Baker Mayfield Discusses How Close The Offense Is To Success
September 22nd, 2026
The Buccaneers’ offense is averaging a paltry 19 1/2 points per game through two weeks of play.
It’s more than a field goal less per game than Josh Grizzard’s 2025 offense. And Grizzard was supposed to the primary problem, along with a banged up offensive line that’s now healthy.
Poor Grizz. Maybe he’s found a little solace.
Baker Mayfield knows the offense is struggling but he sees it as very close to succeeding. He explained some of what’s happening yesterday on the Buccaneers Radio Network. (Joe listens on the SiriusXM Buccaneers channel)
Mayfield lamented the lack of explosive plays and too many negative-yardage plays against the Browns. Still, he can feel and see how the Bucs are almost ready to click.
“Really close on some of the stuff in the pass game, some of the run game stuff was coming together yesterday, but pass game, it’s frustrating,” Mayfield said. “You know, getting landmarks down with receivers, making sure that we’re on the same page when it comes down to it.
“And it’s never gonna be exactly how you draw it up when you install it in meetings and whatnot, but trying to make sure that if it is the perfect coverage for it, that I’m on time; those guys are on time and they’re in the right spots. Just giving them enough air to adjust to it. And we’re so close, so that’s the frustrating part about it. But it really comes down to negative plays and being more efficient in the red zone. And I think that’s the biggest difference, is being able to run the ball efficiently down there [in the red zone.] The pass game’s just gonna look different when you’re in the red zone, whether it’s fringe area or low red, bu just gotta continue to put all that together.
“But the frustrating part is when you watch it, it’s close.”
Yes, Ted Hurst had two drops Sunday, including what would have/could have been the winning touchdown. Kenny Gainwell also had a bad drop on a third-down throw beyond the sticks. But Mayfield’s deep ball wasn’t sharp, and he also got bailed about by a highlight-reel catch from Cade Otton. Well done, Cade!
It’s hard for Joe to say the Bucs offense is close. A lot of good stuff is happening but there is no rhythm to the offense. So many negative plays, and the Bucs’ final four drive nettted 3 points and only 112 total yards — against (all together now) the Browns.
September 22nd, 2026 at 7:32 pm
Isn’t that what preseason and training camps for and these are vets making mistakes
September 22nd, 2026 at 7:41 pm
Hey IMHO, I like baker, but for the good of the franchise, as well as the good of baker, there is an opportunity here for Jason licht, to make his second run with Tampa, bowels sucks as head coach, couldn’t develop a cold, his Oc not much better, were strangled with bakers contract, and bowels, the Giants lost there QB last night, make a trade, to the giants, send baker to NY, let them eat half his contract, they got one of the better coaches in the league, saves there season, and Mayfields, fire bowels, and tank for the number one pick, because the way it’s going, we gonna get the top 4, 5 picks and stuck with bakers contract and still have to fire bowels, make it happen Jason, or you might be needing a job, I know you don’t need the money bro, but do what needs to be done, for baker and the fans!
September 22nd, 2026 at 7:41 pm
We averaged 20.5 points per game in 2023
And Dave Canales was considered an OC guru, even got a HC job
We averaged 22.4 points per game in 2025
And Grizz was considered a pathetic OC, and was sacked
I’ve been a lifelong Bucs fan
I could never figure this organization out
And l quit trying long ago
September 22nd, 2026 at 7:42 pm
Whenever I hear we are close to clicking, I see Schiano. The same babel he would always say. Bucky pretty much was our offense.
September 22nd, 2026 at 7:43 pm
Lol
September 22nd, 2026 at 7:47 pm
The offense is just one head coach away from success.
September 22nd, 2026 at 7:48 pm
James west…sure…and all that’s gonna happen.
September 22nd, 2026 at 7:50 pm
The offense is about as close as the passes are to the receiver.
September 22nd, 2026 at 7:52 pm
This offense don’t have an identity
They are unorganized, playing out of control
September 22nd, 2026 at 7:54 pm
I’m real close to winning the mega millions
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:01 pm
the problem is noone wants to be a franchise qb in tampa thats why they overpaid on baker. is baker over paid yes , is he good enough to get the job done yes . he showed it with canales and coen. is he good enough to get the job done with godwin being your highest paid wr probably not . people like to bring up darnold but leave out the part of the story where they had kenneth walker, jsn, a defensive mastermind as head coach and a coordinator that has the raiders 2-0
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:03 pm
Baker Mayfield … “The frustrating part is when you watch it, it’s close.”
Bucs have had 20 offensive drives in 2 games and scored on 9 of them … 3 TDs & 6 FGs. The ratio of TDs to FGs is absurd; we’re shooting ourselves in the foot in the Red Zone especially, where we rank #25 with only 37.5% Red Zone TDs. Factor in all the turnovers (5) and sacks (7) and it’s small wonder that we’re 0-2.
But to Baker’s (delusional) point, it’s NOT close. The offense is underperforming, and so is the defense. Bucs had a chance to salvage a victory in the Bengals game with a tad over 3 minutes left in the game, behind 33-27. Our defense couldn’t stop the Bengals & they ran out the clock. Bucs also had a chance to salvage a victory in the Browns game, leading 19-16 in the waning minutes of the 4th qtr. Our defense allowed the Browns to score a TD with 3:51 left. Our offense got the ball back after the Browns’ kickoff at the Tampa 49 thanks to a great 48-yd return by Kam Johnson, then proceeded to run 11 plays to gain only 31 yds and fizzle out on the Cleveland 20 on a 4th-and-11.
