“Shockingly Sloppy”
September 15th, 2026
Career low.
It wasn’t like the Bengals played the game of the century Sunday along the banks of the Ohio River when they outlasted the Bucs by six points, 33-27.
The Bucs moved the ball throughout the game. The only way Cincinnati got the ball was either on kickoffs or Baker Mayfield’s Christmas presents (Bucky Irving, too).
Speaking on “First Things First,” seen on FS1 weekdays, co-host Danny Parkins had “concerns” about the Bucs because their offense was “shockingly sloppy.” Fellow co-host Greg Jennings, the retired NFL wide receiver, said the game was lost by Baker Mayfield, who Jennings is no big fan of of because of ball security issues.
“That’s Baker,” Parkins said. “He’s had that problem since he’s been in Tampa.”
Joe agrees on the sloppy offense. It looked like these guys had never played together, which is exactly what Parkins said disturbed him because the Bucs brought back the offense nearly intact from last season.
It drove Joe nuts seeing the sloppy blocking and the turnovers (of course). Joe nearly jumped out of his chair when Cade Otton committed a false start coming out of a timeout. A high school kid would be pulled off the field for that.
Look, Joe is not overreacting. With just a little smarter play, the Bucs could have won. So Joe sees no reason to freak out and run Todd Bowles this morning and bench Mayfield.
The Bucs’ franchise quarterback has never had three fumbles in a game before Sunday. So Joe isn’t expecting a repeat anytime soon.
Did you learn more about Bengals or Bucs? @DannyParkins weighs in:
“I came away a little bit more concerned with the Bucs… I felt like there were more giveaways than takeaways… I thought the Bucs offense was shockingly sloppy.” pic.twitter.com/D0RpY55PaL
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) September 14, 2026
September 15th, 2026 at 4:25 am
It’s weird that yesterday 620WDAE had a brief conversation about the Cleveland game coming up on Sunday. Two games in, the conversation was centered around the whole season. If the Buc’s sh$$t the bed on Sunday this season could be over. We stink at home and we are playing a JV team. If we don’t pounce the conversation of a lost season starts immediately, priceless.
September 15th, 2026 at 4:25 am
I’m in the minority here but I am encouraged by what I saw. Mayfield is a play maker he tried to do to much but his will to win alot of times leads to better outcomes. We turned it over 4 times and while defense wasn’t great they held their own at times which was a lot better than last year.
Bucky looked great same problems as always can’t cover the middle of field and can’t get to Qb.
However I am raising my prediction now from 8 wins to 9 wins.
September 15th, 2026 at 5:03 am
Let’s be positive this was a fluke. Anzalone looked horrible, Bain wasn’t home, but Trotter was and became my new favorite LB. Offense seemed same if not worst with Mayfield and Bucky having no ball security.
September 15th, 2026 at 5:22 am
The Bucs have a total of 24 regular season losses in the last three years.
Of those losses, 14 came when the opposition either took the lead or maintained the lead (like on Sunday) on their final drive.
To put it bluntly, the defense could not get off the field when it mattered most.
Now, turning the clock back two days, the Bucs pulled to within 6 with around three minutes left and I believe they had 3 timeouts to boot.
In a normal world, most coaches would kick off, try to get a stop, and score a TD to win with seconds remaining. But we don’t live in a normal world with Todd’s defenses, do we?
So, as predicted by me and the entire Bucs world fandom, the Bucs kicked off and Cincinnati easily ran out the clock. Seemed the only people who didn’t think this would happen were Todd Bowles, who coaches this #$*@#$, and Jason Licht who was too busy living vicariously through Baker’s fumbles.
The call, even with three minutes left, was an on-sides kick. We are not the current Texans or the 2002 Bucs, we are the 2023-4-5-6 Bucs. You know it, I know it, and Todd continues to ignored it.
Note: there are times during those 14 losses where Baker didn’t do his defense any favors with his own late game mishaps, but a needed stop is a needed stop, no matter who created the situation.
