Ex-QB Defends Baker Mayfield Interception
December 22nd, 2025
Yes, Baker Mayfield’s interception to end Sunday’s game was ugly, especially since it came on second down with the Bucs arguably in field goal range to tie the game.
Learn how to throw the damn ball away!
However, there’s more to the sad story.
Mayfield was dodging traffic in the pocket and he fired a strike to a Panthers defender on a 10-yard pass. Mike Evans thought Mayfield was going to be scrambling, Mayfield said afterwards, and broke off his route inside looking to block.
ESPN quarterbacks guru Dan Orlovsky, the former Bucs backup QB, ran to the All-22 film to see what really happened. In the Twitter video below, Orlovsky defends Mayfield and notes this interception was just terrible football luck, where nobody was in the wrong and only the timing of Evans’ decision and Mayfield’s clashed perfectly — for the Panthers.
Joe understands that completely, but Mayfield still leads to learn how to throw balls away.
Tough break for Bucs pic.twitter.com/pAtd8HtDws
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) December 21, 2025
December 22nd, 2025 at 9:36 am
Good explanation and you can see it clearly from this angle. Either both players were at fault or neither player was at fault. Doesn’t matter now.
December 22nd, 2025 at 9:41 am
Not on Baker or Mike.
December 22nd, 2025 at 9:42 am
Agreed
December 22nd, 2025 at 9:45 am
That’s not what lost the game. It sucked to watch, yes. It was ugly, yes. This specific play wasn’t Grizzard’s fault (for once this game), yes.
But miscommunications are what they are and at the end of the day, they happen.
That game was leading up to that ending the entire time. Grizz is done.
December 22nd, 2025 at 9:47 am
Four Panthers were looking at Baker. Evans had his back to him. Baker should never have let that pass go. He had an easy 10 yards in front of him, he should’ve ran making for an easy FG. Baker’s mojo is gone.
December 22nd, 2025 at 9:47 am
The interior of the oline played horribly, especially Barton
December 22nd, 2025 at 9:48 am
I’m so disappointed with Grizz. What happened to the best 3rd down conversion team???? Was Coen the genius one???? SMH
December 22nd, 2025 at 9:48 am
It was only 2nd down you do not risk anything you still have 2 more downs to get 7 yds ..Sorry that is on Baker for thinking.
December 22nd, 2025 at 9:48 am
Can Dan O rush the passer- Bucs should sign him
Perhaps Dan wants to be an OC for two games and see if he can do better
December 22nd, 2025 at 9:49 am
That play sums up our season
December 22nd, 2025 at 9:49 am
Baker has been playing bad football since week 7. He had a funny little run and now we are seeing why teams have moved on.
Theres a lot to like about Baker. Fun personality, ultra competitive, team dude, makes some great plays whem things break down. But..
Baker has a hard time relaxing in the pocket and seeing the field. If his first read is covered he goes into panic mode and either scrambles into a sack, throws an erratic pass or at times makes a nice run.
Itll be interesting to see what the new regime does with Baker. Im guessing its rebulid time and it should be.
December 22nd, 2025 at 9:51 am
Yeah I dont know whats up with Barton. Maybe we need a new C and push him to LG next season. I think he would be good there beside Wirfs.
December 22nd, 2025 at 9:51 am
Bucs have all their so called “PREMIER” WR’s and RB. Al weapons available and they can’t do anything against a depleted Panthers secondary… pathetic.
December 22nd, 2025 at 9:53 am
The last few years , win or lose the Bucs have been fun to watch ,, they are entertaining!!! Yesterdays game plan was not entertaining until the end (yes that includes the pick) ,, it was a game plan I thought I would never see ,,
It’s like someone said to Grizzzzz,, “Hey Coach , now that all the recievers are ready to rip , you gonna have Baker sling it all over the yard??”
Grizzz response “No!!!!!!!, that’s just what they will be expecting us to do!!! it’s ground and pound time baby, we’re gonna play not to lose!”