No Baker, you weren’t close. Both games were a team effort… in futility.
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:03 pm
Baker won as everyone knows after a few days in LA, harbaugh, would put him in the position to revive his career, they still would have jameis, for emergency, we get out of a boatload of dead money, giants still have a more than decent shot, to get to the playoffs, gives my beloved bucs, some flexibility get rid of LOVIE SMITH 2.0, and get a jump on what’s going to happen this year anyways, glazers not going to put up with this BS much longer, there’s coaches out there we can bring in that would, more than rectify this team and satisfy their fan base!
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:03 pm
Time to stop talking and start showing something. When you go out laying two eggs right after getting the fat contract, you tend to lose credibility quickly. Nobody is buying what you’re selling, Baker.
If Baker doesn’t turn things around this season, he is done as a staring QB. He would be wise to responsibly invest his current earnings while they last.
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:04 pm
the raiders are a better coached team then the bucs already and letting go of spytek was as big of a mistake as letting go of coen
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:07 pm
James…The Glazers will fire Bowles at the end of the season like always.
Baker? He’s here for 3 more years.
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:12 pm
tank for manning
also joe quick question
with a new unproven offensive coordinator why were the Bucs so nonchalant in the preseason ….
the first team offense had 1 drive that didnt even end in Points
like why is Bowles so focused on who was gonna make the backend of this roster
this isnt a damn episode of hard knocks wtf
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:16 pm
Go watch the tape!! Bakers missing and refusing to throw to WRs that are running open for some reason!! That’s frustrating!!!
His hero ball mentality has completely overtaken this offense. Say it all together now this Bakers team!!!
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:17 pm
Baker Mayfield got paid
He don’t care about this other stuff
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:19 pm
You know what they say close does not count other than horseshoes and hand grenades.i did say at the beginning as all the hype was going on this team can win if the offense scores a ton of points. I did not think the defense had improved from last year. At the time my point was the secondary. I had doubts about Anzalone due to his age and the fact that Detroit let him go. However, I did not think he was this bad. I thought wow the d line may save us. However while McColumn and Morrison looked good at Cinn , Sunday the same old soft coverage showed up. Add a d line not producing and another player like Dennis at MLb gives you their defense, yes very bad. Then add an offense that now looks bad and you have this current team. Hopefully the offense gets going because this defense looks like an extension of last year. If the offense doesn’t does something soon we are likely to be competing for the first draft pick for the new coach
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:22 pm
Timon nailed it
Blame the OC.
Blame the HC
Blame the WRs (ridiculous)
Blame the oline (funny how QBs not throwing the ball can make olives look bad).
This is all on Baker through 2 weeks. Held the Browns to 6 points through almost 3 quarters. Baker had plenty of chances to bury them and failed miserably.
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:23 pm
We have a FG driven offense
Too bad we won’t win games 6-3
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:27 pm
We need a pocket passer that will spread the ball around
A QB with pocket awareness, get all of our offensive weapons involved
One with a quick release, can hit receivers in stride
We don’t need a wannabe Michael Vick
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:27 pm
It sure sounds like the young wideouts are having trouble with their routes under pressure (not hitting their “landmarks”). That could partially explain all the overthrows, all the quarterback hesitation, and all the subsequent breakdown in protection. I am still more worried about the soft zone defense philosophy.
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:37 pm
I went straight to the Comments for this Headline.
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:38 pm
Buc 1987, all we can do is hope! I hoped for a long time we would get Brady, and we did, I hoped for a Lombardi, we got 2, we got a bonus with gronk, we had a coach I loved just could not get us over the hill with dungy, we got gruden with a trade, the glazers got more money than the US GOVERNMENT! they can make happen whatever they want to, and the G men just may be compliant, just saying bro as always go bucs
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:38 pm
Joe, someone, explain to me ( the offense is close) to me, close don’t win playoff games or Super Bowls
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:40 pm
Todd Bowles regular-season record as Bucs’ HC: 0.500
Jason Licht regular-season record as GM: 0.467
Glazer family regular-season record as owners: 0.475
For all the deserved trashing of Bowles, I don’t see why Bucs fans should expect any better from this GM and ownership group. At the end of the day, it’s mediocrity from the top-down. I wonder when the dam will break and we’ll start to see similar levels of vitriol directed at the Glazers that Manchester United fans have rightly directed at them for years.
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:40 pm
You know what they say close does not count other than horseshoes and hand grenades.i did say at the beginning as all the hype was going on this team can win if the offense scores a ton of points. I did not think the defense had improved from last year. At the time my point was the secondary. I had doubts about Anzalone due to his age and the fact that Detroit let him go. However, I did not think he was this bad. I thought wow the d line may save us. However while McColumn and Morrison looked good at Cinn , Sunday the same old soft coverage showed up. Add a d line not producing and another player like Dennis at MLb gives you a really bad defense. Then add an offense that is not productive and you have a really bad team. If the offense does not come around soon then Bucs may be looking at the first pick in the draft. The defense looks like an extension of the defense last year.
