Neutered Baker Mayfield
November 10th, 2025
Key Baker Mayfield challenge revealed.
Joe doesn’t believe in coincidences in the NFL. So Joe is convinced there is a connection between Baker Mayfield and the Bucs’ offense becoming stagnant.Ke
Please do not misunderstand. Joe is a big Mayfield guy. One of the best things that has ever happened to the Bucs was his signing. And no, Joe is not saying Mayfield is the reason the Bucs have stunk on offense the past three games. This team would be royally screwed without him.
Since the Detroit game, Mayfield’s been neutered.
Mayfield would run maybe three or four times a game for first downs. The plays were not designed runs. Mayfield ain’t no Michael Vick. But when the offense broke down or receivers weren’t open, Mayfield took matters into his own hands and got key first downs.
That has vanished since the loss at Detroit. Mayfield later admitted the Lions put a spy on him to prevent him from hurting them with his feet.
Yesterday, Bucs coach Todd Bowles was asked again, like he was on the Ira Kaufman Podcast over the bye week, about Mayfield no longer running and he basically brushed off the question as a non-issue.
“If they’re taking [Mayfield’s scrambles] away, we’ve got to get open and we’ve got to block better,” Bowles said. “It’s not about Baker being a runner. He’s not a runner – he can make some plays with his feet, but he’s a passer.
“We’ve got to block it better, we’ve got to coach it better and we’ve got to play it better.”
The same thing happened in New Orleans, where Mayfield wasn’t his normal self. Mayfield didn’t say if the slimy Saints were spying him or not. Per the CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson, who worked yesterday’s game, Mayfield told the CBS broadcast team he was playing at 50 percent health in recent weeks. Officially, he’s been battling knee and oblique issues but has been practicing.
Either Mayfield is still a bit injured, defenses are spying him, or the Lions put out something on tape to lasso the Bucs’ offense that the slimy Saints and the Patriots have copied.
Mayfield’s feet were a key reason why the Bucs were scoring points and extending drives. That’s gone now. And so too, is the Bucs’ offense.
November 10th, 2025 at 3:57 am
Baker was off many times on passes against the Pats, simple throws that just were off target. As far as him running, we all love to see the results, but we also know, it can come with a nasty price. Baker has not looked the same for the last 3 games and it is more than not running as much. For whatever reasons, this has been how he has played through out his career in the NFL. He can look like an MVP and sometimes the opposite. Bucs need the Good Baker. Joe you used to talk about Good Jameis and Bad Jameis. Well it is not quite like that extreme, but it reminds some of “Americas Q” W eating Jameis.
November 10th, 2025 at 4:01 am
Got to block it better, coach it better, play it better. Someone hit the needle on this broken record! Todd, you had two weeks to coach it better. Your defense got gashed for 4 game changing plays. Want to coach it better? Bench Dennis, he’s garbage. He defended one pass today, his only play of the day. After that he was chasing RBs from behind, because he can’t fit the right gap. He’s given up explosive plays all season, and your response is, he’ll get better. He hasn’t. Bench him, send a message. That’s what a good coach would do. How does Vrabel have his defense so sound after half a season, while your defense has bigger busts that Dolly Parton? Give one of your assistants a chance to call the defense. You ain’t the genius, defensive guru you think you are. Far from it.
November 10th, 2025 at 4:05 am
He’s def playing injured. I hate it. But he delivered some dimes today and looked like he was ready to block for Egbuka if he decided to run to the corner of the end zone on that TD attempt. But thats Baker. And thats the price you pay for laying your body out there. Hopefully he heals by playoff time.
November 10th, 2025 at 4:22 am
Bowles ain’t wrong. But, Baker still needs to be better. I believe he would be with a much better pace of play and some damn tempo. Baker is a rhythm-QB and there’s NO freakin’ RHYTHM. He’s not the same “Good-Ole Bake” with this SLOW sheet we’re tryin to run. He’s probably not getting any healthier, so they’ve all got to help HIM OUT!!!!
November 10th, 2025 at 4:30 am
Absurd reading this nonsense from August1976Buc. All these football geniuses assured us last year that Mayfield’s problem was interceptions and fumbles. This year he has had 2 INT’s and one of those was a simultaneous catch taken away by a defender on Cade Otton. In short, a bad call by the refs. It is obvious that Baker is playing hurt and further obvious that the deeper routes are not open. Maybe it has something to do with multi million dollar receivers not playing because of their own injuries? Finally, the O line has been a mess all year and Bucs had 2nd or 3rd string offensive guards playing Sunday. Mayfield is tough but watching today Detroit’s Goff in the pocket with time to eat a sandwich looks a lot different than Baker struggling to keep a play alive. Incidentally, Tucker looked really good today. He needs to see the ball more often. Probably has greater speed than either White or Bucky.
November 10th, 2025 at 4:43 am
I think you’re spot on, Joe. Has to be injuries. Watch Baker’s body language out there. Not the same, not the fire.
November 10th, 2025 at 5:03 am
Offense hasn’t been as crisp lately, granted, but defense was the problem yesterday. Dennis is terrible
November 10th, 2025 at 5:16 am
is anyone here thinks we even have a backup for baker? Hate to say it but where is Trask at least he knows the system or we can have a broken Bridgewater really
November 10th, 2025 at 5:18 am
Seems like everyone sees Dennis as a weakness except bowles.
November 10th, 2025 at 5:20 am
You can’t set up the long ball when your OL is a sieve.