September 15th, 2026 at 5:48 am
This was not a fluke, it was a continuation of last seasons 2-7 slide. This team shouldn’t be sloppy. They shouldn’t look like they’re out there sleep walking. Sloppy, undisciplined, is a staple of a Bowles coached team. See it to often to be a fluke. The Giants looked like us finishing last season. Harbaugh comes in first game they look like his old Raven team. Tough, physical, disciplined. Coaching matters. Nothing will change under Bowles. Does this team look any different than last years? It never will until a real HC comes to Tampa. Sorry to burst your bubble buc fans, but this team is going nowhere lead by Todd.
September 15th, 2026 at 5:49 am
You can’t say the Bucs brought back nearly the entire offense from last season when you have a new OC–you just can’t. That’s a terrible take. Should we have been a whole lot better? Oh, yeah. But it’s not the same offense, at all.
September 15th, 2026 at 5:50 am
2-8 in their last 10 games with this coach/QB combo. Coen and the Jags demolished the Browns if the Bucs struggle with them it’s a big strike against the Bucs front office and coaches
September 15th, 2026 at 6:01 am
JA … ‘To put it bluntly, the defense could not get off the field when it mattered most. Now, turning the clock back two days, the Bucs pulled to within 6 with around three minutes left and I believe they had 3 timeouts to boot.’
I made a similar point yesterday JA (we had over 3 mins to get the ball back, score a TD & win, but our defense let us down … again by not being able to stop them). Afterwards though, I went back and looked at the various drives each team had, and overall our defense did a decent job of holding Burrow & his offense in check … considering that they had to deal with cleaning up the mess created by FOUR turnovers.
o Drive 1: Bucs’ defense held them to 3 plays, 4 yds and then forced a punt. Following that, Baker fumbled & Bengals scored on a 27-yd fumble return. 7-3 Bengals.
o Drive 2: Bucky fumbled at the TAM 33, Bengals recovered & scored 7 plays later. 14-3 Bengals.
o Drive 3: Baker fumbled just shy of scoring, Bengals get a touchback then drive 80 yds for another TD. 21-3 Bengals.
o Drive 4: After Bucs get a TD, Bengals get the kickoff at the 28-yd line, then march smartly down the field to the TAM 4; our defense holds them for 3 plays then they kick a FG from the 2-yd line. 24-10 Bengals at the half.
Considering that we’d given up 3 turnovers in that 1st half, there were some encouraging signs in our defense, especially holding them to a FG instead of allowing another TD at the end of the half.
Bucs’ defense held them to 3 FGs in the 2nd half, despite 1 more turnover by our offense. Bucs’ defense even intercepted Burrow for a Pick-6 in the 3rd qtr to close the gap to 27-20 with over 1 qtr still to play. Our defense held them to 2 FGs in that 4th qtr, but also allowed them to run out the clock for the last 3:19 of the game. Too reminescent of how several games closed out last year. Can’t have that.
September 15th, 2026 at 6:10 am
Eating L’s with Todd … ‘Coen and the Jags demolished the Browns if the Bucs struggle with them it’s a big strike against the Bucs front office and coaches’.
Yes the Jags demolished the Browns 34-10 Sunday, but it’ll be interesting to see how they weather their next 5 games: Broncos, Patriots, Bengals, Eagles, Texans. After that they’ve got a fairly easy schedule. They’ll do very well this year.
September 15th, 2026 at 6:19 am
Wasn’t a fluke, it was a continuation of last seasons 2-7 slide. Same issues, can’t get a stop on 3rd down, false starts, missed blocks, not physical enough. I can go on, but what you saw, is what you’re going to get. This is who, and what we are under Bowles. It ain’t going to change until Todd is gone.
September 15th, 2026 at 6:26 am
Shouldn’t there progress and NOT regression!! This is a poorly coached team with a hand full of players who take NO pride in there profession! Not going to change until changes are made! In my opinion.
September 15th, 2026 at 6:50 am
Joe agrees on the sloppy offense. It looked like these guys had never played together
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At least they stayed healthy during the WORTHLESS pre-season games!
September 15th, 2026 at 6:52 am
D. Rules——
Points made, but field goals are still points, and the Bengals could’ve easily kicked another from the Bucs 20 as time expired. To me, they moved the ball effortlessly for most of the game. You mentioned something about us holding them in check. They punted once during the entire game!