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:40 pm
It might take a little bit more than a tune up, was throwing the ball way over on a lot of targets. Two calls on Barton not normal. They needed to remember the Titans the movie. And Metallica said, so close no matter how far Baker. No matter how far the rest of us seeing this unfold right in front of us? Who’s been running the backhoe digging the hole deeper and deeper? Defensive issues start in the head-coachs mind.
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:41 pm
Buc fan since 1976, before they had a logo, and trademark, before bucco Bruce, listened to games every Sunday on the radio, when culverhouse was gunning and running the show, so I am a vetted, and true buc fan
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:41 pm
jarrett Says: tank for manning.
You do know that Baker just signed a 3 year deal right?
There’ll be no tanking for a QB anytime soon.
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:43 pm
Everyone got their bag, no one has incentive to win.
Fire Licht and Bowles now!
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:45 pm
The Bucs offense has looked poor against the average (at best) defenses of the Bengals and Browns. The Vikings Defense pass rush is furious.
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:46 pm
I like Mayfield a lot…and I do think he will turn his game around.
But…I am currently fully in the Fire Bowles crowd. For the first time, I even sent a letter to Jason Licht. Doubt it will matter, but if enough people do it maybe we’ll all matter together.
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:48 pm
The frustrating part is they sunk $165M into this dude.
Little guy can’t see downfield so he needs a perfect pocket or scramble to make any throws.
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:50 pm
James west…I’m with ya dude…. home games on the radio with Deckerhoff back in the day for me.
For all you youngins out there. Home games were NEVER on TV.
You had the radio and that’s it.
I moved out of my parents house when I turned 18. Not enough money for cable so I had to rabbit ear it for the away games. I used to have wires running all over house to try and make a good antennae.
For those of you youngins that don’t know what an antennae is well….
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:00 pm
Optimistic : The Vikings Defense pass rush is furious.
If you’re a gambling man Vikings are favored to beat Tampa by 1 and a half.
I’m taking Minny and I’m not a gambling man. Only for a bill. Not too crazy.
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:01 pm
Football 1 … ‘I had doubts about Anzalone due to his age and the fact that Detroit let him go. However, I did not think he was this bad.’
Something about Anzalone just dawned on me. He’s used to playing in the 4-3 defense, at both Detroit and New Orleans.
He has no experience in the 3-4, and now he’s the defensive signal-caller for Bowles’ quite complex 3-4 defense. He probably looked OK in preseason when everything was ‘by the book’, but once the REAL games started, it seems obvious now that he wasn’t really prepared for what he got hit with.
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:07 pm
Nothing about that offense looked close–it was unproductive and unsafe ball security and dysfunctional. Baker is spastic in the offense as well. Ridiculous, please put our backup Jalon Daniels in at quarterback.
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:07 pm
Close but no Cigar yet.
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:09 pm
All of that is just total NONSENSE. Some of the biggest load of CRAP I have heard. BS. Sounds like BAKER should have been a lot more focused on all the ‘right’ things, and working personally with his WR’s one-on-one, and individually, all during the off-season… Instead of the contract (of course it doesn’t matter now), celebrity golf tournaments, and trying to be a ‘tv-pitchman’ & etc. He’s WASHED. And, THIS is just “WHO” he has always been. Over 90% of the fanbase (if not 98%) was literally SCREAMING FOR Trask in 2023. Not until, THE ‘weakest’ schedule in the entire LEAUGE down the final stretch of that season started to ‘kick-in’ within that God-Awful Division, and Winfield Junior morphing into ED REED, did he FINALLY start looking better. Then, the one COEN ‘outlier’ season, where HE STILL somehow managed to LEAD THE ENTIRE LEAGUE in Turnovers, while mostly ‘dinking and dunking’ and throwing a bunch of short to intermediate passes… And, again, in THE ‘weakest’ Division in the league. ALL “Smoke & Mirrors.” Teams know how to ATTACK HIM. He can’t read defenses. Especially, not PRE-Snap. He doesn’t know where he’s going with the ball. He can’t see the field, when he’s got receivers wide-ass OPEN. BAD TIMING. He’s miserably inaccurate… Even, when he does throw a completion it’s either, high or behind them, or both. But, most always TOO LATE. Just way to much to even mention. HE’S WASHED. Probably injured, and covered it up during his contract negotiations. It’s only going to get even much worse from here on out. Just wait until even the “casuals” begin to LOATHE HIM, and can’t stand even the SIGHT. It’s OVER. The WEAK “Owners” has settled for THIS GARBAGE only because THEY didn’t have enough SENSE to not recognize that it was ALL a MIRAGE from being in THIS Division. So, they get what they deserve, and WE GET SCREWED.
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:09 pm
Bonzai … ‘I like Mayfield a lot…and I do think he will turn his game around. But…I am currently fully in the Fire Bowles crowd.’
Wish I could share your optimism about Mayfield, but I can’t Bonzai. He NEEDS a very strong team around him to even get us to 10-7 (like he did in 2024 when Coen was our OC), but I don’t think he can energize the players we have. People didn’t follow Brady because he talked a good game; they followed him because he made big plays & got his teammates to make big plays also.
I’m not seeing that in Baker; I don’t know if it’s a hero-complex or what, but he’s not energizing the guys around him. None of them are bad players, they’re just not making the big plays that it takes to win NFL ballgames.