December 22nd, 2025 at 9:54 am
That video is really a great look into Baker’s shortcomings. He freaks out in the pretty clean pocket, never leaves Evans causing him to not see a WIDE open Otton.
December 22nd, 2025 at 9:54 am
Bah sht happens, it is what it is
December 22nd, 2025 at 9:55 am
Looks like a lot of people went to get a beverage or sandwich. Bowles told the sideline reporter exactly what he was going to do. And it was not to be passing. Bowles everyone with a brain knew Bowles was running the offense and Griz had no choice in the matter.
December 22nd, 2025 at 9:58 am
Baker had Mike dead to right at 5 seconds and didn’t make the anticipatory throw. Clean pocket and all.
December 22nd, 2025 at 10:02 am
Baker had a hard time relaxing in the pocket?! He has to get the damn ball out in less than 2.5seconds or ends up on his ass. Our O-line is atrocious and qb throws need to be timed based on anticipation, there was no risk taking, Baker threw a ball, with anticipation, where Mike was supposed to go. You can see Baker is already halfway through his motion when you see Mike start to break inside. He breaks inside half a second earlier and Baker doesn’t throw that ball. He turns outside like the play was likely designed and it’s an easy catch.
Blaming Baker just shows your bias against him.
December 22nd, 2025 at 10:04 am
True Ugo
December 22nd, 2025 at 10:06 am
Nothing wrong with Barton except for the fact he was a college LT trying to become an NFL center. Don’t blame him, blame Licht. Don’t know how you use a first round pick on a center to begin with, but one who isn’t a center? That’s your ROH GM for you.
December 22nd, 2025 at 10:06 am
Mike was open when Bakers’ back foot hit on his initial drop back(5 second mark) but it would’ve taken an anticipatory throw to allow Mike to run into the pass on the way to the sideline.
Panic mode, move the launch point, actually launch himself into the air while trying to throw a pass. Decision making? Self-discipline? Composure?
I see alot of questioning the gameplan, but food for thought is realizing that attempts to yards gained and the difference between the 2 is .4 yards.
169 yards on 33 carries is 5.1 yards a rush
145 yards on 26 dropbacks is 5.5 yards per pass play
We scored doing both, we turned the ball over doing what everybody wishes we did more of in almost the same position and scenario as the Falcons game throwing to the same WR, for nearly the same yards to gain.
December 22nd, 2025 at 10:07 am
Firing Todd Bowles would be understandable, but jettisoning Mayfield would be insane like some fans out there already want.
In 50 years, this team has never drafted a successful, franchise changing quarterback. Maybe Doug Williams was the only one close to that title. Don’t even mention Testaverde, Freeman or Winston. We never even made a single postseason with either one.
I have little to no confidence they’ll ever draft a successful QB. The most successful ones have always been free agents
Brady/Mayfield have given us the best 6 years combined of quarterback play this franchise has ever seen. If you look at Mayfield’s numbers, they’re stellar and knock every other Bucs QB out of the water. 3 offensive coordinators in 3 years? He’s beaten the odds as far as I’m concerned
December 22nd, 2025 at 10:09 am
Going ahead and scrambling would have been a better outcome than throwing it away. That said I can see where it looked like a gimme completion at the time he threw the ball.
December 22nd, 2025 at 10:10 am
Joe has no problem throwing Baker under the bus but not Bowles…wonder why that is.
December 22nd, 2025 at 10:12 am
Coming from a qb who was scared and ran out of bounds he sucks too just like baker they are no winners hopefully next year we have a new coaching staff and a new qb “can’t wait”
December 22nd, 2025 at 10:15 am
Totally irrelevant- and everyone here knows it.
If Mayfield scored a touchdown with 10 seconds left on the clock, our pathetic excuse of a defense would have let the Panthers score.
That’s the reality of the 2025-26 Buccaneers. Our decent offense can’t outscore our defenses failures.