November 10th, 2025 at 5:32 am
The wooden Indian was out coached by the Patriots coaching staff.
Bucs defense was atrocious.
November 10th, 2025 at 6:20 am
If there’s a spy on Mayfield then there is one less in coverage or the pass rush.
November 10th, 2025 at 6:30 am
If there is a spy on Baker then should not that create a mismatch elsewhere? Just curious….
November 10th, 2025 at 6:33 am
the bucs have almost no threats. no bucky threat, no rushing threat. no long ball threat, no OC threat, and now no baker scrambling threat? couldnt even get close enough often enough for one threat cha$e to make it closer. riley was too busy.
November 10th, 2025 at 6:35 am
Something is wrong with BAKER. He’s hurt or something. He did not even try to run.
November 10th, 2025 at 6:37 am
He did fine. Blame the defense for 2 long runs and a pass for tds
November 10th, 2025 at 6:41 am
Cfl ends sunday and is a pass happy league. Check out Keon hatcher sr.. BC lions
November 10th, 2025 at 6:42 am
Plus they’re boxing themselves in. Take the top off the defense early in each game lizzard!! Wtr it’s getting ugly to watch. You’ve got a couple fast guys let’s go
November 10th, 2025 at 6:44 am
I’d bring in scrubs for the next 2 weeks. Give all the starters off to heal. We need the scrap dog back for the playoffs. I really think if this team is healthy, they can play w anyone.
November 10th, 2025 at 6:47 am
What’s not gone is that Evans, Godwin and Bucky will be be back late in the season to help the Bucs and Baker have their top weapons to open up the offense and force defenses to pick their poison.
Hopefully the wounded Calvary returns and makes the Bucs a Super Bowl contender that many sports analysts contend.
November 10th, 2025 at 6:49 am
Since Det, everyone is playing man against us, and it’s working. There isn’t enough time for people to get open
November 10th, 2025 at 7:01 am
And there has to be someone who can stand their ground better than Feeney. He was manhandled yesterday.
November 10th, 2025 at 7:02 am
We need Godwin and Bucky back, that is all. As soon as they come back it opens the playbook, as much as we want to say we have some great players this offense needs Bucky. It’s no coincidence that when he got hurt our offense suffered, and it’s obvious baker is still banged up but he was hitting some dimes and there were drops so can’t blame baker so much on that.
November 10th, 2025 at 7:04 am
Whats the surprise? No Evans, No Godwin, No Bucky, No MacMillan. Its not magic. Add in the decimation of the O-Line and there is nothing shocking about any of this. The fact that they played as tight as they did is amazing.
November 10th, 2025 at 7:18 am
If Bakers’ non running status continues, the defense will either carry the team or it wont. Jason Licht should have traded for Jordyn Brooks and he will rue his decision not to.
November 10th, 2025 at 7:27 am
The oline is getting blown off the ball nearly every pass play. It’s that simple
November 10th, 2025 at 7:39 am
It is pretty obvious that Baker simply has been told not to run in any circumstances. Assuming it is a health issue….but it has turned Baker into 1998-1999 Dan Marino….
November 10th, 2025 at 7:41 am
Baker couldn’t get 3 yards in 2 downs on the most important drive of the game. Whatever the reason, thats not good enough obviously. He can definitely run for 3 yards. The play calling and execution was very bad.
November 10th, 2025 at 7:43 am
The baker vibe was definitely off yesterday, earlier in the year there was ni doubt that if he got the ball we would score. Sunday it was mostly doubtful, partly dreary with a chance of scoring.
November 10th, 2025 at 7:44 am
Maybe is the coaching staff that was carries by Mayfield till now, and the moment he has an injury they cant figure out how to help the team because they are probably the most incompetent coaching staff in NFL. The absolut worse in the league. The rock bottom. Our coaches should be truck
Drivers and cybersecurity intern as you love saying over and over again.
November 10th, 2025 at 7:46 am
It’s man coverage with a spy
November 10th, 2025 at 7:54 am
Put in The Widowmaker, Bridgewater, accept our inevitable mid-season swoon, and have Baker come back complete for a playoff run. While I agree with your sentiment Joe (Baker got us here), Baker looks bad atm and it ain’t just his lack of scrambling
November 10th, 2025 at 7:55 am
He’s just not that good and Licht better be very careful before he gives Baker $45M per season for 5 years.
November 10th, 2025 at 8:01 am
He’s forcing the ball a bit too much also. To Cade and Mek. But, I also understand why. His offensive line is failing him big at times. Even Wirfs. D line is failing. We lost this game in the trenches point blank. And out coached. And not just Bowles but Grizzard too.
November 10th, 2025 at 8:04 am
Bowles is correct. If a defense is devoting a player to spy Mayfield, that should help to make it easier for the play to be successful since there will be one less defender in coverage.
November 10th, 2025 at 8:06 am
Neutered or just periodically inconsistent as always.
There’s no magic bullet.
Bucky coming back doesn’t fix our level of execution.
Godwin or Evans wouldn’t raise our level of execution.
We’ve struggled(at times) with all those guys available and in the line-up the last 2 seasons.
The misnomer, was thinking the chaotic ways we were winning games to start the season was a sustainable way to go about winning football games every game.
Now, that we’re not getting the same “magic” on offense, the unit and the OC are being exposed for how they’ve always looked in every single game with the exception of 1 game.
The further we get from the Seahawks game the more it looks like an outlier, than it does a standard of operation for this offense.