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:19 pm
He’s not wrong, we’d be very close if he’d quit turning the ball over.
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:20 pm
Soooooo close, they just need another three months to get there – so be patient.
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:21 pm
Baker Mayfield knows the offense is struggling …
——————-
Rushing game… 6th in yards per attempt (5.0)
Passing game… 27th in yards per attempt (5.2)
The offense isn’t struggling.
Baker Mayfield is struggling and bringing down the entire team with him.
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:22 pm
It’s clear to me that the loss of Mike Evans has taken away much of the deep ball opportunity…and there has been no one to step up and fill that gap.
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:24 pm
Baker got paid……going to suck big time,,,it’s a bucs life
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:25 pm
Will Levis didn’t ‘look-like’ the same Quarterback either, the very MINUTE that COEN LEFT Kentucky. He was a ‘projected’ 1st-Round Pick. But, then COEN LEFT to take the OC Job with the RAMS, and Levis was NOWHERE CLOSE to the same QB for that next season. Looked completely different, and so did the entire TEAM. He was “just a guy” – a JAG. He still ended up being a 2nd-Round Pick, mostly just based off of what he did the year before (and he was a big ‘powerful’ athlete with a strong arm). But, there was an OBVIOUS’difference’ in him the very next season from the jump. His ENTIRE GAME looked different. And, think about it… He couldn’t even get OFF THE BENCH while at Penn State. Couldn’t BEAT OUT Friggin “Shawn CLIFFORD.” Coen MADE HIM. And, then of course, Coen returned to Kentucky the next season, but Levis was already gone by then.
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:27 pm
Bill in Seminole Says:
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:22 pm
It’s clear to me that the loss of Mike Evans has taken away much of the deep ball opportunity…and there has been no one to step up and fill that gap.
———–
Baker had open WR’s deep on 5 occasions.
He hit ONE of them, and that was only because he slipped before throwing the ball, which messed up his timing. Had he not slipped, he’d have missed that one too.
Baker has had guys open, he’s just sucked.
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:27 pm
Zero rhythm to this offense
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:28 pm
“And it’s never gonna be exactly how you draw it up when you install it in meetings and whatnot, but trying to make sure that if it is the perfect coverage for it, that I’m on time; those guys are on time and they’re in the right spots.“
Idk man, maybe take some time after practice with your guys and work that out.
You don’t have to be Tom Brady to learn from him. Several players are on record all over the internet talking about Brady basically auditioning his own guys for targets post practice. Gronk, Lenny, I’ve heard Edleman reference it’s, Marty Bennett and a few other, but Brady will throw you x-amount of throws from the gameplan. If you as a player didn’t catch y-amount of those passes, Tom would not throw you the ball. So guys knew in certain schemes, their job was just to run guys out of a play.
The brilliance in that is in a given concept, Tom had 1 less decision to make, and with that time invested. Brady and whomever he had at skills used it to either show the leverage in coverage/check his targets route and/or make his read before the ball snapped. Which gave of the feeling that he was just always 1-step of had, when it was really Brady being over prepared.
Idk maybe Baker can try some of that out, worked in 2020 no reason it can at least work with this group to get them movin forward. All this sideways and backwards stuff is not it and symptom of it is reps that are downright reductive.
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:29 pm
Get What You Pay For Says:
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:19 pm
He’s not wrong, we’d be very close if he’d quit turning the ball over.
———–
Or if he was just a middling NFL QB.
He had e2 wide open in the endzone, on the last offensive play of the game, for a TD that wins the game, and Baker flat out missed the easy throw.
So it’s not just turnovers, it’s also the fact he’s been extremely inaccurate.
But hey, it’s only been 13-games in a row of him sucking, so I’m sure the odds are in the Bucs favor and he’ll snap out of it any min now.
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:31 pm
The Glazers had to be dead drunk to give Baker that extension
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:31 pm
Coen SAVED both Todd’s and Mark Stoops JOBS. Unfortunately, our WEAK AD friggin PANICKED, and prematurely extended Mark Stoops contract. Then, we couldn’t even fire him for two full more SEASONS (or be left paying a 70+MILLION buyout). But, still ended up COSTING US Osbourne $60-MIL though, by the time it was all said and done… JUST to get rid of him. So, both Stoops and Bowles should “THANK HIM” with everything they’ve GOT. 💯
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:32 pm
Yeah and strippers calling you baby when you give them money must mean they love you. Give me a break – ah ha – this team right now is a dumpster fire. Let it burn, let it burn.
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:35 pm
Mons used to have nothing but 10’s. Now it’s a 6 and a few 4’s.
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:37 pm
My mom(loves Baker) is giving Baker one more game and she’s done with him.
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:39 pm
It’s better to be liked than feared. At least the Bucs are having fun. Keeping it real in Ireland.
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:48 pm
Week 2 stats for those that care, presented without comment.
Bucs offensive ranking…
Passing yards per game: 16th
Passing yards per attempt: 27th
Rushing yards per game: 13th
Rushing yards per attempt: 6th
Turnovers: 29th
Percentage of drives ending in turnovers: 30th
More advanced stats:
Expected points contributed by the rushing game: 7th
Expected points contributed by the passing game: 30th
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:53 pm
Couch potato “ open” and nfl “ open” are two different things. Liam’s scheme gave baker a clear, first read, open target. His first reads, so far, Past the Line of scrimmage , are not clean. Hence, the double clutching, scanning, and running. Even canales had him getting that ball out in under 2.4 seconds. Watch the packer game tape again in 24. Clear, sharp, hit the back foot with authority, ball out. Give the guy a competent scheme. He’s proven he can deliver.
