Baker Mayfield Has Been “Right”
November 18th, 2025
Always about the QB.
Joe often points to Emeka Egbuka, the star Bucs receiver, as something that has gone right for Tampa Bay.
Where would this Bucs team be without Egbuka? Pretty fair chance the Bucs are looking up at the Stinking Panthers in the NFC South if the Bucs passed on Egbuka in the draft.
The Bucs offense has been almost destroyed by injuries. Sunday was one of the better days because, finally, the Bucs’ running game got on track.
There were signs Sunday’s output was coming. Sean Tucker last week became the first running back this season to run for over 50 yards against the Patriots and the team rushed for over five yards per carry. Then Sunday happened when Tucker scored three touchdowns, two on the ground, one through the air, while running for over 100 yards.
Brooke Pryor of BSPN took a look at every NFL offense to determine, among other things, what is going right. She believes it’s Baker Mayfield who has willed this offense to keep its head above water.
What has gone right? Though the Bucs’ offense hasn’t been as high-flying this season as in 2024, Baker Mayfield is still posting respectable numbers — even with a number of injuries to his line and skill position players. Entering Week 11, he ranked 10th in total passing yards and was developing a strong connection with rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka, who led the team with 717 receiving yards and six touchdown catches.
When it comes to offenses, even though Egbuka has pretty much saved the Bucs and Sean Tucker is coming alive, it always comes down to the quarterback. Always.
And the Bucs have their franchise quarterback.
Thank goodness.
November 18th, 2025 at 12:30 am
We do have our franchise qb, wish we had an actual coach also.
November 18th, 2025 at 12:55 am
But will our franchise QB be able to carry bowle’s defense on his back as well?
November 18th, 2025 at 12:59 am
It was especially heartening to see Baker back to being able to do at least some scrambling. Keeping drives alive with his feet is critical to his play. It defines him, just like it does Josh Allen.
November 18th, 2025 at 1:11 am
Baker may get a preview of his new home when he plays the Rams. Stafford might retire and the Rams already know what he can do for them. The Bucs are in a mess and Baker will likely command 55mil + and 200mil guaranteed. Bucs/Rams Rams/Bucs Unless a miracle happens here I know where I’d go. I’ve got a bad feeling about this. I think the Glazers have blown the best thing to happen here in Tampa.
November 18th, 2025 at 1:23 am
It’s a perfect scenario for Baker. He can play out 2026 here and see what happens and Stafford gets one more year before retiring. The ghost of Hugh Culverhouse is roaming 1 Buc Place. The 49ers and Steelers could come calling also.
November 18th, 2025 at 1:47 am
We may have our QB but he will never be Super Bowl material. Unfortunately. Nothing about this team currently is. Starting from our HC.
November 18th, 2025 at 2:08 am
With the starting offensive line and with Evans and Godwin and McMillain pluus Egbuka all healthy and at their best, the Bucs can probably get by throwing on third and three or second and five pretty much all of the time.
But, with it down to three starters on the offensive line and Egbuka, Tez and Shepard, the Bucs have to play to the strength of the offensive line on the field. And, that is run blocking, not pass blocking.
Compared to the Detroit and New Orleans and New England games, after two poorly called drives, there were times Bucs did make some strides calling and executing runs places in such situations. But, at critical moments, the play calling reverted to form with unsupportable reliance on failing passing when the run game was dominating. And, it was enough to cost the Bucs another win.
Granted, there were problems on special teams and defense that were also costly. But, this offense is good enough that it was on its way to overcoming all of those other team failings except for the moments when the play calling sputtered and lacked the nerve to run the ball aggressively.
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November 18th, 2025 at 2:29 am
You cannot win a superbowl with a sorry A.. Defense and special teams like we have. If Baker and his Offense score 30? I’ll bet you a paycheck the opposition scores 31
November 18th, 2025 at 5:02 am
Mike Johnson … ‘You cannot win a superbowl with a sorry A.. Defense and special teams like we have.’
In the last decade in particular Mike, there seems to have been a more pronounced ‘balance’ needed between offense & defense for teams to win the Super Bowl (ie, BOTH ranking in the Top-10).
o 2024: Eagles (offense #7 … defense #2)
o 2023: Chiefs (offense #15 … defense #2)
o 2022: Chiefs (offense #1 … defense #16)
o 2021: Rams (offense #7 … defense #15)
o 2020: Bucs (offense #3 … defense #8)
o 2019: Chiefs (offense #5 … defense #7)
o 2018: Patriots (offense #4 … defense #7)
o 2017: Eagles (offense #3 … defense #4)
o 2016: Patriots (offense #3 … defense #1)
o 2015: Broncos (offense #19 … defense #4)
Average out those rankings, and the average offensive ranking over these past 10 years has been 6.7 and the average defensive ranking has been 6.6 over that 10-year span. Actual rankings varied quite a bit for some teams obviously, but the big-picture trend seems to favor ‘balance’ at least as a goal.
