“Benchmark Game For Bucs Offense”
December 5th, 2025
Mina Kimes
Is this the week the Bucs offense finally comes out of hibernation? Or is this the week there is panic in the streets?
As Mina Kimes broke down the slimy Saints-Bucs game on her podcast, she struggled to find the reason why the Bucs’ offense has largely been in the tank since the bye week.
Well, per Kimes’ data, the Bucs’ offense cratered beginning with the slimy Saints game in New Orleans right before the bye. In truth, the Bucs’ offense hit the skids against the Lions the week prior.
Beginning with that game, the Bucs’ offense has averaged 20 points a game. Twenty points a game would sandwich the Bucs between the Dixie Chicks and the Stinking Panthers at No. 27 in the NFL in points per game.
When your pass defense is getting boatraced weekly, having your offense average just 20 points a game is not conducive to winning football, especially in December.
(For the season, the Bucs average 23.3 points a game, No. 17, middle of the pack.)
Kimes seems to think Baker Mayfield’s production has nosedived and that is the root issue.
“There’s a few things you could point to in terms of the reasons why [the Bucs’ offense is in a funk],” Kimes said. “But I’m looking at Mayfield here. I mean, it was just interesting to go back and watch some of the throws he made in [the first slimy Saints game]. And since Week Eight, Baker, Mayfield has been 30th in DVOA under pressure, and 30th in average depth of target.
“So he’s not pushing the ball downfield the way he obviously was.”
Joe believes there are several factors involved. As Kimes noted, Mayfield is being pressured more. Is that because opponents aren’t scared of Cade Otton, Sterling Shepard and Tez Johnson, thinking all they have to do is take Emeka Egbuka out and get after Mayfield and the Bucs are shot?
Joe thinks it is a combination of things all stemming from the offense being ravaged by injuries. Name a quarterback whose numbers wouldn’t be off if they lost three of their top four receivers, a No. 1 running back and had the offensive line shuffled every two weeks?
Fortunately for the Bucs, they are getting healthier.
Still, Kimes didn’t sound as if she’s sold the Bucs will win the division. She believes the Bucs better find a way to get the offense in gear or it may be too late.
(Kimes is very skittish about “coverages” in the Bucs’ defense.)
“For me, this is kind of a benchmark game for this Bucs offense,” Kimes said. “As we kind of head down the stretch, and the Panthers and them are kind of locked in it at the moment towards who’s going to win the NFC South.
“Like, can we see a little bit more offensive consistency from the pass game? Because I don’t know. I just feel like … this is under-commented on. Maybe, maybe it’s because of the injuries?”
Joe thinks it’s important to remember Mayfield himself was banged up. He got bounced around in Detroit and sure looked hurt at New Orleans. Then Mayfield got bounced around again against New England and the Bucs went ground-and-pound in Buffalo, in part, because Mayfield was banged up.
The Bucs may be at a crossroads. The pass defense is a nightmare and the Bucs’ offense is disjointed. That’s not exactly how a team wants to be playing in December unless they have early-January reservations in Tulum.
December 5th, 2025 at 6:13 am
protecting his shoulder i suppose. all he needs is another wideout that can bully coverages
December 5th, 2025 at 6:35 am
Bigger bench mark game for the defense if you ask me. We’re going against a rookie QB at home on a very bad team. If this defense gives up plays to Tyler what’s his name, we got bigger problems than Baker. Even if we win the game 300 yards passing, and two TD passes like last week is not going to take us far if we make the playoffs.
December 5th, 2025 at 6:37 am
“Is this the week that the Bucs offense finally comes out of hibernation?”
I don’t know. Is this the week that Mike Evans comes back?
Until that happens, we won’t know the potential of this offense.
December 5th, 2025 at 6:40 am
Continue to improve, get back more pieces and put the game away.
Buc 27-13
December 5th, 2025 at 7:03 am
The Bucs’ depth on both sides of ball is not very deep.
I suppose that’s true for most teams.
Without Evans, Godwin, Irving and starting Guards, the Offense struggled, and Mayfield played hurriedly which affected his decisions and accuracy.
Last game there were 2 costly drops by receivers.
The Bucs’ D is not the same without Kancey and Dean. And even Reddick helps, though he doesn’t show up statistically.
Bucs’ offense will need to score 28-30 points a game to win in playoffs.
With the weapons coming back, it really comes down to Mayfield’s performances.
Can he please stop with the “happy feet”?
December 5th, 2025 at 7:04 am
A forgotten weapon is RW1 who had 6 td’s last year and 0 this year. The Td called bast last week, hopefully will open some eyes. Could this be one of the things bowles was thinking about when he gave Tom Moore a game ball?
December 5th, 2025 at 7:09 am
The oline just hasn’t been solid. That includes Wirfs.
December 5th, 2025 at 8:01 am
Kiddy table game for the Bucs
December 5th, 2025 at 8:08 am
Maybe missing his top 3WRS starting RB and 2 Offensive linemen every game during this 20pts streak has something to do with it ..just a hunch .
December 5th, 2025 at 8:36 am
Yes, the top WRs for the Bucs have been injured for most of the season. But many of the games the Bucs lost could’ve been won with better offense play. Baker could’ve made some better throws and been more accurate. That being said hes definitely not the problem…or at least not the biggest problem.
Can Baker and the offense make the plays that can be made? His WRs need to help him out and catch the ball and get open more. At least Grizz stopped calling a screen every other play…for one game at least.
