to do with the playcalling since i know were missing key pieces anyways like Bucky, Mike, Chris, Goedeke etc. The red zone offense was atrocious and has to get more creative. With that being said all of the injuries we have faced and were still 6-2 is about as excellent as the season could have gone. Jason should still go get a LB in the trade market if there is one that would be a good fit.
October 27th, 2025 at 11:35 am
Patriots have beat up on the NFL powerhouses of the Dolphins (6 point win) Panthers, Aints (6 point win), Titans and Browns
Bucs need to get healthy and beat them to get to 7 wins, they cannot afford a 3 game slide to the Pats, Bills and Rams. Need at least 1 win in that stretch
11 or 12 wins is within reach, IF they get healthy and STAY healthy
October 27th, 2025 at 12:23 pm
Bucs go 13-4.
October 27th, 2025 at 12:48 pm
folks still dont want to give bowles credit for his defense!!!!!!
and at the same time, folks dont want to hold grizz accountable for the lack of production in the offense!!!!!!
offense needs to step up!!!
defense is playing championship football!!!!!!
6-2!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
October 27th, 2025 at 12:55 pm
Energy is nice and all. But competence > energy.
Right now, the right side of the OL is better at the ole’ block than any other block. Even Tristan was getting beaten like a rented mule by Chase fargin Young.
Baker – whatever is causing you to sail your passes in the low percentage of snaps where you have time, injury or whatever, fix it. Bucs could have been somewhat competitive against the Lions if you hit those throws. Same thing yesterday. And fer goddsakes when the Deer in the Headlights is channeling his inner Bymron Leftwurst, please check to your own play. And no underthrown back corner fades to Shep or EE. Please.
That performance is ripe for a head coach to get with his deer in headlights OC, QB, OL coach and QB coach and have a fixit meeting. It’s what a head coach does. Be a head coach.
October 27th, 2025 at 1:29 pm
A 6-2 record at the Bye complete with the walking wounded offense and compromised refs speaks mountains. 13-4? Why the h3ll not?! GO BUCS!! Enjoy and heal cos you guys have earned it!!
October 27th, 2025 at 2:42 pm
Sure hope Wirfs is good! He looked bad (for him) yesterday! Seemed off physically and mentally!