December 22nd, 2025 at 10:18 am
Baker Mayfield likes to try to make plays that he shouldn’t be trying to make. When it works, everybody cheers, and Baker feels a little bit unbeatable. He woke up feeling dangerous, you know. This was a stupid attempt when there was still time, and downs on the board.
December 22nd, 2025 at 10:19 am
lol
Oh please.
I like baker. I think he’s our qb. But shoot how many crucial games has he thrown a pick in that cost us the game (in his tenure).
Stop cutting him slack. Name another QB this happens to this regularly at the end of games
December 22nd, 2025 at 10:22 am
Blaming one player for a loss is ridiculous. This is a team game and the Bucs team has many issues with many players. The defense failed to stop the Panthers from moving down the field into field goal range with very little time left. I am sick of the failed zone defense. Then the penalty that penned the Bucs at the 10 yard line was atrocious. Expecting the offense to get big yardage in less than 2 minutes in all these losses is from a failed coaching staff.
December 22nd, 2025 at 10:25 am
No it’s not Mayfield fault, the ball threw itself
Bo excuses
Mayfield has been sucking for weeks
And against weak teams with weak defenses
December 22nd, 2025 at 10:26 am
I’m sad that Bowles and Baker are going to be the ones to pay the steepest price unless we can magically win about 5 straight. But I do know that pay they will. There aren’t any teams out there looking for losing coaches- or QBs.
December 22nd, 2025 at 10:29 am
As always Baker throws a 2nd down pick on the final drive.
The coaches know the OL is suspect so they built in some quicker passes but Baker panics and misses the WRs. He holds the ball too long. Baker was 18/26 145 yds 1td 1int. Some of yall are convinced the Bucs can’t find another QB to do that….for less money.
The excuses are running out for Baker. If he ends the season playing like yesterday, what’s the benefit of having him on the team? A mid-round 1st round pick? A home wildcard game and thats it?
This is the best plan yall can come up with? One more year with Baker, hope he stays healthy and catches fire late in the season? Omfg….smh
December 22nd, 2025 at 10:31 am
“I’m sad that Bowles and Baker are going to be the ones to pay the steepest price unless we can magically win about 5 straight”
Grizzard as well, this year was an opportunity to skip some rungs on the NFL coaching ladder and he’s kind of squandered his opportunity. In terms of coaching and the position he’s in, he’s as in over his head as Raheem Morris was when he became our HC by default all those years ago. Just from the OC position.
December 22nd, 2025 at 10:39 am
Baker sure looked like a good QB under Liam Coen
December 22nd, 2025 at 10:41 am
Not the first INT that Baker has been charged with when a receiver broke off a route or had a ball just taken away from a receiver. Really easy for fat, couch potatoes to say what should have happened. The score before half ended was unconscionable but the Baker Hate Brigade stays mum on that. Also, inexplicable was Grizz taking the ball away from his healthy multi million receiving corp so he and Bowles could rush the ball a preordained 30+ times. Really odd. When Baker was allowed to air it out, he through a deep strike to Egbuka. Too little to late. Bucs should have steamrolled Carolina offensively. Canales couldn’t believe his good fortune particularly after Baker carved them up 2x last year.
December 22nd, 2025 at 10:43 am
Nobody was saying Grizzard was in over his head when we were 5-1 and Baker was in the MVP race. Then the Lions game happened and Mayfield has been one of the worst QB’s in the league ever since. Far too much talk about coaching on here when it’s the players out there who have to execute and they simply haven’t been.
December 22nd, 2025 at 10:45 am
Without Baker’s heroics early in the season Bucs would be about 2-13……
That doesn’t excuse his poor play of late…..he has little time and looks to dump it off short of the sticks….we have the best WR corps in the NFL but a horrible Oline.