December 5th, 2025 at 9:02 am
It seemed as though Baker did have a rough patch, but the last game he came back and with a hurt shoulder. It also is because of not having Mike, Chris, Bucky, and others too plus another new OC. Baker is doing pretty good being that he has had several different OCs in his career. He could be an OC.
December 5th, 2025 at 9:10 am
Yes, I think likely most if not all of the above. Baker, playing hurt, receivers out, o line out, running back out. Hopefully, CG an BI, O line back,really help. However, yes it seems the o line while nearly back in tact is having protection issues. With that said, the defense is the bigger problem or lack thereof.
Yes Reddick really helps, but I can’t understand why McColumn isn’t benched, he is really hurting the team. It is the same each week. This week you can count on the Saints rookie QB to complete a large percentage of his passes. He already is doing well in that area and this week it will be pitch and catch against McColumn again. MLB is a huge problem and Winfield only makes casual appearences. Poor tackling is often talked about , but little changes there. The why is a real good question.
Anyway, yes if the offense can’t come around to at least 25 points a game this team is doomed . Please don’t kid yourself , while the Bucs should handle the Saints, don’t count on it. Ronde said it last week. The team looks like it is playing scared and not to lose. Yes it would be nice to see the Bucs absolutely clobber the Saints. However, we are just not seeing that from this team. It really needs to happen Sunday, clock is ticking fast
December 5th, 2025 at 9:34 am
Offense has plenty of excuses.
The Defense on the other hand has ZERO!
Like the kids say it nowadays “THE MATH AIN’T MATHING!”
Captain Guru has lost his way.
December 5th, 2025 at 9:37 am
Welp, offense barely showed up in our last game against the Saints. 1st TD came to start the second half and caused a turnover that ended up leading to the only points New Orleans scored.
We held Shough & Rattler to a combined, 32-51, 264 yards, 0 TDs, 2 INTs, 5 sacks and a Rattler fumble.
Offense on the other hand, had 10 drives that went for 1 TD, 3 FGs, a fumble, turnover on downs, and 3 punts. Not to mention that game being a shining example of our performance in the redzone, or on short yardage situations in general.
So I’m with Mina, we need walk into this game looking to fine tune w/e isn’t helping us win games in all 3 phases. There’s been enough bad to go around for everybody to get some heat except for Tykee and maybe Money McLaughlin
December 5th, 2025 at 9:59 am
If the Bucs are going to light someone up, on paper it would appear that the Saints are low hanging fruit but the Bucs usually for whatever reason, always have issues with playing the Saints at RJS and the game is either a dogfight or on occasion the Bucs come out flat and get boat raced like they did 2 years ago resulting in the Bucs having a must win game at Carolina with a crippled Baker at QB. I think the Bucs wins but the Saints play dirty and Bowles’ D does not know how to step on an inferior opponent’s neck as was illustrated last week.
December 5th, 2025 at 10:18 am
She struggles to understand why the Bucs have been struggling in the passing game because she doesn’t do enough research. Also, like Greg Rosenthal, she has long had a disdain for Baker and would love it if his career was to implode. Injuries across the entire offense including Baker is the obvious reason for the struggles and it shouldn’t take too much research to discover that for a so called professional analyst on NFL football. As far as this being a benchmark game, let’s hope we can get this win this week. The cavalry is on the way but it’s not all here yet. We’re still waiting for Evans and McMillan and when they arrive, they still will have to settle in. Let’s hope Baker can keep from aggravating that shoulder and that Wirfs is not going to miss any time. Seems like everyone is assuming he’s going to be fine but who knows, it’s an oblique injury.
December 5th, 2025 at 10:18 am
This game is so important!! I hope someone gets the players fired up to play! The Bucs need vast improvement on both sides of the ball and ST too! If they play like they want to win, all will be good. It’s about making plays, making tackles, dominating the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, controlling the clock by sustaining drives, scoring in the red zone, and playing penalty free!! Do these things 3x more than the Saints and get a W!
December 5th, 2025 at 10:27 am
Liem Cohen isn’t walking through that door any time soon.
December 5th, 2025 at 10:37 am
offense been trash since SanFran
but all i hear is excuses for the offense and blaming bowles and the defense
GO BUCS!!!!
December 5th, 2025 at 10:53 am
If injuries are not a reason for why the offense has been inconsistent and the defense and Todd Bowles bear no responsibility then one can only conclude that the offense should be able to get the job done minus their best players and without coaching, no excuses!
December 5th, 2025 at 12:19 pm
“but all i hear is excuses for the offense and blaming bowles and the defense”
This has been the case the last few years and it’s as predictable as Grizz running 4 verticals concepts on 3rd & 2.
December 5th, 2025 at 1:50 pm
Anyone that starts a sentence with the word Like should not be listened to seriously.
She is an absolute imbecile that relies on stats produced by other people then spouts them as her own thoughts without any working knowledge of the game.
Not sure why we need to be exposed to that sort of nonsense on this blog.
Fire Bowles now!
December 5th, 2025 at 2:46 pm
The Lions gave the rest of the NFL the blueprint on stopping Bucs O. Pressure the a-gap and don’t overcommit so Baker can scramble. Of course Bowleszo and his deer in the headlights don’t / can’t / won’t adjust. And we already know the Bowleszo defense is a lost cause and will loaf their way to Aruba as soon as the regular season ends.