Playing calling is crap. That 2nd to last drive, you pass the ball on 3rd & 3 than pass again after an incompletion on 4th down.
IF you knew you’re in 4 down territory, then why don’t you try to close the gap with a run on 3rd, to take advantage of knowing we’ve been blitzed to oblivion on 3rd down the last 3-4 weeks.
At least Payne Durham got his 2nd target of the season, smh
November 10th, 2025 at 8:24 am
Limited weapons available, oline injuries/ pass protection issues, qb not 100% healthy; what do we expect? If anyone watched the Steelers and Chargers game last night, both qb’s were under a lot of pressure. As a result, their stats lines were pretty bad, especially Rodger’s. I believe both were healthy and Herbert’s no statue and proved it a few times. So for the Bucs, the offense is just not firing on all cylinders for the above mentioned reasons. We can only hope that they will get healthy and round into good form.
November 10th, 2025 at 8:34 am
Mike Evans is missing, too. Baker is not seeing wide-open receivers because he is focusing on Emeka. I counted at least four yesterday.
November 10th, 2025 at 8:41 am
Agreed, thinking Bake has some injuries going on. Not himself.
Evans being gone is a huge hole too. Along with Chris, Jalen, and Bucky.
November 10th, 2025 at 8:45 am
WBL, we struggled periodically in 2023 offensively because it was a new oc, a new qb, new pieces on the oline and no Bucky Irving. In 2024 with all the pieces in place including Evans and Godwin together it became a well oiled machine and very consistent even after Godwin went down. The only struggles were when they were both down simultaneously. Imagine what that offense would have looked like if they were both healthy for the whole season. This year’s a different story and the reasons are clear. I know that pisses off the “no excuses “ crowd but it is what it is.
November 10th, 2025 at 8:56 am
“In 2024 with all the pieces in place including Evans and Godwin together it became a well oiled machine and very consistent even after Godwin went down.”
What? We lost 4 games going into the bye last year. The first was the Ravens game Mike & Chris went down and the we skid right into the bye week with 3 more losses.
Also, we lost this game by 5 points, had we scored that final garbage TD on the offensive drive previously where we couldn’t convert for 3 yards on 2 plays this game may have turned out differently.
November 10th, 2025 at 8:56 am
We have one reciever right now that can even come close to consistently beat man coverage, no running backs that scare anybody, and we have a make shift offensive line.
Baker is screwed, and he knows it.
November 10th, 2025 at 9:00 am
Should we pick Trask back up from Quiznos?
November 10th, 2025 at 9:02 am
I’d put it more on WRs not getting open than on Baker.
But that being said — last few games Baker has had stretches where his passes have been off — no doubt. Not all game long — but all parts of the game matter.
On the other hand, this has to be the last year with Sterling Shepard — he played 75 percent plus snaps in last years playoff game and did nothing.
This year he has been either the 2nd or 3rd leading receiver in snaps each game and has again done nothing. 295 yards and 1 TD.
What did he contribute yesterday. Well, the offensive interference that took points off the board for the Bucs early in the 4th quarter. Ugly play by him.
November 10th, 2025 at 9:15 am
The Bucs problem is, there are too many stars in street clothes watching the game! Mayfield is definitely injured and can’t carry the offense like he did, and Grizzard’s scheme and play calling is not good.. Shepard’s bone head Pick Penalty really hurt!
I known it’s easy to point at the D, however they made several key stops and got a key turnover.. The secondary just doesn’t seem to be able to shut teams down.
Baker does not seem himself.. He hasn’t run in 3 games.. Spy or not, something is wrong there.. Honestly, the O-Line did not do a good job with protection and missing Bucky, Godwin and Evans has limited the offense.. The offensive scheme and play calling does not seem up to the task.. The offense stalls too many times and doesn’t seem to have answers.. The Defense can make key stops and get takeaways, but gives up way too many big plays..
Bucs still control their destiny but really need to get healthy and finish strong!
The injury bug is the problem for this team and now that Baker is not at full health, he can’t compensate for it.
November 10th, 2025 at 9:24 am
WBL, exactly Evans went down early in that game and Chris at the end and that’s when things began to go awry. I don’t know how the point could be made any clearer unless you simply want to justify your narrative blindly.
November 10th, 2025 at 9:26 am
The point is that outside of that stretch without Mike and Chris simultaneously, the offense was consistent. The problem in 2024 was the defense.
November 10th, 2025 at 9:39 am
It certainly doesn’t help having a revolving door with the O- line. How many times did Feeny get knocked on his arse? The line misses Cody. There is no cohesion with this group.
BTW, not a fan of taking Dean out just to get a rookie reps. The game has passed Bowles by. Time to move on.
November 10th, 2025 at 9:49 am
Worst Qb in the NFC I pray to god we are no longer in the top 10 ranking
November 10th, 2025 at 10:02 am
It was not Bakers performance that let us down. 23 pts is enough to win in the league. It was our Lack of Defense. Thats why we lost.
November 10th, 2025 at 10:19 am
“It was not Bakers performance that let us down. 23 pts is enough to win in the league.”
We didn’t score the 23rd point until 91 seconds left in the game, hell no that wasn’t “enough”
November 10th, 2025 at 10:28 am
WBL. It never happens in the NFL that teams score with 91 seconds left. Except that good teams in the NFL do it. It happens. Every single week. Sometimes your comments make me laugh out loud. So there’s that.