December 22nd, 2025 at 10:47 am
Go back and look at the articles on here after the 49ers game. The Joe’s were predicting Grizzard was going to be a head coach somewhere else next year. So we’re meant to believe that a rookie playcaller started out hot despite a huge number of injuries to deal with and then suddenly became useless as he grew in experience and his offense got healthier? Doesn’t make any sense. The only think that makes sense is that the QB has nose dived in performance and couldn’t mentally handle the MVP talk. He was NOT injured before that Lions game…
December 22nd, 2025 at 10:51 am
Baker skipped a pass to Godwin the drive prior, that stung. He missed Egbuka the week prior, pain. It hurts because he’s made these plays prior this season and now he’s missing open guys. He also has poor pocket presence lately. I demand better bc he’s been better. That’s disappointing. Folks here are not shocked by our piss poor pass rush, bc it’s been piss poor all season, last season, and the one prior.
I think Baker is trying to play hurt, and it’s hurting the team.
I think Licht is stubborn as a mule and needs to make a trade to improve the pass rush. Drafting the next JTS or Braswell is a fool’s errand. Just pony up the picks to get a difference maker off the edge bc you for sure cannot draft one. If you demand to draft one, then you better draft 4 of them and hope you hit on one.
It’s painful watching our slide into below mediocrity.
Bowles will probably pay the price, and fair enough, but Licht had has rear end saved by Brady and Arians, and there’s no doubt about that.
Do not extend Mayfield, have him play out next year and earn a big payday. His inconsistency is the only consistent.
December 22nd, 2025 at 10:55 am
Unless you have a defense like the Texans then the vast majority of NFL teams will go as far as their QB can take them. There’s a reason Mayfield ended up playing defensive end on Carolina’s scout at one point. He’s just a very inconsistent quarterback and personality.
December 22nd, 2025 at 11:00 am
Coaches and players are evaluated on what happened the entire season, not the first six games. If you were good at your job half the time would you have a job?
Smh…if Baker was good he’d be playing his best ball now with the season on the line and with healthy WRs. Anybody see Baker yell on the sideline? Anybody see Baker change plays and push the ball downfield and will the offense to score?
The Bucs need a young offensive HC and young QB.
December 22nd, 2025 at 11:04 am
The interception at the end of the game was classic misunderstanding between Mayfield and Evans. And just as importantly Coaching should have coached each player what to expect and do.
Obviously that didn’t happen. Too many mistakes are happening. That’s a coaching problem. It keeps happening week after week. Now it’s a ownership problem. SO FIX IT!!!
December 22nd, 2025 at 11:08 am
“Nobody was saying Grizzard was in over his head when we were 5-1 and Baker was in the MVP race.”
“Jmarkbuc Says:
October 4th, 2025 at 10:25 am
WBL,
Yep. Grizz is in over his head at this point.:”
“Warren Brooks Lynch Says:
September 13th, 2025 at 12:29 pm
Can we score some damn points in the 1st quarter? Or more than 13 points in the half? Can we control the clock under he & Mayfields’ leadership?
These are things I want to know.”
“Warren Brooks Lynch Says:
September 28th, 2025 at 7:06 pm
“I don’t get the guys bashing Grizz for his play calling. I didn’t love everything… specifically the 2nd and 3 in the first half where we went pass pass punt.“
It sucks, sequencing doesn’t inspire or provoke any types of rhythm.”
“Warren Brooks Lynch Says:
September 25th, 2025 at 4:37 pm
Rushing 25 times I have no problems with, but 2 yards per carry with 2 other capable backs and not using them I attribute to Grizz being a novice of an OC.”
oof.
December 22nd, 2025 at 11:16 am
This entire team sucks. Coaches and players.
December 22nd, 2025 at 11:25 am
“The score before half ended was unconscionable but the Baker Hate Brigade stays mum on that.”
We started the 2nd quarter with the ball, kicked an FG, got a penalty that kept the drive alive. Ran 6 plays inside the Panthers 15 & settled for an FG. That’s 4 points left on the field.
We got the ball twice again before the end of the half. Once after a punt up 10-3 and another after Car kicked an FG to make it 10-6.