In fact, I think they showed empathy for our “Bowles plight” by taking the FG from the 2 as time expired in the first half. My mindset as a Cincy player or coach: “Take the 14-point lead and let’s grab a breather. It’s damn near 90 degrees! Moreover, there’s plenty more where that came from.”
Be honest, had they gone for the TD from the 2, what was your confidence level in us getting the stop? Mine was about 15-20%, and I’m being generous.
Also … you never said what you would have done as Bucs H.C. … Kickoff or on-sides kick?
Screaming at the TV, I told my friends there was a 0.00% chance we’d get the stop by kicking deep. Of course, I tend to get a tad emotional when watching us play, year after year, after year. But I was proved right when I’d loved to have been proven wrong.
When I was very young, we had season tickets for a few years. Cost? $8 a game. I even have the Bucs induced, permanently lined countenance to prove it! I call it an inherent side effect from being a multiple decade die-hard.
September 15th, 2026 at 7:24 am
Hopefully the int’s are not next!
September 15th, 2026 at 7:26 am
Find the game film breakdown by a local Bucs fan on YouTube
Buccaneers Observer
What Chris Godwin was doing needs to be seen and explained by Godwin
It’s inexcusable and certainly reflective of something fundamentally WRONG with Chris or something much BIGGER!
Joe’s the analysis is the best around!
September 15th, 2026 at 7:32 am
Wirfs play was the most shocking. Turnovers happen the bengals forced fumbles they were aggressive. But wirfs looking like a turnstile was alarming. He’s supposed to be best in the league at that position and he looked bad.
September 15th, 2026 at 7:34 am
How can anyone be “shocked” they were sloppy? New offense and barely played in the preseason.
September 15th, 2026 at 7:39 am
the todd watch has started but they could go 2-15 like the old days and he’ll probably get the whole season before getting fired. this team has all his marks on it- yeah todd didn’t fumble the ball or let them eat the last three minutes of regulation but new year and nothing changed. offense only scored 20 points not a fan of zac either
September 15th, 2026 at 7:52 am
“The Bucs’ franchise quarterback has never had three fumbles in a game before Sunday. So Joe isn’t expecting a repeat anytime soon.”
Yea, but this past Sunday was his 14th game with 3 turnovers to his name and it was the 2nd game in his last 3 games played for this team lol
“Too reminescent of how several games closed out last year. Can’t have that.”
The Eagles game from last year. Offense starts with the ball, goes 3 and out then on our 1st punt attempt gets blocked and returned for a TD. We went into the half of that game 24-3 Came out scored 17 & allowed 7 points in the 2nd half BUT Bucky had a fumble and Baker had pick on 2 of our last 5 offensive drives in the 2nd half. Defense forced 6 punts, allowed a TD, and had that garbage safety on 8 total Eagles 2nd half drives.
Cement shoe offense.
September 15th, 2026 at 8:16 am
JOES; maybe just maybe the preseason is not so ” worthless ” after all! There was a time when teams played their starters into the second half in game three. Might help with all the early injuries teams have by not being full game ready! Just sayin
September 15th, 2026 at 8:19 am
I thought the offense looked good minus the ball security issues. Bake was on point with his throws from what I remember.
September 15th, 2026 at 8:30 am
Bucs fans need to accept this fact:
They have a $165 million dollar turnover machine
And this is nothing new, this is the genuine Baker Mayfield
He’s been doing this all of his NFL career
A leopard never changes his stripes
Baker is who he is
A Turnover Machine
September 15th, 2026 at 8:31 am
The Bucs’ franchise quarterback has never had three fumbles in a game before Sunday. So Joe isn’t expecting a repeat anytime soon.
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maybe not 3 fumbles but we’ve seen Baker commit 3 Turnovers in a game…..a game that we needed to win to get into the playoffs….the Dolphins game last year!!!!!!!…..
Baker had 2 INTs and a Fumble in that game!!!!!!!
remember folks, 2024(his best year some say) baker led the NFL in INTs AND Fumbles!!!!!….
baker turning the ball over is nothing new or surprising!!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!!
September 15th, 2026 at 8:36 am
Maybe a little more “worthless” preseason snaps and they would have been a little less sloppy???…… which could have translated into a W….. hmmmm Maybe not as “worthless” as some “experts” around here think…..