November 10th, 2025 at 10:39 am
Baker is Injured it’s obvious he won’t even try to scramble for a first down any more an that would get the offense into it Noone is getting this team hyped anymore they all go to the tune of Baker an right now Baker is off he’s Hurt an you can see it in the offense Praying things get better but Baker would have easily won this game 3rd an 4th down with 3 yards to go Baker would have got that 1st down he is Hurt I still love.baker.just need him to heal up for the Back stretch
November 10th, 2025 at 10:41 am
Oline needs to step the F up. Barton has been horrendous. Feeney is unplayable. Even Wirfs is letting up pressures and sacks now. And yes, Baker is a shell of his former self the last 3 games.
November 10th, 2025 at 10:41 am
Day 1-76 Says: “Baker is not seeing wide-open receivers because he is focusing on Emeka. I counted at least four yesterday.”
Ding Ding Ding Ding. He’s got to take what they’re giving him (and for the most part should be read PRE-snap where he’s gonna go)… Get the Yackety YAC. And, then LETS GOOOO. Keep it movin. Get back up to the line of scrimmage, and LETS GOOOO. Pace + Tempo = RYTHYM.
November 10th, 2025 at 10:49 am
What does it mean specifically that he is focusing on Emeka and not seeing open receivers? He is the number one option.
November 10th, 2025 at 11:10 am
You need to get DVR with replay… Replay, stop, rewind, and slow-mo every play, and then you can see-it, Oscar. At 21-10 in the RedZone, looked-like he had Otten wide-open in the back corner of the EndZone, but continued staring down EE the whole way underneath. Another time, he had to dump it down to Tucker (after waiting for EE to get open), when he should’ve read pre-snap that if the DB didn’t move up that he’d automatically have Shep underneath WITH Blockers. He needed to use his ‘eyes’ to hold that DB and immediately gone to Shep, instead of just staring down EE for as long as he did. I think it ended up being a ‘two-yard’ loss, maybe!? Whatever it was it sure wasn’t good. There were countless of examples. Just TAKE what they’re giving you (use your ‘eyes’ to look guys off and to manipulate the coverage). Keep-it movin’ and LETS GO. He’s got to have an idea of WHERE he’s goin PRE-snap… HELL, they’re running the play-clock down to under ‘5-SECONDS’ LEFT on literally, EVERY fricking PLAY! Geeeeze.
November 10th, 2025 at 11:24 am
It’s his groin. He can run north and south, but sideways invites more micro tears. Had it . No problem running straight , but when you deviate , ouch.. it’s also a long heal time injury … those early runs that saved us earlier may not return until next year … imho.
November 10th, 2025 at 11:26 am
“What does it mean specifically that he is focusing on Emeka and not seeing open receivers? He is the number one option.”
Progressions are built into a pass play.
Staring down a WR to force a through totally defeats the purpose of having all those other guys running routes.
1st option doesn’t mean only option, and in spite of the yardage totaled and TDs thrown, our offense was pedestrian at best.
@MelvinJunior
Correct, that was the only pass Tucker actually caught and yes it was for -2 yards, so basically a long ass handoff like most of our passes to RBs in this offense.
November 10th, 2025 at 11:31 am
Mayfield hasn’t even attempted to run ever since week 7 Detriot game. He is most definitely hurt. Between his throws being off and him not even attempting to run his body is injured. They won’t ever tell the whole story because it would help the defenses they face. He is willing to step up and help the team win when so many are injured but everyone has their limit on how much abuse and contact a body can take and it seems he has met his. Hopefully, they all heal up a couple of weeks before the playoffs and work the rust off.
November 10th, 2025 at 11:48 am
Was he hurt against Philly? The team was pretty healthy too. First half: down 24-6. He was 12/21 for 65 yards. First half against Detroit he had 40 yards passing and was down 14-3. He was scrambling that game. Watching that game last night Herbert would kill for the players Baker have on offense right now. Tampa line RN looks like the 90s Cowboys line compared to what Herbert has to work with. Not to mention a first round rookie wr on pace for 1400 and a TE on pace for nearly 70 grabs. Baker would not be a playoff QB in any other division. Hence is 16-16 outside the division the THREE years he been here.
November 10th, 2025 at 12:24 pm
Yeah he’s a bit dinged BUT
This amazement or wonder why the offense is struggling is pretty silly
ask anyone before the season began how they thought we would do if we lost
Evans. Godwin. Jmac AND bucky along with one side of the oline not very well functioning and you all would say of course the offense would be bad.
those of you saying don’t give Baker an extension – go for it. Rams and others will pounce on him in Free agency
November 10th, 2025 at 12:28 pm
Let em bake Says: “It’s his groin. He can run north and south, but sideways invites more micro tears. Had it . No problem running straight , but when you deviate , ouch.. it’s also a long heal time injury.”
Yeah, it SUCKS. I was the starting PG on my HS team (a pretty good team)’ beginning my SOPH season. And, I pulled mine during my Freshman (JV) and SOPH seasons. There is nothing you can really do about it except for burning your NUTTS OFF with “Icy-Hot” and stuff like that. The only thing that will completely ‘heal-it’ is REST. Unfortunately, Good Ol’ Bake is not afforded that luxury right now, at this point in the season. What really sucks though, is once you ‘pull-it’ it can become a perpetual problem from here one out, in future seasons ahead. He’s going to have to REALLY take care of it all off-season, and literally, stretch-it out as FAR and as HARD as he possibly can… And, I’m talking “Cartoonishly” HARD. I ‘thought’ I had stretched-it well-enough going into my SOPH season, but I guess, I didn’t. So, I went overboard with it all during my Junior year (so much so, that my best-friend, the starting SG, would literally ‘laugh his ass off’ at me – but I didn’t care LoL)… And, I never had the first problem again! It. SUCKS. And, I didn’t want to have to go through another season like that!!!! I wonder if Bredeson pulled HIS yesterday, too!? Cause, THAT was nastyyyy.