Easy to notice too that ALL but 1 of the past decade’s Super Bowl winners had at least 1 side of the ball ranked in the Top-5 on either offense or defense. And the more ‘dominant’ that side of the ball was, the more it could ‘carry’ a lower-ranked other side of the ball (example: 2022 Chiefs #1 offense but #16 defense).
After 10 games this season, our Bucs have the #10 offense but the #22 defense. Still a lot of games to go, BUT … hard to imagine that a #10 defense could carry a #22 defense to a Super Bowl victory. Stranger things have happened though (2011 Giants won the SB with a #9 offense and #25 defense).
November 18th, 2025 at 5:42 am
The bad side of winning in LA with Baker having a good game will be the Rams fans will want him even more. He is still greatly loved there for the most memorable game to them of that season and its chief bright spot.
Just on that memory alone I expect him to be juiced. I would not be surprised if he gets loud cheers when he takes the field.
November 18th, 2025 at 6:47 am
Every single article being written on this sight should be focused on the appalling defense and special teams that this fraud of a coach is in charge of. He’s failing MISERABLY and he has the nerve to get up in front of the podium yesterday and declare “we’re close to putting it all together”. That alone should get him fired.
He’s a weight around the neck of franchise trying to tread water. I’m sick of the guy. I’m sick of his lack or preparation and his ridiculous schemes. He’s ruined a season that could’ve been special. Get rid of him now!!
November 18th, 2025 at 7:07 am
“Sean Tucker is coming alive!”
That means we sit him out against the Rams, right Toddy?
November 18th, 2025 at 7:18 am
Too bad Bakers under contract for next year dorks
November 18th, 2025 at 7:19 am
Too bad Bakers under contract next year dorks
November 18th, 2025 at 7:44 am
We went out to face a red hot Chargers team two years ago and gave them a smack down. But, the Rams are our kryptonite, them and Kurt Cousins.
November 18th, 2025 at 8:12 am
Wow. These guys with multiple usernames are really trying to manipulate fears.
The suggestions that Bayer Mayfield will command $50m and leave are just trying to stir the pot.
Mayfield spent years hopping around from team to team and the only team that has ever been loyal to him is the Buccaneers. He’s not going to want to kick start that mess again.
And so far as the money, Mayfield is like Tom Brady in that regard…he knows he’ll only do well if the team can afford to pay the people around him.
So, barring a new couch coming in and alienating him to the team, he’s going nowhere for at least 5-6 years.
November 18th, 2025 at 8:18 am
EE is great but I still wonder what this D looks like with Jihaad Campbell, who Eagles love for his Bowles-loved ‘versatility’ as he can play pretty much any spot they put him
November 18th, 2025 at 8:38 am
Too bad the defense and special teams are hot garbage.
Can’t win, even after rushing over 200 yards, scoring 32 points, and getting 3 turnovers…
November 18th, 2025 at 8:44 am
No good in having franchise qb without a franchise defense…we run the rock, paper and no scissors defense we beat ourselves…I wonder how many times Benjamin Morrison craps himself before Todd benchs him we can’t keep drafting rookies as scapegoats for a broken defense…
November 18th, 2025 at 9:39 am
The “broken defense” is the same one that gives Mahomes and Jalen Hurts nightmares. We’re banged up. We’re talent deficient. We lack a significant edge rush and man-to-man coverage ability.
That’s rarely a defensive play caller’s fault. What’s absolutely Todd’s fault is putting his 4-3 college DE’s (Anthony Nelson and YaYa Diaby) in positions where they need to try and cover a TE, RB, or WR.
I like Diaby, but why are we drafting undersized defensive ends and thinking we can magically make them outside linebackers capable of coverage?
GM makes a lot of bonehead moves. Drafting Vernon Hargreaves. Drafting a kicker in the 2nd and 3rd round. Drafting a punter in the 4th or 5th. Drafting numerous fullbacks instead of depth. He drafted MJ Stewart before Carlton Davis…
WHAT HE GOT WRONG (round):
2014:
TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins (2nd)
RB Charles Sims (3rd)
G Kadeem Edwards (5th)
OL Kevin Pamphile (5th)
WR Robert Herron (6th)
2015:
WR Kenny Bell (5th)
WR Kaelin Clay (6th)
FB Joey Iosefa (7th)
2016:
CB Vernon Hargreaves III (1st)
OLB Noah Spence (2nd)
K Roberto Aguayo (2nd)
CB Ryan Smith (4th)
OT Caleb Benenoch (5th)
LB Devante Bond (6th)
FB Dan Vitale (6th)
2017:
TE O.J. Howard (1st)
S Justin Evans (2nd)
RB Jeremy McNichols (5th)
DL Stevie Tu’ikolovatu (7th)
2018:
DB M.J. Stewart (2nd)
2019:
K Matt Gay (5th)
DL Terry Beckner III (7th)
2020:
DL Khalil Davis (6th)
LB Chapelle Russell (7th)
RB Raymond Calais (7th)
2021:
OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (1st)
QB Kyle Trask (4th string QB drafted in the 2nd round)
WR Jaelon Darden (4th)
CB Chris Wilcox (7th)
LB Grant Stuard (7th)
2022:
DL Logan Hall (2nd)
P Jake Camarda (4th)
TE Ko Kieft (6th)
OLB Andre Anthony (7th)
2023:
TE Payne Durham (5th)
DB Josh Hayes (6th)
LB Jose Ramirez (7th)
2024:
OG Elijah Klein (6th)
I can acknowledge that we’ve had our fair share of homerun picks too but so many of these guys haven’t even contributed as half-decent depth. Numerous picks never even made the team or practice squad.