September 15th, 2026 at 9:07 am
JA … ‘You mentioned something about us holding them in check. They punted once during the entire game! In fact, I think they showed empathy for our “Bowles plight” by taking the FG from the 2 as time expired in the first half.’
OK, last one first. Bengals were leading 21-10 at that point on our 2-yd line with seconds to go. Kicking the FG was a lot better than the alternative: having us stop them on that 4th-and-2 then letting us go into halftime with ‘the momentum’. Taylor’s call was conservative, but it was still the right call for that situation.
Yes the Bengals punted only ONCE during the entire game … on their FIRST series. Bucs got the ball back (after that punt) with 7:38 to go in the 1st qtr. A scant 10:22 later, Bucs offense had fumbled THREE times, we were behind 14-3 after that 3rd fumble, and Bengals scored again after that fumble to make it 21-3 with 5:32 still to go in the 1st half. But ya, folks will blame the defense for all of those 21 pts.
Any odds-maker would’ve said ‘Take the Bengals to win’ at that point, but in actuality we clawed our way back into the game. Cincy had 5 drives in the 2nd half; Bucs’ defense held them to 3 FGs plus got 1 INT for a Pick-6. That’s not terrible against that offense. The last Bengals’ drive though WAS TERRIBLE. Far as I’m concerned, a couple of missed tackles kept us from getting the ball back for our offense, and then , who knows what MIGHT have transpired?
September 15th, 2026 at 9:12 am
Great points, DR.
Switching gears to our next opponent: Head Coach Todd Monken confirmed sticking with QB Deshaun Watson. Here is what Monken said:
“We got to play better around him. We got to call it better, and he’s got to play better.”
PS Shady McCoy came out and accused Deshaun Watson of shaving points after JAX went up 31-0 on Browns last Sunday. Drama!
September 15th, 2026 at 9:14 am
Itzok … ‘But wirfs looking like a turnstile was alarming. He’s supposed to be best in the league at that position and he looked bad.’
Didn’t Wirfs miss almost all of Preseason? And are we really sure that he’s 100% recovered? Vea missed all of Preseason too, and he was pretty much a non-factor yesterday. So maybe Preseason does have value, even for these veterans?
Of course, Baker was here every day of Preseason. And according to Todd, they practice fumbling drills just about every practice. Apparently that works for Baker; he’s getting good at it. Bucky wasn’t too shabby either.
September 15th, 2026 at 9:17 am
Tampa2ATL … ‘“We got to play better around him. We got to call it better, and he’s got to play better.” (Todd Monken)
I think Monken stole that was Bowles’ playbook. How many times have we heard THAT before.
September 15th, 2026 at 9:27 am
Baker just tries to play hero ball too much. That won’t change and could get worse.
Not being able to make a 30+ yard pass doesn’t help either.
We’re in some deep cow dung now. And looks like we have at least three to four more years left in this nightmare.
0-1 feels a lot worse than it really is. If 0-2 happens, Katy bar the door.
The drum beats for unemployed coaches and GM will be at a fever pitch.
September 15th, 2026 at 9:28 am
I disagree that the Bucs looked good enough to win. The jurys out. We never saw the Bengals under pressure to win. It was a cake walk. Not like they had to press at all. Who knows what happens to this defense when a quality offense NEEDS points. We’ve seen that too often last couple yrs. 3 and 25. The jurys out in my book whether the Bucs look better.
What did the Offense do after a great 1st drive? When a TD would have established the statement for this season? They settled for a field goal. That’s what we ALWAYS do. Nothing.I saw Sun surprised me except the turnovers. But I always get the feeling Mayfield is an arm.swing.away from a fumble, a shoulder throw away from a sprained rotator cuff. Lischt must have been eating tums watching that performance. Here’s.yiur money for a 3 yr deal and the dude is out there lead blocking. In the 1st friggin game of the season. Love him…but what an idiot.
September 15th, 2026 at 10:39 am
A little coaching goes a long way….teaching Baker to take the first down and slide safely, making otton wear the gloves….bringing a smashmouth attitude to the game and stop pushing bain so wide outside that his rush to the quarterback is useless
September 15th, 2026 at 10:45 am
Browns on Sunday, with Deshaun Watson. I am putting the over/under on total turnovers at 6. It could be a real clown show. Thank God Myles Garrett won’t be there!
