Challenging Baker Mayfield
October 28th, 2026
The Falcons are 3-2 with their starting quarterback this season. The Bucs are 1-3 with theirs.
Joe extra loves Sunday’s Bucs-Falcons matchup at The Licht House because it’s the ultimate no-excuses game.
If the Bucs (2-5) have the leadership they crow about, and Baker Mayfield is ready to play like the Bucs claim him to be, and the team cares about its home fans, it will win Sunday against the decent but not great Falcons (3-4).
There won’t even be a mob of Atlanta fans in the stands to distract anyone on the Bucs, like there has been supporting Tampa Bay opponents in all four home games this season, all losses.
Atlanta is 3-2 since Michael Penix got healthy and took over at quarterback in Week 3. Backup Cooper Rush started Weeks 1 and 2 for Atlanta, both losses.
Penix has 9 touchdown passes and 1 interception this season. He was impressive Sunday in the Falcons eye-opening win against the 49ers. Penix was 25-for-34 with 3 TD throws and no turnovers. Atlanta scored of five of its first six drives. (Yes, anytime an NFC South club beats a great team the win can be called “eye-opening.”)
Atlanta comes in with a strong run defense statistically, but it has gotten a little leaky the last few weeks.
Joe watched the Bears jump out to a 31-7 lead over the Falcons two weeks ago before Atlanta’s fourth-quarter rally came up short. Chicago was able to run out the clock on the ground in what was a one-score game. Still, Chicago averaged less than 3 yards per carry on 33 rushes. But San Francisco was able to run on Atlanta last Sunday.
Joe can’t envision the Bucs beating the Falcons without Baker Mayfield having a day befitting a quality NFL starter, something he has not had all season.
And it’s still unclear if Mayfield can throw effectively with his healing thumb.
Mayfield’s showing on Sunday is primed to be an important one in Bucs history.
October 28th, 2026 at 11:45 am
Its all the snowbirds from Northern cities in the stands
October 28th, 2026 at 11:49 am
The Bears kept Robinson in check,Tampa will do the same.
October 28th, 2026 at 11:49 am
Can we cover the tight end and receiver out of the backfield
October 28th, 2026 at 11:59 am
Not too worried about our defense. It’s the offense.
The Bucs win when Baker doesn’t have to do too much … they knew this at the end of last season … still not sure why they signed him. The team can’t recover from his turnovers.
If the Bucs can run, they win. If the Bucs can’t run, they lose.
October 28th, 2026 at 12:14 pm
Something tells me Baker is averse to playing under center, which would be a game-winning ingredient to beating the Falcons this Sunday. If he could just play under center a little more often, it would bring play-action to life! Aaaaand keep the momentum going with our run game! Or do we need to get Tyler Warren to make this more of a threat under Zac Robinson?!
October 28th, 2026 at 12:17 pm
Unlike a lot of quarterbacks, we face, Pennx is very vulnerable to blitz’s. This is one game where blitzing could affect the opposing team quarterback.
October 28th, 2026 at 12:24 pm
Sir Vocea will blanket Pitts like he always has. Whatever Atlanta expects our coaches will do the opposite and play the element of surprise. We could see wishbone, single wing and empty backfield. Ready to watch the Bucs compete!
October 28th, 2026 at 12:32 pm
Buccaneers accomplish rare NFL feat not seen in 68 years
Joe wrote all about this. No links, please. –Joe
October 28th, 2026 at 12:42 pm
Another couple of 3rd and 28’s coming
Kyle pitts sucks but makes his entire years stats against the bucs
Only 6 more losses to go
October 28th, 2026 at 12:48 pm
Joe … ‘Joe can’t envision the Bucs beating the Falcons without Baker Mayfield having a day befitting a quality NFL starter, something he has not had all season.’
Your words, not mine Joe. Baker Mayfield, with his banged-up thumb on his throwing hand, is the biggest liability in this offense right now. I personally think that he came back too early, and all this game & practice work will lengthen the time it takes for his thumb to heal 100%.