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:54 pm
I hope next year the new HC will play every starter, no matter the risk of injury, at least the first half of every pre season game. Maybe that will make them “close” to being prepared and execute.
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:54 pm
Lakeland Says:
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:31 pm
The Glazers had to be dead drunk to give Baker that extension
————–
It really is amazing that the Glazers, who rarely meddle with the team, choose that weekend to get directly involved, call Baker’s agents, and get a deal done.
Licht, from all reporting, sounded like he was content to just wait and see what happened. For all the people panicking about the cap hit next year – as I said all summer, the Bucs have no history of letting guys they want walk away, and they’d have signed Baker to a new deal had he performed.
Also, the idea of making Baker the 3rd highest player in the NFL, a $65M cap hit for the next three years… why?!? What was the thinking? If you sign someone early, you only do so to get a discount when you’re signing a player like Baker – and they didn’t get a discount. The entire thing makes no sense, and it just seems like the Glazers panicked, probably after listening to all the nonsense in the media. Right now, if they still wanted to sign Baker, they’d save tens of millions of dollars – not that anyone in their right mind would want to extend Baker right now.
Hopefully, and I do truly mean it, I hope Baker can snap out of his 13-game funk. He’s been mostly awful for nearly an entire calendar year at this point so my hopes aren’t high. But who knows, maybe he’ll finally get healthy here shortly.
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:54 pm
This website is a paradise for people who love doomscrolling. Thanks Joe for sheltering the most miserable football fans in the world. I’m not one of them, but it’s fun to stop in and appreciate how far gone other people get about an 0-2 start.
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:55 pm
Let em bake Says:
Give the guy a competent scheme. He’s proven he can deliver.
——–
I just thought he had to get healthy and everything would fix itself.
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:56 pm
Poor tacking. Poor timing. Bad angles. Missing marks. These are all things that a real training camp and preseason could have fixed before the games mattered. Maybe next year the starters should play more than 1 series in the 2nd game in camp.
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:59 pm
just a quarterback away from being good
September 22nd, 2026 at 10:02 pm
Sorry Grizz.
September 22nd, 2026 at 10:02 pm
Baker could benefit from a quarterback guru, whoever is doing that job now ain’t getting it done
September 22nd, 2026 at 10:03 pm
Oh, if it was just that simple, rod. Maybe Zac can adjust this week…
September 22nd, 2026 at 10:08 pm
I miss B Arians, he didn’t sugar coat anything with his players. Brady threw a bad interception and the media was asking about the offensive playing bad, Arians right away said that interception was on Brady. He also created touch down Lenny. Arians gave him a choice, crap are get off crapper
September 22nd, 2026 at 10:14 pm
I’m tired of arguing about Baker not being the only problem. I like his attitude, and I know he hasn’t been great, but so far it seems like he and Bucky, and sometimes Egbuka are the only 3 keeping this offense running. The mistakes, the penalties, the turnovers, the missed tackles, and poor blocking has got to be fixed now.
Don’t know if it will, but I will always be a Bucs fan for life, and I still want to believe in this squad. We just gotta clean all those things up. And I know I’m not the only one that sees the other glaring issues, other than just Baker, from the last 2 weeks. Even if some of you guys don’t want to admit that, that’s okay. I’ve proved my point multiple times. Football is a team sport, and the fanbase shouldn’t be arguing on here all the time, so I’m done with it now.
Moving on from these terrible 2 weeks, and regardless of the negativity, I still think we can beat the Vikes this week, giving us something to build on. GO BUCS!!!
September 22nd, 2026 at 10:23 pm
Yeah psyche wise it’s still interesting…if your Baker your still thinking we’re really just one fumble at the goal line and one dropped pass (or missed interference call) from being 2-0….
My impression is that rib and/or shoulder injury is in play again and he can’t confidently rip off the improvisational throws across his body and on the run that’s his trademark.
September 22nd, 2026 at 10:23 pm
If the Bucs start 0-3 one of the Joes needs to ask the hard question – how dies Todd think Mike Tomlin is going to handle the QB battle between Mayfield and Manning?
September 22nd, 2026 at 10:27 pm
And so the Jalon Daniel’s era is about to begin!
September 22nd, 2026 at 10:28 pm
Evans knew what’s up.
This team is full of experienced veteran losers and posers.
Baker, Winfield, Vea, Wirfs, Analzone, Yaya (aka: Nada), Kancey, etc…
Offensive line blows
WRs are slow
Todd and Jason need to go
September 22nd, 2026 at 10:30 pm
BUCDADDY Says:
September 22nd, 2026 at 10:14 pm
I’m tired of arguing about Baker not being the only problem. I like his attitude, and I know he hasn’t been great, but so far it seems like he and Bucky, and sometimes Egbuka are the only 3 keeping this offense running.
———-
Baker literally has singlehandedly lost both games to open the year… is killing the team with with turnovers, missing wide open WRs, misses a wide open e2 to win the game on Sunday… but he’s not the problem – he’s the solution! Yeah, the final solution.
LOL!