November 10th, 2025 at 12:33 pm
Mike Buc: Stafford will be a starter in 3 years if he doesn’t retire. Baker will not be. It’s always a excuse. This team, that team, he was hurt this year, that year,his supporting cast,etc. New coach,new coordinator blah,blah,blah excuses I’ve never heard before. He has EE, Otton and the team ran for over 110 yards and 5+ per carry. You have a rookie first round WR who despite not starting every week is on pace for 1400 yards. Otton on pace for 70 grabs. The offense ran the ball for 50 yards on the first quarter. Justin Herbert would kill for these skill players and line. He still has a decent game against a rough Steelers defense..He was getting his tail kicked all game..So why was Baker dog💩against Philly in the first half/majority of the game with a healthy team? He is a.500 QB who does.500 QB things. You could win the NFC South with Flacco or Brissett at QB if you just want to go 9-8 or 10-7. This is the very definition of mediocroty.3 year??
November 10th, 2025 at 12:42 pm
Agree on the comment that stated Baker was keying on Eubeka and Otton to a point. Also on the drive that could of put us ahead on 4th and 3. He forced a pass to Otten who wasn’t that open and suffered some huge hits for his trouble. White was open in the flat with nearly ten yards of green to work with. Love Baker but,
IMO this was the best time for his checkdown in the whole game and would have
kept us in the game. Bad decision on Baker’s part.
November 10th, 2025 at 12:47 pm
It’s obvious his oblique injury is not 100% yet I don’t know if any of you guys sitting here have tried to throw a ball especially with any velocity with oblique strain tear or whatever it is it takes a long time to get it fully healed and every week extends the recovery when he has to play it’s impairs to get Bucky back in the game ASAP to take off pressure on Baker that’s it it’s pretty simple it’s obvious the last several games he’s not been able to do what Baker’s known to do throw deep throw accurate scramble and run effectively that oblique injury occurred at the bottom of a pile when he got sacked not on a run go back and look unfortunately we’re having to deal with this hopefully by next week Bucky’s back in and relieve some of the pressure on Baker and he can get back to his regular self down the stretch. GO BUCS!
November 10th, 2025 at 1:09 pm
Bottom line, If 2 passess would have been caught on the second to last drive, and they were good throws, we could have easily won. And that’s against one of the best teams in the league. That is with a makeshift line and best RB and 2 best receivers out. IF we can get healthy in time this team will be hard to beat come playoff time. We need to get healthy🤞🏼
November 10th, 2025 at 1:17 pm
The thing Cobb conviently forgets is that the OL is terrible and if a few more passes were caught we would have won. D*** son do you want Mayfield to catch his own passes? The team has to preform when it matters most and they haven’t done that. If they would have we would have won. Cobb you act like other QB don’t make bad throws or have bad games. Try to be realistic in your assessments. Baker had a 106 passer rating. Maye had 86 I believe. Problem isn’t Mayfield Cobb, wake up.
November 10th, 2025 at 1:25 pm
If Mayfield felt his body could handle it, he would be scrambling…so either he is still injured to some degree…or he’s gunshy.
He doesn’t strike me as the gunshy type.
November 10th, 2025 at 1:25 pm
Oh how quick some forget Cobb. For 5 games Mayfield was doing things no quarterback has ever done against top 5 defenses, one was the top 3 and was the leading MVP. Then he was hurt in the Detriot game and he has struggled since. YOU might have forgot what we all witnessed those first 5-6 games and how special they were but most haven’t. BM6 will be back to his MVP form when he has healed up and you will look, well, wrong .
November 10th, 2025 at 1:27 pm
The team is getting healthier, and that includes Mayfield. Contrary to some opinions, I thought the Bucs played okay yesterday. They were just facing a better team (at the moment). It happens.
Come the playoffs, everything will be different.
November 10th, 2025 at 1:33 pm
Bucblind Says:
“The thing Cobb conviently forgets is that the OL is terrible and if a few more passes were caught we would have won.”
🏈 The offensive line has been pretty bad this year, but that is due to injuries. Now that OL players are getting healthy, they’ll start playing better from game to game. By playoff time, they will be among the best again.
🏈 Drops have been happening a lot, but it’s kind of to be expected given the situation…but I think you are right. Fewer drops may well have resulted in a different outcome.
The Patriots are a very, very good team this year…yet we hung in the game. As I said in another post, they were the better team…this time.
If we face them again this year, it would have to be in the Superbowl…after our team is healed up more.
November 10th, 2025 at 1:51 pm
Did Herbert still put up 220 and a WIN against a tough Steelers defense? Are the Chargers STILL 7-3 in a tough division? Would Baker be 7-3 with the Chargers?No. Would Tampa be better with the younger,bigger, stronger armed more talented Herbert? Yes. I’m tired of the excuses. You know damn well for Baker to have any success he HAS to play Chaos ball with him running around and busted plays. He cannot produce from the pocket,he struggles mightily. Clearly you don’t have Sunday ticket but Cleveland had 4 pro bowl OL and Baker routinely had one of the best lines in football and he was still a below.500Qb. But I feel ANOTHER excuse incoming. Russell Wilson got about a decade was a top tier QB in Seattle. Huge numbers, won 11-13 games a season and Seattle routinely had one of the lowest graded OL in football. Look it up.
