Mina Kimes

Is this the week that 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 went 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 each week, having your offense average just 20 points a game is not conducive to winning football games, 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 of the offensive struggles.

“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 just 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, 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. And 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 we also have to remember Mayfield himself was banged up. He got bounced around in Detroit and he 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. So he hasn’t been 100 percent, either.

The Bucs may be at a crossroads. The pass defense is just 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.