September 15th, 2026 at 10:54 am
Where’s St Pete Matt and rest of the Baker backers who said “pay him now!!!”???
Sunday’s performance is exactly why you SHOULD have made him play out the year. If he has more performances like that and this team brings in a new coaching staff, THEN you let the new regime decide.
We just handed over the bag and handicapped a possible new coaching search because no great HC wants to be cap strapped with a QB they may not want.
There was no risk to waiting and TONs of risk by caving.
I still will hold out hope Baker gets it together and has a winning season, but hope is all I have at this point.
September 15th, 2026 at 11:09 am
Sh!+ happens!! After the turnovers they still fought and made it a game!! Even against the all- world Burrow! They’re just gonna get better..
September 15th, 2026 at 11:14 am
The New York Football Ravens!!
I mean Giants!
New NFC Bully in town …Watch out!
September 15th, 2026 at 12:26 pm
Losing Mike Evans greatly changes the dynamic of the offense. It’s baffling the decision that was made to let Evans walk and then turn around and pay baker Mayfield more money. How can this work? It can’t.
September 15th, 2026 at 12:33 pm
“they practice fumbling drills just about every practice. Apparently that works for Baker; he’s getting good at it.” DR. Good one. But ouch! anyway.
September 15th, 2026 at 1:34 pm
The worst mistake Otten made was that huge drop on 2nd and 14 that would’ve given the Bucs a first down. The very next play Baker fumbled for the Bengals’ scoop and score.
September 15th, 2026 at 1:36 pm
When John Harbaugh became available it was like a gift from God for teams with lousy head coaches. Seems the Glazers didn’t think he was an upgrade from Bowles. Big mistake!!!
September 15th, 2026 at 2:41 pm
Baker is fine. The problem is Coach Todd Bowles. The Bucs need a new head coach and Defensive COOrdinator!
September 15th, 2026 at 2:57 pm
Mistakes are made in games. Here is the real story of what happened last Sunday. Can’t believe that Joe and his band of commentators haven’t commented on the obvious.
At the 3:19 mark Bucs score and cut it to 6 points. Defense needs to hold one series and get the ball back to the offense. This never happens with a Todd B defense. Clock expires with Cinci holding the ball. Same old story. A real DC and a real defense would have gotten the ball back. This is the real story of the game that got muffled with the fumbles.
September 15th, 2026 at 3:02 pm
“At the 3:19 mark Bucs score and cut it to 6 points. Defense needs to hold one series and get the ball back to the offense. This never happens with a Todd B defense. Clock expires with Cinci holding the ball. Same old story. A real DC and a real defense would have gotten the ball back. This is the real story of the game that got muffled with the fumbles.”
LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
September 15th, 2026 at 3:53 pm
I tend to agree with Hodad. This looks like a continuation of last season’s 2-8 slide. Sloppy play. And I like Bowles. But we continue to make these mistakes, on what Bowles describes as fundamental breakdowns. Where is the improvement? When is it coming? There were some great individual performances, but this isn’t golf. I don’t want Baker to have to be heroic in order to win. What’s up with Wirf’s? The OL was disoriented. They should have been playing at least an entire quarter in each of the pre-season games…the Dline too. Always hear about playing together, being one unit, blah blah blah. It looked like this is was the first time either of the lines played together, and it really was. Bain…idk, I heard one analyst say that his performance was what many/most scouts thought it would be. Arms too short, can’t separate against NFL talent. I hope they are wrong…and he plays with a chip on his shoulder…but that chip just became an entire concrete block.
September 15th, 2026 at 6:45 pm
Played like they have a poor coach and an overpaid QB that wasn’t hungry enough to prove something. If you were willing to pay Baker that kind of money, why not wait till midseason? It’s mind-boggling. As far as the coach, can we please move on from this guy already?
September 15th, 2026 at 7:45 pm
Can Bakers second fumble be referred to as sloppy seconds?
September 15th, 2026 at 8:04 pm
I didn’t see Bowles, fumble three times, have under throws and passes behind the WR’s? Did You? You guys are Delusional, with the love of #6! Worst QB in the NFL