The Baker Boi(s) will never change, no matter what.
September 22nd, 2026 at 10:32 pm
kyle pitts scored 3 of his 5 last season tds vs bucs in 1 game then signs a nice contract. do these opposing offensive players mail out christmas cards to bowles at least? zac robinsin should be thankful as well .gesicki looked like slim jesus out there in week 1
September 22nd, 2026 at 10:34 pm
BUCDADDY… keep on truckin’ you do you man.
September 22nd, 2026 at 10:36 pm
Doughboy… ummm that’s never happening.
September 22nd, 2026 at 10:36 pm
Usfbucs Says:
September 22nd, 2026 at 10:23 pm
If the Bucs start 0-3 one of the Joes needs to ask the hard question – how dies Todd think Mike Tomlin is going to handle the QB battle between Mayfield and Manning?
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To be clear, the following is not what I think will happen, I do not think the Bucs will end up being this bad – but I’m just playing out this scenario.
As I pointed this out the other day, I don’t think Manning would come here. Remember Eli absolutely said he would not play in San Diego, forced his way to NY. I can’t really see one of the Manning’s coming to Tampa when Baker would be on a brand new deal that basically cripples the team for years to come – not to mention the fact that Baker has a history of throwing hissy fits if he has legit competition at QB. I can’t see any of the top college QBs coming to Tampa, I think they’d pull a Bo Jackson, and just the threat of that would likely have Tampa skipping picking them.
Again, I don’t think that will happen, I’m not that doom and gloom on the season, but hopefully we’re not having this exact discussion a month from now.
September 22nd, 2026 at 10:40 pm
Baker is full of S—T if he would work on his footwork and throwing motion his accuracy would get better and he wouldn’t be missing. Also he would get rid of the ball faster. Our rookie back up is a more accurate passer than Baker. And don’t get my words twisted. I’m not calling for him to get put in the game.
September 22nd, 2026 at 10:46 pm
Rod….wow da do think after signing Faker to this new deal they will go after Manning? Answer no. Don’t need a story about it. It’s common sense Rod.
September 22nd, 2026 at 10:50 pm
I trust Baker to call it like he sees it, and it’s a hopeful sign that he thinks the offense is close to coming together. Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee he’s right or, even if he is, that they’ll close the remaining gap. Here’s hoping…go Bucs!
September 22nd, 2026 at 10:50 pm
I’ve been reading all the negative comments and on one hand I understand and on the other hand I just can’t understand. I realize all the Bucs fans out there are heartbroken and are still in a bad mood resulting in negativity.
But I’m just gonna say it !! I want the Buccaneers to succeed and turn this two game losing streak into a 5 – 10 game win streak !!
I believe the Bucs have the talent needed to beat the Vikings at the Ray Jay this Sunday !!
I’m always gonna be rooting for the Bucs !!
Go Baker !!
Go Bucs !!
September 22nd, 2026 at 10:56 pm
Buc1987 Says:
September 22nd, 2026 at 10:46 pm
Rod….wow da do think after signing Faker to this new deal they will go after Manning? Answer no. Don’t need a story about it. It’s common sense Rod.
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You only have Baker for 2 more years at that point, so yes, getting a rookie for 5 years, who might legit be a franchise QB, of course you draft them if you’re in that position.
The rookies have leverage, and what top prosect is going to want to come into this situation where they’re stuck with Baker on a huge new deal that doesn’t give the Bucs cap room to be competitive for years to come ($65M in 2027, $65M in 2028, and even if you cut Baker it’s, I believe, a $30M hit in 2029).
Again, I do not think the team will be that bad – Baker will at some point get on a mini-hot streak, just hot enough to cost the Bucs a chance at a top QB, but not good enough to actually win anything meaningful. Hopefully I’m wrong and they quickly turn it again – which is completely possible.
September 22nd, 2026 at 11:01 pm
I started following a profile on Instagram called “bucsdiehard”.
He has video analysis of different players in the Cleveland game and showing what they were doing right and wrong.
His Baker mayfield analysis is utterly shocking.
I owe Zak Robinson an apology!!!!
There were players open ALL FREAKEN GAME running crossing routes and Baker was NOT going thru his reads at all!!!! Not sure what the hell he was looking at.
His footwork was poor in several of the plays especially deep balls.
But to have him not seeing wide-ass open receivers is BRUTAL!!!!!!!
No excuses not to see Godwin & also Ted Hurst with tons of space.
Sooooo, the Cleveland zone defense wasn’t shutting down the Bucs offense. It was BAKER MAYFIELD!!!! Plain & simple…
I hope you all go and take a look at this analysis. You can zoom in the videos to see the receivers.
September 22nd, 2026 at 11:02 pm
The whole organization is in denial. Maybe it’s too many concussions.
September 22nd, 2026 at 11:02 pm
Here’s an anti-doom and gloom message.
Over the last 7 games, the Bucs are 1-6.
Baker has cost them all six loses. Even if you’re dumb, want to ignore Baker missing a wide open WR to win the Falcons game (had e2 wide open on the last drive of that game on offense, if Baker makes that simple pass I can make, the Bucs run out the clock, win the game) they’d at worst be 6-1. They also would have made the playoffs.
The idea that the entire team is a lost cause is complete nonsense. One guy is tanking this team and not giving them a chance to win, and if Baker can finally “get healthy” – or whatever excuse you want to make for him – if Baker an just play as well as a low-end starting QB, the Bucs can quickly turn things around.