I won’t give him credit for drafting Mike Evans because any couch potato and armchair QB in the world could have made that pick, only an absolute moron would pass him up. Nobody’s a genius for drafting Calvin Johnson, Ray Lewis, or Derrick Henry… You’re only an idiot if you pass them up.
All that said, I’m HAPPY/SATISFIED with Jason Licht as a GM. He’s done a half-decent job. I certainly don’t want him fired. I feel like we should keep that same energy with our coaching staff. Ups and downs are the nature of the business. What’s behind door #2 isn’t always greener pastures. Tampa fans should know this better than anybody.
November 18th, 2025 at 10:06 am
baker is great but its a bucs life afterall defence wins championships and while we are at it i think i will let cooper cuff run free when the game is on the line with the safety on the other side of the field ok coach who got paid
November 18th, 2025 at 10:08 am
He is not a franchise QB Joe. Please stop saying that. Nothing about him screams Franchise QB
November 18th, 2025 at 10:28 am
Defense Rules, Thanks for posting that info! I hope all the ignorant fans see it and learn that this narrative that exists that there are quarterbacks out there who have the ability to put a team on their backs and win a Super Bowl regardless of the circumstances such as bad coaching, injuries or adequately talented personnel to work with. Superheroes only exist in comic books and cartoons. Just one case in point, the 2022 Rams. They won the Super Bowl in 2021, then in 2022 they were decimated with injuries and some player departures that destroyed their season. Yes Stafford eventually would get injured himself, but they were already out of contention by then anyway. Look at what Brady had to work with in 2016, 2018, and 2020. Yes, he was integral to those team’s success but he didn’t do it by himself.
November 18th, 2025 at 10:34 am
BTW, as much as Josh Allen looked like he was wearing a cape against the Bucs, it’s pretty obvious that if the Bills don’t miraculously turn that defense around, they are going nowhere.
November 18th, 2025 at 4:27 pm
I love how ignorant some people are when they say Baker isn’t a superbowl quarterback when he has the best passer rating of all time and he has never played on a well coached team. Imagine if he ever got the chance.
November 18th, 2025 at 5:42 pm
PLAYOFF passer rating that is
November 18th, 2025 at 6:06 pm
Good lord, people are already predicting Baker to leave the only franchise that believed in him. For once, why don’t people just let things play out and see what happens?
Tampa has proven time and time again to be able to retain the players they want even when other teams are offering more money. There is a camaraderie and culture in Tampa that doesn’t exist in many other clubhouses and someone like Baker, who has seen the dark side, will certainly factor that into future decisions he makes.
All that said, the Bucs should try to lock him down, sooner, if not later, and $50 million per year might just do it if they act fast enough. Anyone who doesn’t think he is worth that is a moron or not thinking ahead to what QB salaries will be in the next 2-3 years with the ever expanding salary cap.
November 18th, 2025 at 6:17 pm
To further extrapolate DefenseRules stats, the average combination of offense and defense is they are at #13 (offensive rank plus defensive rank divided by two).
The Bucs are currently at #16 combining the two so they are going to need to improve on one side of the ball or the other.
One thing not factored in is special teams, however. The Bucs coverage team has been awful the entire season on special teams, putting the defense into piss-poor situations many, many, many times.
Too many times, the Bucs have pretty much handed the other team a field goal after a kick or punt (a.k.a. 3 points). Fix that, and the Bucs might get much closer to the 13 point average.
November 18th, 2025 at 10:29 pm
Baker is loyal to a fault. He isn’t going anywhere. He would rather stay and fight with a team that believed/believes in him. He has experienced the other side of that coin.
November 18th, 2025 at 11:39 pm
Baker has steadily improved the past few years to the point where you can definitely win a lot of games with him at QB. He has an okay OL, okay RBs, and only one truly good WR to throw to. If our WR corps were at full strength, this team wouldn’t have more than 2 losses.
The defense really is the problem. They just need a few more high quality players on that side. The injuries to key players have just been too much to handle this year.