The way our defense played last Sunday, we could’ve beaten the Panthers handily IMO with Jalon Daniels as our QB IF he used exactly the same game plan. Heck, Baker only threw 11 times, and only 4 of them were beyond the LOS (and only 2 of those were complete). I feel pretty sure that Daniels could’ve managed that, as well as handing the ball off 46 times (he’s already got kneeldowns mastered).
My hope this week is that IF our Run Game stagnates and IF Baker can’t ignite the Passing Game, that they bring in Daniels to see IF he can light a fire under our offense. This Atlanta game is far too important to just keep doing the same thing over & over if it’s not working.
October 28th, 2026 at 1:16 pm
Defense Rules Says:
IF Baker can’t ignite the Passing Game, that they bring in Daniels to see IF he can light a fire under our offense….
LOL, you guys are delusional, only if Trask could come back also. Laughable.
October 28th, 2026 at 1:23 pm
has anyone noticed since Winfield has been out, TEs arent running wide open and our secondary has had very few if any coverage bust…
GO BUCS!!!!!
October 28th, 2026 at 1:27 pm
DR they’re not bringing Daniels.
October 28th, 2026 at 1:46 pm
Jason should sign Rudy Carpenter. He’s only 40 and is reported to be in great shape. I always thought he got a raw deal.
October 28th, 2026 at 1:56 pm
Do u know what helps a team that wants to run the ball like the Bucs?? throwing the ball down field once a quarter, let alone once a friggin game!! Loosens up a defense from constantly stacking the box, and maybe just maybe u either complete the long pass, u can get a defensive holding call! Novel ideas i know, but Robinson needs to be a little more aggressive for crying out loud, and God forbid maybe a slant pass to Godwin, Tez, anybody who can get some YAC. Teams will not let us pull off what we did Sunday, a fear of getting burnt deep can accomplish that…I’ve said my peace
October 28th, 2026 at 2:04 pm
Baker is already challenged enough. Mentally, height, winning. All challenging for him.
Dude got $165 million for doing nothing, zilch, nada. 2-7 down the stretch and now 1-3.
Mr Mid QB will never see a SB he doesn’t buy tickets to attend. #Facts
Only the Pom Pom squad is still suspending reality over the hard truth. He sucks.
October 28th, 2026 at 2:34 pm
Baker 300 yards and 3 TDs ,, if he plays a clean game then Bucs win
October 28th, 2026 at 2:50 pm
ProfessorVonDoofus looking for attention.
Will take Tom Brady’s opinion of Mayfield’s passing skills over yours any day. To remind you Brady has been overwhelmingly positive about Mayfield’s arm strength, accuracy, decision making , and leadership.
As for you, Von Doofus, go find a nice game of shuffleboard and leave football to those who understand the game.
October 28th, 2026 at 3:02 pm
DR….Professor Non Brain will be awarded the pulitzer before you see Daniels the rest of the season
Baring injury
October 28th, 2026 at 3:36 pm
I do believe that Carolina played defense differently – having to respect Baker – with BM in vs JD. Me thinks Atlanta will too.
October 28th, 2026 at 3:44 pm
Defense Rules: Agreed. People are talking about Mayfield’s thumb like it’s his pinky toe. Bizarre.
October 28th, 2026 at 3:46 pm
@Gipper
What else is Brady going to say about the guy following him?? Of course he’s all puppy dogs and rainbows.
If Mayfield is just so great, please explain why he’s 3-10 in his last 13 games???
Riddle me that big guy!!! I know a loser QB when I see one. 64 yards! What a joke.
Faker is a complete and total bust. And always will be.
October 28th, 2026 at 4:01 pm
Hope practices real hard with the glove or I don’t see much more throwing Sunday
October 28th, 2026 at 4:12 pm
Professor VanDoofus,
Sorry you were the kid never picked to play in a pick up game. Your bitterness has never left you.