As noted above, so far this year the Bucs are 13th in rushing, but 6th in average – and it looks like it, Bucky has looked fantastic. The defense, for all the whining, is 13th in the NFL, 4th in rushing yards against.
If Baker can get back on track, the Bucs will start winning games. If Baker, after nearly a year of being a garbage player, can get on a hot streak, the Bucs can get on a winning streak. It all comes down to Baker – if he plays better, that along will allow the Bucs to win games.
So if you actually believe Baker is a good QB, then there’s no need to be doom and gloom, things will work themselves out here quickly. And Baker is so streaky, well historically streaky, you figure sooner or later this 13-week cold streak has to end at some point.
September 22nd, 2026 at 11:05 pm
After seeing this guy’s video analysis on Instagram, I’m officially done with Mayfield.
JALON DANIELS deserves some playing time.
Definitely want to see what he can do !!
September 22nd, 2026 at 11:07 pm
BUCDADDY Says:
September 22nd, 2026 at 10:14 pm
I’m tired of arguing about Baker not being the only problem. I like his attitude, and I know he hasn’t been great, but so far it seems like he and Bucky, and sometimes Egbuka are the only 3 keeping this offense running. The mistakes, the penalties, the turnovers, the missed tackles, and poor blocking has got to be fixed now.
Don’t know if it will, but I will always be a Bucs fan for life, and I still want to believe in this squad. We just gotta clean all those things up. And I know I’m not the only one that sees the other glaring issues, other than just Baker, from the last 2 weeks. Even if some of you guys don’t want to admit that, that’s okay. I’ve proved my point multiple times. Football is a team sport, and the fanbase shouldn’t be arguing on here all the time, so I’m done with it now.
Moving on from these terrible 2 weeks, and regardless of the negativity, I still think we can beat the Vikes this week, giving us something to build on. GO BUCS!!!
——————————————-
If any of you were wondering….. This is what a true fan looks like.
Kudos to you, BucDaddy!
Go Bucs!!
September 22nd, 2026 at 11:15 pm
Bucdaddy, I know you wanna have a positive mindset about this team, but bro, this is going to go down in flames big time this year!!
Sorry to say!!!
Yeah we have missed tackles on defense.
Alex Anzelone should be cut, not benched…
Defensive line is still figuring things out…
You can’t cover for Mayfield. This dude is a shell of the 2024 version under Coen.
He’s jittery in the pocket and no longer goes thru reads.
He’s failing to see wide open guys!!! Video doesn’t lie!!
He can’t throw deep, his mechanics is off, and he doesn’t trust his O-line.
That’s a dead QB walking…
We have a great receiving corps, but these guys will not get to showcase their talent cuz of Mayfield.
This was a MASSIVE mistake to sign this dude to a contract that should’ve been postponed to see how he plays this season.
Glazers really screwed the pooch on this!!
September 22nd, 2026 at 11:21 pm
It’s just whistling in the graveyard.
September 22nd, 2026 at 11:22 pm
Exbrown – Most everyone posting here is a true fan, that’s why we post here into the middle of the night, and why we argue with each other.
Btw Rod I don’t really think we will draft Manning. Theres also no way the Joes actually ask a crazy question like I posed. If we were to land the top spot it might be better for us to trade that pick away to get multiple high draft picks to build out the rest of the roster, now that we have the Baker anchor contract around our necks.
September 22nd, 2026 at 11:22 pm
Rod Munch……
Don’t see the losses ending this year.
This isn’t the same Baker Mayfield. He’s totally broken now 🤷🏻♂️.
Defensive veterans will be checking out on Bowles by mid-year this time.
You won’t see them playing hard as they know this scheme is utter crap.
Bowles is toast.
I don’t see 3 wins this season to be honest.
September 22nd, 2026 at 11:23 pm
Call me crazy, but Baker should be calling his own plays in certain situations! Go Bucs
September 22nd, 2026 at 11:25 pm
USFBucs, if we land top pick, totally agree.
I’d love to have Manning but he may not be the top QB here.
There’s like 6-7 that look impressive.
I’d DEFINITELY trade out of the top pics and see if you can land like 3 1’s ( or 2 1’s and a 2) to set up the franchise for the next few years with quality pics…
September 22nd, 2026 at 11:34 pm
Rod: I think what’s missing from your analysis is the truly awful IOL performance. Looking at this season so far:
Ben Bredeson PFF: 51st out of 68 Guards
Cody Mauch PFF: 63rd out of 69 Guards
Graham Barton PFF: 31st out of 32 Centers
I’m not saying that PFF is perfect, but a pattern this strong signals a big problem, regardless. I would amend your message to say: “If Baker and the IOL can get back on track, the Bucs will start winning games.”
September 22nd, 2026 at 11:59 pm
Congrats to THE 2026 AL East CHAMPS, Tampa Bay Devil Rays… a very ‘special’ group of young guys, that have been hanging-out with, and going-out to dinner with one another on ‘road trips’ and beyond, ever since the very beginning of the season!!!! They are FOR REAL… And, they LOVE one another, you can REALLY TELL. There were stories about them going back to “Spring Training,” and the very beginning, where a DOZEN+ would meet up together for dinner, & etc. When, in years past, you’d be lucky to see even TWO of them. This is REAL ‘TIGHT’ bunch here. They are a TEAM.
