Emmanuel Acho: Baker Mayfield Is Holding Back The Bucs And Todd Bowles Knows It
November 9th, 2026
What to do with offense?
The Bucs are in a pickle, says a former NFL linebacker. And there’s not a lot the Bucs can do about it.
Former Eagles linebacker Emmanuel Acho took to his online show, “Speakeasy,” after the Bucs choked away a winnable game on the road against maybe the best team in the league.
The Bucs lost because the offense was simply too awful for words. The Tampa Bay defense gave the offense five takeaways, and the special teams even blocked a punt, but Baker Mayfield and the offense couldn’t take advantage, instead relying too often on Zac Robinson’s favorite weapon, the field goal.
Mayfield put the blame on himself. He should have, Acho believes. Because the loss was on Mayfield, said Acho, who added KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles knows it.
Why would Acho say this? Well, look at the last two weeks. The Bucs basically went full-blown ground and pound and took the ball out of Mayfield’s hands.
Through back-to-back lopsided wins after Mayfield returned from a dislocated thumb, Mayfield was 7 for 14 with 64 yards — combined. Despite Mayfield being almost a non-factor (he threw a sweet touchdown pass after getting chased from the pocket against Carolina), the Bucs were winners.
Last night in Chicago, the Bucs had to rely on Mayfield and the passing offense because they got behind by two touchdowns early and Chicago threatened to blow the game open.
This whole offense is trash outside of the run game. You can get away with playing Red Grange ball against the Little Sisters of the poor but when you face the big boys like the Bears, a one-dimensional offense will get exposed big time.
And the Bucs offense was.
.@EmmanuelAcho responds to if Baker Mayfield is holding the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back:
"Everything King Midas touched turned to gold, everything Baker touches, right now, he F's up!"
LIVE NOW ➡️ https://t.co/c7TWVC8KDb pic.twitter.com/HpSMAP0hVI
— Speakeasy (@speakeasytlkshw) November 9, 2026
November 9th, 2026 at 4:23 am
If we lose to Detroit we’ll have been swept by the NFC north. Just like old times. The offense is a problem, because we have a defensive HC. Fire Grizz, fire Zac, let Coen walk. Todd is still in charge, nothing will change. Fire Zac, find a good OC, then watch him leave. Rince, and repeat. We also need a GM who isn’t swayed by a players moxie.
November 9th, 2026 at 4:48 am
That shot of Anzalone’s disgusted reaction right after the game killing pick 6 said it all. It’s time to be sellers and stock up on draft capital for the rebuild with a new HC and hopefully GM. Best to tank now for a top pick and take a QB.
November 9th, 2026 at 5:07 am
Yes, Baker has moxie. Yes, Baker has guts. Yes, Baker’s tough. Yes, Baker’s inconsistent. Yes, Baker has a big ego. Yes, Baker’s killing this team.
Why on earth did the Glazier’s cave and pay Baker before the season? He should have had a prove it year. I love my Bucs, but we as fans deserve better.
November 9th, 2026 at 5:22 am
Bucnbeeers we literally could’ve waited two weeks and let baker prove it like he said he was going to do at that press conference!
November 9th, 2026 at 5:23 am
Bowles is coaching his ass off and baker is literally ruining it! He’s the reason Mike Evans left for the 49ers no one can make me believe otherwise
November 9th, 2026 at 5:40 am
He looks so fidgety in the pocket. There’s no rythm
November 9th, 2026 at 5:46 am
The loss of Evans is felt in the once vaunted Bucs passing game. I wish him success with his new team.
No surprise that Bucs blew it again. Nice that they made it a game!
The more Ls Bucs stack up the better the odds of a Todd less 2027.
November 9th, 2026 at 5:54 am
Jason Licht failed by A) re-signing Baker after a terrible showing the year prior. B) having a UDFA backup QB- nice kid, talented, but not ready to truly manage a game when the going gets tough.
Bowles has shown that he can adjust defensively although it took a lot of pain and suffering (10 yds off, and linemen dropping in coverage) to get to this place.
Mike Evans really screwed us, he was tired of the circus None of these other guys have the nerve to step up as a #1
This new coordinator seems to be clearly lacking I. Lots of ways.
It’s just a lot of bad- with some good poking through
O line was terrible- false starts are all on you – loud stadium or not- it’s terrible
November 9th, 2026 at 6:07 am
I strongly dislike Acho… But he’s 1000% correct
November 9th, 2026 at 6:50 am
Winfield for Ayuk!!!….PLEASE
November 9th, 2026 at 6:53 am
The oline had many penalties last night which made things harder.