Billionaire owners recognize Mayfield’s greatness. That’s why they are billionaires and you are driving a Tampa metro bus.
October 28th, 2026 at 4:36 pm
BakerFan … ‘LOL, you guys are delusional, only if Trask could come back also. Laughable.’
You might be a Baker fan, BUT … Bucs need to be willing to throw eveything (including the kitchen sink) at Atlanta IF Baker isn’t getting the offense moving. Why Licht & Bowles kept an undrafted rookie QB instead of signing a solid backup is beyond me, but danged, that’s who we got.
And BTW BakerFan, Daniels has thrown 3 INTs thus far. The 1st one was a Hail Mary, and I don’t even count those. The last 2 INTs (in the Steelers’ game) were BOTH to Egbuka, and IF he’d run his route properly, NEITHER one would’ve been intercepted (there’s a lot of video analysis been done on both of those INTs). The two of them weren’t on the same page obviously.
October 28th, 2026 at 4:53 pm
Bucs don’t win Sunday, and lose to the Bears going into the bye, it’s over. We’ll soon know which direction this franchise is going.
October 28th, 2026 at 4:58 pm
I’m a Baker fan, but I must have missed the fan book chapter about demanding your guy play injured and setting him up to let down his teammates.
October 28th, 2026 at 5:15 pm
813bucboi Says:
October 28th, 2026 at 1:23 pm
has anyone noticed since Winfield has been out, TEs arent running wide open and our secondary has had very few if any coverage bust…
GO BUCS!!!!!
—————————-
Couldn’t have anything to do with us finally have a pass rush and improvement by our ILBs could it – duh
October 28th, 2026 at 5:16 pm
Gipper says:
“Billionaire owners recognize Mayfield’s greatness.”
Greatness at what exactly? His ability to fail upwards?? Check his win loss record bro. It sucks.
I already had you pegged as a low IQ type. You opened your mouth and removed all doubt.
October 28th, 2026 at 5:31 pm
So according to you deciding what ints count and what don’t count ,, and this is an honest question, should Bakers INTfor a pick 6 to Otten have counted ??
Also I do believe the Panther game would have been much closer if JD was playing , A) Canales had to at least respect the pass with Baker and couldn’t totally sell out B) we have no idea how many pass plays Baker saw something and checked to a run , or had a run play changed to a better run play at the line . Bakers experience in playing and beating the Panthers in the past should not be minimized , so who knows , a closer game means more chances for Bowles to make the wrong move
October 28th, 2026 at 5:32 pm
Hey Professeer Doofus,
Typing on these pages does not involve “opening your mouth…………..”. That is clearly a concept that you don’t get.
October 28th, 2026 at 5:40 pm
Well if Baker can’t throw effectively because of his thumb then he shouldn’t be out there. BTW “Defense Rules”, Daniels threw 2 picks against the Steelers and 2 against the Packers plus the one Hail Mary against the Vikings. That’s 5 total, not 3. And if Daron Bland had held on to the ball that hit him right in the hands and would have been a pick six in the Cowboys game, he would have 6 total. Me thinks you understate the truth, perhaps intentionally? So maybe you should count more carefully or perhaps you forgot the Packers game.
October 28th, 2026 at 5:52 pm
Wake up!! Mayfield is handicapped due to the glove on his throwing hand. No QB plays a game with a glove on since you can’t properly feel the ball. To think he is going to have a great passing game is stupid.
October 28th, 2026 at 5:58 pm
the first quarter of the season is over. the bucs have moved on to the second quarter, and baker is undefeated this season so lets have a bit more gratitude and positive attitude.
October 28th, 2026 at 6:09 pm
Spot on Joe.
The casual fan will say “just run the ball like last week”.
Two issues with that. This Falcons defense is really good against the run and this ain’t Carolina. Secondly, the Falcons watched last week’s film and will be determined to do whatever it takes to stop the run and force Baker to throw
It’s time for Mr Highest Paid Player in Team History to step up and show why he’s being paid like he is.