November 10th, 2025 at 2:18 pm
Wow, he’s an average quaterback says ECC. That is truly an amazing observation on your part. It’s strange but I seem to recall Baker was the leading candidate for the MVP until his injurie(s). Winning 4 games against teams with very good defenses with last minute high pressure drives like it was nothing, never done before actually. Scrambling for first downs better than any other quarterback to keep drives alive in order to score. Making throws like a surgeon. I thought it took a really good quarterback to win 4 games with last minute drives since it had never been done before. But hey, I guess that was all an illusion on the football world. He really is just an average quarterback. He’s not really hurt. He’s just slipping back into his normal bad play. Herbert would kill for Bakers OL ECC? Its currently ranked 31st by Pro Football Network. So Justin Herbert would kill for an OL thats ranked 31st? Is that right ECC? And i guess we are to believe Baker has 12 interceptions too? Where do these people come from??
November 10th, 2025 at 2:26 pm
Bucblind: if my aunt had ⚽🏈…….” If” NE had picked off one of those throws Baker locked on EE, if Baker hits Teez on the curl route…..if the young Maye doesn’t throw that terrible pick in the end zone. See where I’m going? If Winfeild didn’t turn into Ed Reed for a year we don’t make the playoffs in 2023. Baker did things ” never done”…… huh? Like scoring 24ppg and throwing for 200 ypg and under 60% while.navigating come from behind victories against Atlanta,Houston and the Jets? Started off 3-0 against teams a combined 9-18 and needed 3 miracles to do that. And Baker gets praised for playing like crap against 3 QBs worse then him. Tyrod Taylor,Penix and a now terrible Stroud? That’s MVP to you? Or is he overrated? He falls.forward for a yard he’s Canton bound. When he stinks (often the case) he hurt, all these ppl injured and the coaching sucks. As he approaches 31 maybe,just maybe he is a experienced journeyman. Streaky, erratic, inconsistent and inaccurate.
November 10th, 2025 at 2:32 pm
Cobb Carrier, seems like I remember just last year Mayfield taking a West Coast road trip and kicking the living shlt out of Herbert and the Chargers. You need to remove that Cobb from your carrier and jam some medicine up in there. Keep us informed how that goes. It’ll be way more interesting than your lame posts.
November 10th, 2025 at 2:32 pm
Davyboy: his stats are ok. Just like his W-L record hear. The only thing record serring is the number of excuses you all make for him. This is what happened…. Philly. At home. Team was healthy. Baker was 12/21 for 65 yards and a pick. Team down 24-6 at half. Defense turned into the 2000 Ravens after halftime and Philly held on. Baker did his usual” too little too late” chaos ball when the game was decided. Since your trying to deify Baker, Russell Wilson had a OL ranked 27th or lower from 2014-2021. One time he had a OL ranked higher then 25 in his whole Seattle career, 2017. That unit was ranked #14. All he did was win 11-13 games and out up monster stats. But hey, it is what is. Baker also had high ranked lines in Cleveland too. Never met facts and logic get in the way of a good argument.
November 10th, 2025 at 2:38 pm
Kenton 🌈Smith: And Herbert has beaten Baker head to head too. Literally not one gm would take Baker over Herbert. I never a game Herbert threw for 400 yards and multiple TDS with NO running game while Baker lost despite having Chubb and Hunt combined for like 300 yards LOL. Seriously. Same thing with Dak. It was a game Dak threw for 500 and Baker threw for 165 but Cleveland won be cause they ran for like 350 yards. For 3 years I’ve seen Baker loose to Ridden, a washed Kirk Cousins, Cooper Rush(23-7), Bo Nix (26-7), a washed Derek Carr and Gardner Minshew off the top of my head. I also saw a roomie come into Tampa and bitch slap Baker in the playoffs and send him home in the wildcard round.
November 10th, 2025 at 2:44 pm
@ Erickson Cobb Carrier – Of course, there will always be the HATERS. And, the over-the-top LOVERS, who’s ‘emotional’ attachments, will expose their biases. But, I think most of us (the overwhelming majority) know exactly ‘what and who’ Baker truly is… Especially, by now. You just have to take it with a grain of salt. Since, it most always lie somewhere in the middle. He is what he is. Sometimes good… Sometimes VERY good. Other times, just plain old BAD. He is a good (but not great) ‘solid’ starting QB in the league, that can ‘win’ you some games, when put in a good position to do so… Just like a lot of other QB’s in the league. But, he can be VERY ‘inconsistent’ at best. He’s a great teammate and locker-room guy, who is a leader of MEN, and has all of the intangibles that you’d like to have. He is NOT a HOF’er. And, he’s NOT going to take you very far all by himself… Though, very few can and do. He just is what he is. A nice QB for the Bucs, for the time being. But, what HE and Cohen HAD together, was special. Seriously. I can see HIM and Cohen reuniting AGAIN… Unfortunately, it will be in Jacksonville. There will probably, become a time, where the Bucs FO will have to be wise and just walk-away! Cause, they CANNOT ‘allow’ Good Ol’ Bake to hold them hostage, by getting into a ‘bidding-war’ with the freakin’ JAGS. Cause, it could really be CATASTROPHIC being forced into OVERpaying.