November 9th, 2026 at 6:58 am
Joes, as I read this article and reflect back on the way Baker’s been playing so far this season and the fact that they signed him to a new contract. It reminds me of the old term “bait and switch”, which will now call “baker and switch”. That’s pretty much how I see it because we’re not getting what we paid for. Keep up the good work.
November 9th, 2026 at 7:02 am
I had sent too early… The term should be “Bake and switch”
November 9th, 2026 at 7:13 am
Baker been the problem with this team but he always gets a pass draft a quarterback next year.
November 9th, 2026 at 7:32 am
We knew a good team would force the Bucs to pass and here we are. BM has health issues and JL screwed up by not finding a veteran backup QB. This may be the first team with a horrible record to win the NFCS, allowing Bowles to hang around. Let that sink in.
November 9th, 2026 at 7:33 am
Mayfield is a coach killer.
November 9th, 2026 at 7:41 am
The Bucs Offense out scored the Bears Offense.
November 9th, 2026 at 7:44 am
Baker has been the problem for 4 years. Jason Licht is also the problem with his horrible drafts and his cheap route to free agency.
Bowles isn’t holding the offense back, except for thinking Zac Robinson was worthy the OC position.
November 9th, 2026 at 7:49 am
Baker got his money and the Glazers are the ones to blame. Blowing all that money on him must hurt. Who gives a guy a huge contract after a crap season and a mediocre career? So bizarre. Baker keeps proving who he is, and it’s not a top tear NFL QB. But, gotta give Baker and his agent credit for that fleecing.
November 9th, 2026 at 7:57 am
Put Mayfield on IR. He needs time to heal. Daniels is at least healthy. Mayfield has become an albatross.
November 9th, 2026 at 8:10 am
Mercer, Robinson is the coach killer but guess who hired him? Bowles!!! He wanted ball control he got it!
November 9th, 2026 at 8:11 am
Mayfield Stats 2026 through week 9.
3 TD passes / 4 interceptions / 6 total fumbles / 3 lost fumbles / QBR 32.4
Here is the kicker:
He is directly responsible for losing to Bengals, Browns, Bears, and counting.
He had nothing to do with wins against the Panthers & Falcons.
November 9th, 2026 at 8:19 am
Baker reminds me so much of Favre….when he’s on and making plays, he’s a ton of fun to watch and can hang with the best but when he’s forcing things and turning the ball over, you simply cant win. Favre had some frustrating years, but ultimately had a solid career, hopefully we can find the magic again with the right coordinator. At this point bring in Gruden as the OC or promote one of the assistants. Robinson simply cant scheme anything for our WRs.
November 9th, 2026 at 8:22 am
The loss of Evans hurts. Yes, but Brock Purdy still put up 35 points throwing to players I never heard of. It’s the QB. Mike knew, that’s why he left.
November 9th, 2026 at 8:23 am
Baker shouldn’t be throwing the ball 30-plus times a game. If we lean heavily on a heavy ground game with Bucky Irving, Gainwell and Tucker, we can play true smash-mouth football and keep pressure on the competition.
The current system relies too much on putting the ball in Baker’s hands, and it’s just not sustainable. As Cris Collinsworth pointed out, he’s more of a “roadrunner” style quarterback. In today’s NFL, if you don’t have a pocket-poised passer like the elite QBs, you have to lean on the run game and use varied formations to disguise the offense.
By keeping Baker’s pass attempts in check, we can avoid costly mistakes, stay unpredictable, and let our playmakers do the work.
If we couch coaches can see this, imagine the actual people who run the team. But money has been handed, so the ride will continue after a well deserved mental break aka bye week O_o
November 9th, 2026 at 8:38 am
Mr Mid QB showed the entire football world what he truly is, a choke artist.
His lone TD pass was to the opposing defense! Simply pathetic!!
As long as he’s the QB1 we have no shot at a SB run.
Only meaningless cow pie division titles. Even that is in doubt these days.
Lucky for Todd his putrid coaching can survive in such rotten collection of what passes for football teams.
12-22 is the record of this division. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
November 9th, 2026 at 8:46 am
Actually, it IS our HC that is holding back the team. If we would have hired Coen we would have been 14-3 instead of The Jags last year. But we didn’t, so…
With Coen, Baker led the league in just about every category. He was on fire. Coaching is EVERYTHING. And we are lacking.
November 9th, 2026 at 8:50 am
Baker is a coach maker actually. How quick you idiots forget. A qb has to have at a minimum a good OC. And it’s obvious we don’t.
November 9th, 2026 at 8:50 am
“With Coen, Baker led the league in just about every category. He was on fire. Coaching is EVERYTHING. And we are lacking.”
