Baker Mayfield’s Passing Chart Vs. Buffalo
November 19th, 2025
Studying the passing chart from Baker Mayfield’s play at Buffalo last Sunday raises two questions for Joe.
Mayfield appeared healthy, or at least much healthier. He ran five times for 39 yards, his first rushes since the Bucs’ win over San Francisco.
The five rushes also tie a season-high for Mayfield.
However, the Liam Coen dink-and-dunk offense is still very much in effect for the Bucs, even though Josh Grizzard is calling the plays and Coen is in Jacksonville.
Coen rarely had Mayfield throw for over 20 yards past the line of scrimmage. Grizzard had vowed to open up the offense more but in recent weeks that really hasn’t been the case.
Or is that because of injuries?
Star rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka didn’t have a huge impact in Buffalo. It’s likely because Egbuka is now the No. 1 receiver with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin sidelined.
Joe always thought asking a rookie to be the No. 1 receiver and carry the passing game is a tall task for anyone, even a stud like Egbuka.
Just maybe, the Bills shut down longer passing lanes on the Bucs, and that is why Mayfield had but one attempt past 20 yards last Sunday?
But to be fair, the offense wasn’t the problem. It was the porous defense giving up big plays left and right.
Up next is Todd Bowles’ kryptonite, Sean McVay and his hot-as-fire quarterback Matt Stafford.
Oh, boy.
November 19th, 2025 at 9:07 am
Grizz sucks as a play caller. Also Todd Bowles sucks, as a HC and DC. Outdated defense, and he’s too stubborn to change anything.
November 19th, 2025 at 9:17 am
Most football players will tell you if they get a hand on the ball they should catch it. Easily we could have had 5 more completions. Sometimes when it rains, it pours. The rain always ends. Then the sun comes out. I’m ready for this rainy weather to end.
November 19th, 2025 at 9:23 am
Mayfield has few to throw it to and little time to get set in the pocket. Passing plays this year mean that Baker has to extend and improvise and hope a receiver gets open. The collection of little guys old and new has been a challenge for the passing game.
November 19th, 2025 at 9:27 am
Everyone since Detroit has been playing a smothering man against us, nobody gets separation
November 19th, 2025 at 9:32 am
After the next huge embarrassing failure in LA, up next is the Cardinals.
Brisset threw for over 450 yards on Sunday. He might get 650 vs the Bucs.
That is a home game in front of fans that have had enough of Bowles.
It could get really ugly if that game gets away from us.
6-6 is a real possibility with the Swiss cheese defense of Turtle Todd.
November 19th, 2025 at 9:45 am
I’m still pissed at Bowles and his crappy defense for letting us down against the Rams which if we would have won we were SB bound. Bowles hasn’t learned how to adjust he has no side line spirit he is just a wanna be HC.
November 19th, 2025 at 9:50 am
Relying on Shepherd and Tez Johnson who barely weihts 160 pounds REALLY- that’s a recipe for disaster. But GRIZZARD doesn’t have options because Evans Gidard McMillan, there top 3 receivers are not available until late into the season.
Rookie receivers are learning how to play in the NFL GETTING our top 3 receivers back will change everything for the offense. Add Becky and the offense can make the Bucs a very feared team.
If adding them doesn’t change the outcome than you can lay the blame on GRIZZARD.
Giving them time to mend should make a huge difference.
November 19th, 2025 at 9:52 am
Don’t think it is injuries. Mayfield easily launched a ball deep into the stands after one of his TD’s.
November 19th, 2025 at 10:01 am
the lack of pass rush is really hurting us and the talent we have trying to rush the passer…
yaya is the “almost” captain!!!
reddick has conned the Licht…similar to R. Gregory
SB DL had shaq, suh, vita, jpp…now we have nelson, hall, vita, yaya…HUGE DIFFERENCE!!!!
im frustrated with the defense just like everyone else…players have to do their job and not play hero while coaches have to put them in position to be successful…
our goals are still in front of us
GO BUCS!!!!
November 19th, 2025 at 10:22 am
Emeka has dropped a troubling number of passes.
Sadly we are at a “ hope” stage in this torturous season, a slow death
November 19th, 2025 at 10:43 am
I’d be more curious to see the routes run on those passes. Was there anybody going deep and Baker chose to check down due to coverage?
November 19th, 2025 at 10:44 am
I think the Bucs are still having trouble getting separation and that combined with the high winds made taking deeper shots more treacherous. And since the running game was working why be careless? The Bills are much better against the pass than against the run so I think they played it smart offensively. If the Bills were more prone to busted coverages like the Bucs are, then I think it would have been worth taking some deep shots.
November 19th, 2025 at 10:54 am
Does anybody think McVay and his offense lacks “killer instinct”?
November 19th, 2025 at 11:15 am
Bowels failures as a defensive coordinator is nothing new. This defense has been below average to much below average since the 2001 season. What has happened in the last two games should not come as a surprise to ANYONE, least of all, Licht and the Glazers.
Wake up Honchos! 8 to 10 wins in a weak division is as good as it is EVER going to get under Bowles. There is NO chance of Bucs getting to the next level. Bowels is a liability! What does it take for you to see that?
November 19th, 2025 at 11:17 am
Picking @ 19
November 19th, 2025 at 12:46 pm
There are many ways to beat “smothering” man coverage. Grizz hasn’t shown the chops.
Play action, mesh concepts (as long as Shepard isn’t blowing guys up) , RB wheel routes on a LB (worked pretty good for Tucker in Buffalo) … on that note why isn’t Rachaad running some routes out of the backfield.
Culp is there… we have options for different looks and we have guys who can beat their coverage. I just see no creativity.
November 19th, 2025 at 1:16 pm
Honest question because I’m not an offensive coordinator: Do coaches have access to a live version of this passing chart throughout the game?
If so, my big take-away would be to continue to throw to the left side of the field. That’s a lot of green, no white, and no red over on that side.
Those results would be different for each game, of course, but don’t they look at the data after each drive and go “Gee, Josh, seems to me the left side of the field is really working, huh?”
November 19th, 2025 at 1:52 pm
Extremely windy day, receivers seemed to have issues judging the ball — plus the Bucs could run the ball at will. I don’t really take anything from this one, the offense played a good game overall, but that’s more about the Bills being terrible vs the run. Much more interesting to see what Baker does vs the Rams, that should be a better judge, in particular if Bucky is back – and who knows, maybe Godwin is back as well.
November 19th, 2025 at 1:53 pm
SB~LV Says:
November 19th, 2025 at 10:22 am
Emeka has dropped a troubling number of passes.
——-
No, he hasn’t dropped a ‘troubling’ number of passes.
November 19th, 2025 at 3:40 pm
I thought we could beat Buffalo but didn’t expect out defense to carry over it’s putrid play. I have no hope for the Rams but will still hope for the best. Stafford isn’t the most solid QB so injury is still possible. That would even things up considerably.
November 19th, 2025 at 7:15 pm
Grizzard is just like Bowles- no feel for the flow of the game. Hence all our terrible 3rd down, 4th down and 2 pt conversion play calls…
November 19th, 2025 at 7:41 pm
Maybe it is the receivers. Maybe Brandin Cooks could help.