November 10th, 2025 at 2:47 pm
Oh by the way. In a RECENT (yesterday) rankings the Charges line was ranked 30th and Tampa was ranked #16. Seattle with their NEW QB was ranked #15. So like I said, Her err would kill for this line. #30 to #16 is a gap. Let me guess, you know more than the guys at PFF too?!?!
November 10th, 2025 at 2:54 pm
Baker needs to stay out of the AFC. He will get crushed. Aside from Geno and Aron Rodgers he would be the oldest starting QB in the AFC. He’s a year older then Allen and 2 years older then Lamar. The competition in the NFC has stiffened up. We have just lowered expectations from the Brady era.Baker at 28-30 is not in the same stratosphere as a 43-44 year old Brady. That was a franchise guy. Even on decline. And believe me, we did not get peak Tom Brady. Don’t believe.me,lol at 2007 Tom Brady. You need a top tier guy.to get to a SB.
November 10th, 2025 at 2:56 pm
YES. 💯 ECC. Cohen SAVED Bowles JOB last season… Right after Winfield Junior saved ALL ‘their jobs’ the season before. And, I used the exact same comparison, when saying that “Winfield Junior” MORPHED into ED. Freaking. REED. that season. He sure did. Like, I hadn’t seen since.
November 10th, 2025 at 3:06 pm
We could debate it all day long so I’ll just say this, Mike Florio who started Pro Football Talk and has been a well established and respected NFL analyst for decades says “Baker is EXACTLY what you want in an NFL quarterback”. Seeing that his opinion has been regarded as some of the best in the business for several decades now and ECC is pretty much limited to JBF, I’ll go with Mike’s opinion. Call me silly but that’s the way I’m going. I’m pretty sure we are in really good hands in the quarterback department. Just can’t wait for everyone to heal up so Baker can break some more records in route to the superbowl. Average quaterback and all…
November 10th, 2025 at 3:06 pm
During Canales 1.0 the reason for all of the 4th-Quarter Comebacks to begin with, against very BADDDD Teams, was all due to Bakers-Play” throughout the first 3-QUARTERS. That is just a FACT. And, that is exactly, WHY over 95% of the whole entire FANBASE wanted to give Trask a chance in the FIRST PLACE… In order to at least SEE WHAT the hell HE could do. Had it all been “peaches & cream” with Baker, then you would’ve NEVER heard the ‘first-word’ about it, outside of just a ‘handful’ of Trask-LOVERS.
November 10th, 2025 at 3:14 pm
So Herbert has the number 30th OL and Baker has the number 31st OL and Herbert would kill do get a worse OL? You’re funny ECC. 🤣
November 10th, 2025 at 3:15 pm
NOBODY is arguing that they’d take BAKER over Herbert. At least NOT anyone, who is being serious. Or, without some kind of bias. Hell, I’d take his girlfriend’ over HIM tho LoL… Good LORD. In a freaking HEARTBEAT. I mean, Damn.
November 10th, 2025 at 3:29 pm
Okay, conspiracy time. AC/DC-loving GM Jason Licht has instructed Grizz to lay aside the run and put it all on Baker and his truncated receiving corps, get him out of the MVP chatter, and re-sign him to a “team friendly” long term deal…
November 10th, 2025 at 3:29 pm
Davyboy: your not slick. Yesterday PFF updated the OL rankings. Tampa was #16. I know that piss you off because your a BAKER fan,not a Bucs fan. The Chargers are #30. The Chargers line was ranked ” a little” higher before Alt went out with that injury a month ago. Come on man, be fair. Your looking at the same PFF article I am. Don’t lie or mislead to ” try” to prove a point. You act like everyone can’t just look it up..That’s Bush leauge stuff man. Beva man and admit you were wrong.
November 10th, 2025 at 3:54 pm
Davyboy: Superbowl this year or next under Baker? I’ll tell you ahead of time tho….next year,all 11 starters on offense will not start all 17 games. I don’t know if you cue the excuses now or next September. Mike Florio? Yeah, a unathletic,5 foot 11,2x walk on beer belly QB has ” everything” you want LOL. That’s the prototype huh? Not freaks like Allen,Herbert,Maye…..sure bud..Even the biggest Baker fan has to admit his size is a issue. Mike Florio LOL. That’s like a team following Mel Killers mock draft pick by pick for 3 rounds. Mel Kiper is a ” expert” too
November 10th, 2025 at 3:59 pm
See,I think DavyBoy and others are OU fans that came over for Baker. See, you just lied about the PFF OL articles that has Tampa OL#16. You want and need the OL to be bad so you can have a excuse for Baker. #16 ol, rushing attack ranked 12-13. EE on pace for 1400 yards and your TE on pace for 70 grabs. That’s enough to ball out and have a MVP season.
November 10th, 2025 at 5:02 pm
Oh i lied?!?! Nice try but i see a little projection going on here ECC. It was pro football network not PFF dated 11-1-25 doofus. They have played 1 game since that article. Try and pay attention. Get your names straight before you go and make yourself look dumb and desperate. So you just blew your credibility if you ever had any. So let me get this right, you think because someone is not an athlete he can’t know talent. Now I have heard it all. Conversation over. Too much projection going on here to get anywhere. So in your mind Jimmy Johnson and Mike Leach didn’t know what they were doing either because they never played?? Im sure they were 2 of the greats…but they weren’t because you say so? Wow!!