LMAO
129 career games
130 career turnovers
Ya’ll holding on to the past, it’s time to let that go.
Liam had Rachaad White & Mike Evans with this offense and even then Baker still lead the league in INTs because we asked him to pass for the highest volume in his career.
Currently has, more INTs than TDs right now and the thing is nobody knows what “normal” is for him, but it damn sure isn’t 2024 lol
November 9th, 2026 at 8:51 am
“Bucblind II Says:
November 9th, 2026 at 8:50 am
Baker is a coach maker actually. How quick you idiots forget. A qb has to have at a minimum a good OC. And it’s obvious we don’t.”
Coming out the woodwork in defense of mediocrity is weird.
November 9th, 2026 at 9:04 am
As an OCyoi design plays that showcase your QB’s strength. Either Robinson doesn’t believe Baker has any strengths or he is just really that bad as a coach. I think it’s a combination of both.
November 9th, 2026 at 9:07 am
Acho is a drama king, who’s opinions are heavily influenced by the other idiot on his podcast, LeSean McCoy.
November 9th, 2026 at 9:10 am
Pretty sure nobody cares what Acho says
November 9th, 2026 at 9:16 am
“Acho is a drama king, who’s opinions are heavily influenced by the other idiot on his podcast, LeSean McCoy.”
He’s on the money this go around, unless you’re saying that you’re biased toward Acho & Shady for w/e reasons. Wild thing is, Acho goes to bat for Baker. I’ve literally watched he and McCoy debate over his value multiple times and Acho mostly always sides with Baker.
So maybe you’re just biased.
November 9th, 2026 at 9:31 am
I truly believe Daniels could have won that game for us last night.
I definitely don’t think you would have played any worse.
November 9th, 2026 at 9:49 am
No… No pass blocking and a very poor passing scheme by the OC is the main problem
November 9th, 2026 at 9:51 am
Sorry! The oline penalties turnovers killed momentum..
The offense won’t work when your killing yourself with penalties on the line
Offense needs a rhythm, like Williams had the first 10 minutes
His picks turned the game around
Tampa gets a little something going,then a holding call!
Won’t work..The 1st and 20’s etc…
November 9th, 2026 at 10:01 am
(To mirror Ira Two-Times’ speech pattern for emphasis) Baker fully deserves some of the blame — some of it — but there’s a lot more folks to blame than just Baker — a lot more folks.
Zac Robinson isn’t scheming receivers open, the middle-distance passing game is nonexistent, and there’s a major overreliance on the lateral/screen passing game. Who in their right minds thought Cade Otton should get 8 targets last night, like he’s Antonio Gates in his prime? Don’t say “Zac Robinson,” because I qualified my question by adding the words “in their right minds” — he clearly isn’t since he got the idea in the first place. To make matters far worse, when the receivers actually do get open, they keep dropping balls.
Last year, we thought the Bucs receivers room was among (if not) the best in the league. It’s now the worst in the building, and Mike Evans jumping overboard doesn’t account for the entire fall-off from one year to the next. An MIA 2025 first round draft pick doesn’t help. Tez Johnson dropping balls like they’re magically greased mid-air after Baker throws them doesn’t, either.
There’s more wrong with the Bucs passing offense than Baker. Much more. How about we stop laying everything at his feet, as if things magically get solved if-only (insert QB name here) was under center. Probably only Tom Brady could solve this problem simply by suiting up and, unless anybody’s missed it, he’s a little busy these days. It’s time to start democratizing the blame for this sh*t show to everybody that deserves their share and not just keep laying all of it at Baker’s feet.
November 9th, 2026 at 10:22 am
You can’t keep running up the middle. Screens lack yardage. Getting beat up in the pocket.Shotgun again lacks protection. How about play action plays.Roll out keep the tight end for blocking then let him slip out.There is no imagination!!! They blew this game passes dropped. Penalties …..
November 9th, 2026 at 10:25 am
baker deserves blame, but you can’t blame it all on him. the play calling is terrible, the o-line pass blocking is atrocious, the false start penalties are ridiculous, bucs o-line most likely lead the nfl in false starts. receivers can’t get open or separation, bucs also are probably close to the top of the league in dropped passes, as there were 4 dropped passes last night. baker has to be more accurate that’s for sure but the offense problems ain’t just him
November 9th, 2026 at 10:26 am
the way the o-line was blocking on pass plays, daniels would’ve got ate alive. daniels can’t read a defense or pick up on blitz. it would’ve been the same issue for him that it was for baker
November 9th, 2026 at 10:44 am
We have to get a new QB, #6, just isn’t it! We have to trade Him, and trade Him now……