Though, it’s BS how MLB is STILL inexplicably setting up “THEIR PLAYOFFS” this way!? SERIOUSLY. They get the ‘winner’ of the (best of friggin 3) Yankees and Red Sox, for a 5-game series… When, ALL-3 of these teams are THE BEST 3-TEAMS BY FAR in the AL. So, that means… The ALCS (7gm series) will have a representative, who just BARELY played .500 ball all year long. It’s a DISGRACE. A total JOKE. It makes NO SENSE. I mean, I believe 162 FRICKEN GAMES, is more than enough ‘sample-size’ in order to KNOW ‘who’ the best friggin TEAMS ARE. They, in the very least, could have RE-SEEDED after the Wild-Card Series Round… But, NOPE. So, make it make sense. PATHETIC. It’s pure ignorance.
Anyway, Ras had a ‘no-hitter’ through 6-tonight… AMAZING. He deserves the CY-Young, especially after what all he’s gone through… He’s been soooo good, and I KNEW he could do it!!!! They’ve got to keep it goin. I LOVE THIS TEAM. LET’S GO!!!! Another thing… I ‘called-out’ YANDY earlier today, on my post in Ira’s column. And, HE went 2-5 tonight, with 4-RBI’s… After being on like a 0-FOR-25 SLUMP. “It’s TIME, Yandy!!!!” I know that HE saw-it, too!!!! Hahahahahah GO RAYS!!!! GO CASH (trust your gut, Dude). LET’S GO!!!!
September 23rd, 2026 at 12:12 am
@ LABucFan Says: “Todd Bowles regular-season record as Bucs’ HC: 0.500
Jason Licht regular-season record as GM: 0.467
Glazer family regular-season record as owners: 0.475
For all the deserved trashing of Bowles, I don’t see why Bucs fans should expect any better from this GM and ownership group. At the end of the day, it’s mediocrity from the top-down. I wonder when the dam will break and we’ll start to see similar levels of vitriol directed at the Glazers that Manchester United fans have rightly directed at them for years.”
DING-DING-DING-DING. Just SELL the freaking TEAM THEN, if you’re not going to GAF about ‘WINNING’ and won’t do what it TAKES for what’s BEST for the team and the product ON THE FIELD. JUST GTFO. Just everyone WATCH these new “RAYS” OWNERS, if you wanna see what ‘REAL’ OWNERS LOOK LIKE. They are going to be THE REAL DEAL, and such a great benefit to ALL of TAMPA BAY.
September 23rd, 2026 at 12:43 am
Melvin, please explain your capitalization and punctuation strategies.
September 23rd, 2026 at 12:47 am
Hey, maybe Baker is right and the offense is about to develop a rhythm. I hope he’s right, but my honest guess is that this season is down the tubes already and they’re never going to put it together. There is a rot at the center of this team. Are they all just complacent because there are no consequences for sucking?
September 23rd, 2026 at 1:06 am
Skunk, I’ve asked him before. Never answers. I stopped reading his posts a long time ago due to that unreadable senior quality cap abuse. Dude must be schizophrenic. And how can he, and quite a few others, not get tired of posting and writing the same crap day after day after day after day after day….
September 23rd, 2026 at 1:25 am
Baker is full of crap when he makes the excuse that they’re trying to develop a rhythm.
HE is the problem and trying to play superhero now.
GO THRU YOUR READS, and throw the rock to the open receiver.
You have lots to choose from because DUDES ARE WINNING on their routes. There is video of footage of this in the Cleveland Browns game!!
If he can’t do this simple thing then bench him…
It’s JALON DANIELS time if we lose to the Vikes!!
September 23rd, 2026 at 1:26 am
Bucfan1988 Says:
September 22nd, 2026 at 11:22 pm
Rod Munch……
Don’t see the losses ending this year.
This isn’t the same Baker Mayfield. He’s totally broken now 🤷🏻♂️.
————-
Well he’s been like this for the last 13 games now, so it’s not new, which is why I spent the entire offseason saying play out this year, don’t just hand the man a new contract when he looked like trash for the majority of the year last year.
With that said, again, he’s incredibly streaky, has been so his entire career, so it is not at all impossible for him to just suddenly, out of nowhere, heat up.
Remember in 2023, he was playing incredibly poorly and should have been benched a number of times, then, out of the blue, the Bucs go to Green Bay, and Baker has a great game, completely out of the blue. He was terrible the week before that – then bam, he has the best game of his life. Then the next week, vs Jacksonville, I think he was even better – at least until Bowles shut him down at halftime. BUT, then the following week, at home vs the Saints, playoffs on the line, he comes out and has a horrific game. Then goes to Carolina, with the playoffs on the line, and has an even worse game – and we get the ‘he’s injured’ nonsense that is now the go-to whenever Baker is awful and chokes in big moments. Anywho, after that, the Bucs play the Eagles, and people remember that game all wrong – Baker wasn’t good, but he was OK. Then they go to Detroit, biggest moment of Baker’s career, with 2 mins left, a one score game, chance to be a legend, goes out and immediately throws a pick losing the game.
Anywho, point being, Baker can suddenly – out of nowhere – suddenly look like a good QB. His history says it will happen sooner or later.