November 10th, 2025 at 5:15 pm
The game came down to 3rd an 3. I watch baker get locked in on Otton while Rashaad was in the flat with nearest man 10yds away would have been a easy first down maybe with Whites open field ability maybe pick up 10 to 15 yds at least. Baker is not making smart decisions sometimes
November 10th, 2025 at 5:51 pm
I don’t think it has anything to do with spies on most plays- Mayfield is injured and is correctly protecting himself.
And if teams are leaving a spy on him, then we should have guys running wide open down field.
The truth is Mayfield’s legs saved our bacon many times this season (just like last season). Huge 3rd and 4th down conversions on game-winning drives came from his legs. And our record this season reflects this:
When Mayfield runs for positive yards: 5-1
When Mayfield doesn’t run and gain yards: 1-2
November 10th, 2025 at 6:14 pm
ECC, bush league is publicly calling someone a liar when you yourself can’t read or remember what you read or worse yet, lie yourself, hoping the person you are lying about doesn’t catch being called a liar. Thats the very definition of bush league my friend and that is being very nice.🤔 you might think about that. It could serve you well in the future…
November 10th, 2025 at 6:20 pm
nate1976. I hope we sign Otten tomorrow. I like everything about his game. The ball hit him dead in the hands. Absolutely perfect. Otten catches that pass 95 out of 100 times. I know he got hit by 2 guys but rewatch it. Look at Ottens face after he dropped it. Even he couldn’t believe it. We’d have beaten them and ran the clock down under 30 seconds just like the offense had planned. Just prior to that we’d have had a first down if KamJohnson hadn’t have gotten alligator arms on a ball that perfectly hit him in the hands. Add in the missed block on 4th and 3 on the wrecked screen. On a screen the line counts to 2 before releasing their block to release and block for the screen. Instead a blitzer got through because our veteran Racchad White had a brain fart. He had to pick up that blitz and Mayfield was on to plan B. But White effed it all up. Those 3 plays were what Mayfield was talking about after the game. Completely on the offense. Baker should shoulder some blame, he’s in charge of that. Those screwups gave the ball to the Pats and we had the timeouts to get the ball back with a minute and a half left to win. Instead they busted a 69 yard run. I hope the leaders on this team can get the rest focused. Because it’s gonna take 53 guys being prepared to play football every snap and being accountable for their jobs. It will start with them being angry. Hopefully it’ll end with them being resolved.
November 10th, 2025 at 7:28 pm
Licht and Bowles have taken a Super Bowl contender and reduced it to a hope we get past the Panthers so we can get wiped out in the wild card round. Licht needs his head examined for not addind simple depth in the RB, OL, WR or Front 7. Someone, but he holds on to draft picks like Bowles does timeouts. Any thing short of a divisional round exit and id kick both to the curb. They are so sure Baker will resign long term, but other teams will throw more at #6. What will keep. Baker around long term is success. He wont stay for wild card exits. Wake up front office0
November 10th, 2025 at 7:31 pm
DAVYBOY: Your clueless and a bush leauge liar .Your article is from 11/1. The Pro football focus I took from was YESTERDAY. San Diego OL is far worse and more banged up then ours. Yet, Herbert is 7-3 in a TOUGH division and on pace for 5000 combined yards and 40 combined TDs. No baby ass excuse. And the doofus is YOU..The 5 foot 11, unathletic, 2x walk on beer belly person I was talking about was BAKER,not Mike Florio you idiot.You tried to sit up here and make it sound like Baker was the prototype QB 🤣🤣🤣lol.
November 10th, 2025 at 7:35 pm
Jeff: Baker can go! The 3 years Brady was here we finished 28,26 and 32nd in rushing. The 3 years Baker has been here 32,4,24. The defense in the Baker era gives up slightly less points then the defense under Brady. So the difference? Is QB play. The NFC South was tougher in Bradys era( didn’t even win the division the year we won the SB). Yet the bar has been lowered. SB title,championship game appearances have been replac d with 9-8+10-7 division titles in the worst division in football.
November 10th, 2025 at 9:11 pm
Baker should call plays oc is clueless also baker has to rollout go bucs
November 10th, 2025 at 9:13 pm
IF WE MANAGED TO MAKE IT TO THE PLAYOFFS AND ARE ONE AND DONE AGAIN, IT’S TIED FOR A WHOLE NEW COACHING STAFF.WE LET TONY DUNGEE GO FOR A LOT LESS. BULLS CAN’T GET US OVER THE HUMP.HE’S GONE BABY !
November 10th, 2025 at 9:33 pm
ECC, you have a hard time paying attention dont you. The clueless child is the one that “thinks” he can tell another person what article they read. I guess you have the power of osmosis? Just to save yourself the embarrassment in the future, it’s you’re not your. Sometimes it’s better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth, keyboard in this case, and remove all doubt. For the record, 99% of the football world respects what the non-athletic Mike Florio says. I guess you are the 1% that dont because you know things through osmosis. And that business of calling someone a liar when they’re not, is going to come around and bite you one day.
November 11th, 2025 at 7:20 am
With the exception of two busted plays and long runs for touchdowns, and a few deep completions, I thought our defense did a half decent job. Came up with a huge interception in crunch time as well to keep us alive.
BTW, half decent job doesn’t always equate to wins in the league. But we’ve won many games when the defense had played worse than it did last Sunday. Got to score more than the other team — simple as that.