First possession after going up 10-3, we ran 4 plays. A 1 yard run, 2 short passes and took a sack then punted. Also had a flag on Barton that buried us behind the sticks.
After Carolina closed it to 10-6, we ran another 4 plays. Run, pass, pass, punt and that illegal man downfield call.
4 points left on the field, just to lose a game on by 3 and allowing 23 points, while the offense struggled in it’s 8 total offensive drive scoring two 2TDs, 2 FGS, 3 punts, and a game sealing INT.
December 22nd, 2025 at 11:26 am
Why should we always be in the position of having to pull the game out in a do or die scenario. When’s the last this team gas played a complete game in all three phases of the game???
December 22nd, 2025 at 11:27 am
Run the ball , run the ball, 3rd and 7,,, that seemed like the game plan ,, Coaching matters ,, Baker was great last year under Coen,,, Lawerence is great this year under Coen,, Maye looks different w McDaniels then last year , Caleb looks way different w new HC, Darnold looked great on Minn and now looks great w Kubiak,, Bo Nix w Payton,,49ers most QBs look good , LA McVay,,, Damn, Kellen Moore w Saints , I mean we have Bowles and Grizzzz,, these aren’t fair fights ,,, my goodness , even the Dolphins have the advantage !! Not sure about Cannales , he seems like Bowles a bit,,,, Let’s go 4 or 5 wide the next few games ,, Baker may have 7TDs and 3 picks but it will be fun to watch unlike the boring snooze fest plan yesterday
December 22nd, 2025 at 11:27 am
#67 was the biggest offender (behind Grizzard). His five or six screwups were like giving up five or six sacks. And who knows how many of the actual sacks were his fault. The play where Ebuka got called for a false start, #67 also moved early. Coulda been his, what, 7th mistake?
December 22nd, 2025 at 11:39 am
Mayfield thew INT and lost the game just like he did in the Detroit playoff game. Just like he did last few weeks. Just like he fumbled the jet sweep. It’s his responsibility as QB where and when to throw the football and to make a good choice. We seen him lead game winning drives and lose them. It’s part of the game no reason to make up excuses for everything. He was told to be himself and not Tom Brady and that’s what he does. I like Mayfield’s energy when he runs and tries to block for his RBs. I want to see him at the boat parade just like you. Yes the way the team has played this year is not all one person. It’s a contagious pile of losing all over the place.
December 22nd, 2025 at 11:41 am
It appears the Dolphins are tanking for draft position. Bucs May win that game in spite of themselves.
December 22nd, 2025 at 11:54 am
Ryan,
Are you talking about the Texans that Baker carved up earlier this year along with the 49ers and the Seahawks? Get real. Baker had a year in 2024 when not injured that only 4 QB’s in the history of the NFL have ever had. Go back to playing the trombone since you never learned about football in high school band.
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:01 pm
Baker grounded a throw to Godwin to kill the prior drive.
He missed Egbuka to seal the game a week prior.
He went 4 and out against the saints.
Last 6 weeks dude ain’t it, would the baker blowhards agree? I loved his first 6 weeks, but we need consistency.
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:01 pm
“Are you talking about the Texans that Baker carved up earlier this year along with the 49ers and the Seahawks?”
LMAO 25-38 for 215 yards “carved up” my goodness gracious. I’m telling ya, standards for QB play is as low as this guys football IQ
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:05 pm
Mike Evans was wide ass open baker has not been seeing the field for weeks. And when he does is inaccurate. When he moves in the pocket Evans is still wide open it’s call anticipation and he’s lost it. Does not go through progressions for weeks.
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:23 pm
It doesn’t anymore…
These Bucs don’t deserve to be in the playoffs period!
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:24 pm
I’d rather sign Baker to 3 year extension and fire bowels if it comes to that,,, Baker will do great with Kubiak (the name that keeps coming up) or Diabol, better than Baker going to Saints , him and Moore would beat us 2x a year the next 5 years,,, not a guy we want to see with a chip on his shoulder
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:31 pm
bucs ran the ball on every first down play in the first half other than the first and goal at the 1 yard line, perhaps the best time to run on first down. I am confident that hasn’t happened in the NFL in a long time.
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:36 pm
Baker’s interception didn’t cost us the game last night, we were already losing. We lost for the same reasons we lost the last 3 seasons and now this one. We can’t tackle. We can’t pressure, we can’t cover, and we can’t protect our QB. Baker is the ONLY reason we were even in the game last night, and Baker is the ONLY reason we were ever in this season. He was the only MVP candidate first half of the season. He did not just suddenly become a bad QB, he just can’t lift this team over Todd’s bad coaching and Jason Licht l’s ignoring team needs in the draft anymore. We lose mainly because we can’t get any pressure on opposing QB’s and they pick our awful secondary apart because of it. We lost the last 3 seasons and now this one mostly because of that reason, not because of our receiving corp, but instead of the pass rusher O-line, and secondary we needed, Jason CHOSE to draft receivers, who were all healthy and available last night for the first time, and baker was barely given a chance to throw to them due to bad play calling and no protection. Baker has played hurt for over a month, has thrown to 3rd string rookie receivers all season, had no 1st string running back for months, had an injury depleted front line and secondary, and after every loss none of which were his fault HE went to the podium and took the blame, because our coaches WON’T!!!! We owe him alot as Bucs fans. Let’s give him the credit he deserves and put the blame where it belongs!
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:37 pm
WarrenBrooksLoser,
You omitted Baker 2TD v Texas in your last post. No doubt, it didn’t fit your narrative. This is telling what a doofus fraud you really are.
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:42 pm
The whole gameplan is what lost us the game. Let’s run the ball 30 times when we have the best receiving corps in the nfl 😵💫
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:44 pm
@Fluffer
I do know, 215/25 completions = 8.6 yards a completion
I do know, 215/38 attempts = 5.6 yards an attempt
I do know that neither of those = carved up, maybe dink & dunk by a thousand cuts, but carved up? That’s you embellishing.
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:54 pm
Todd bowles: ” this team is poor at communication and executing they struggle to do the little things right and make executive decisions out there ”
Summed up in each crunch time play that decides the games for us…too many one score losses
December 22nd, 2025 at 1:00 pm
Becky,
Save your breadth, the band boys who continually run down Baker are chronic underachievers, misunderstood at work and by family, and don’t really understand football. This is the one forum in the world where they hope to be taken seriously and can bond with other loners.
December 22nd, 2025 at 1:18 pm
“It’s nobody’s fault.”
Do the Glazers agree?
December 22nd, 2025 at 1:37 pm
Evans at fault!. He is running toward the sideline with not much time on the clock. He needs to maintain his route , cutting inside at that juncture takes time off the clock when he gets tackled. Just a brain frt moment for evans.
December 22nd, 2025 at 2:32 pm
Untouched. So it’s on Baker. And when it comes to big games, he has not delivered.
Those are facts.
It’s also a fact that the team has low energy quitters. Someone else pointed out the lack of enthusiasm on the sidelines when Baker made the big run late.
Contemplate that.
Low energy. Paycheck collectors.
Where does that start? At the top.
Bowles must go. Most of the Defense must go. And sadly, Baker must go.
I was wrong about this team. I admit it. Can Licht?
December 22nd, 2025 at 2:37 pm
Great. What about the remainder of the game ?
Was only one of many times the offense peed their pants.
Grizz + Baker has been pretty awful, generally speaking. Offense has been pitiful a large majority of the year.
I’m a Bucs fan because of Baker, and I had high hopes for Grizz but….
The Baker is great no matter what crowd is wrong. The Baker sucks and it’s all on him crew are also wrong.
Grizz seems to be, for whatever reason, unable to scheme up a creative and efficient pass game with our WR talent. Baker has either no confidence in his targets or he’s lacking confidence in himself.