Bucs Against The World II
September 12th, 2023
Bring it.
Bucs coach Todd Bowles knows all about how everyone outside of Tampa Bay seems to think the Bucs are chasing college quarterback Caleb Williams next spring (#CollapseForCaleb). Why else would the team replace Tom Brady with Baker Mayfield, the naysayers say.
But as Bowles told Dan Lucas of WFLA-TV Channel 8 yesterday, the noise doesn’t matter. What matters is how his team plays, so Bowles advised his players.
Turns out, the noise is fueling the Bucs.
The creator, curator and overall guru of ProFootballTalk.com, the great Mike Florio, spoke with Mayfield after he led the Bucs to an upset win over the Vikings in Minneapolis.
Mayfield said he and his teammates think the national narrative is a truckload of horse fertilizer.
“It’s kind of been the motto for us the whole offseason through training camp,” quarterback Baker Mayfield told PFT by phone regarding the team’s mindset in response to low external expectations. “I mean, I think you guys see the narrative on the outside of what everybody’s picking against us.
“We know the talent and the group that we have within the locker room. That’s the most important part. So we’ll take a road win to open the season no matter what, especially in an environment like that.”
Mayfield isn’t the first to say all the predictions of gloom and doom are firing their arses up. Carlton Davis this summer told Tyler Dunne of GoLongTD.com, “We’re going to wreck sh!t.“
Whatever it takes for the Bucs to play well enough to win games, more power to the Bucs.
Spoke to Baker Mayfield after Bucs spoiled Minnesota’s throwback game. pic.twitter.com/RSZ83oIBWI
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) September 10, 2023
September 12th, 2023 at 7:17 am
Let’s hope the negative press continues to fuel the Bucs, even when the press changes their tune. And they will have to.
September 12th, 2023 at 7:25 am
It’s a lazy narrative. Because we lose Tom Brady? Did they watch Tom last year?! Look at our roster. We have talent.
Lets continue to be the underdog, underestimated and overlooked. Haters gonna hate!
September 12th, 2023 at 7:38 am
The collapse for Caleb started on this site. I haven’t heard that term anywhere else because no ones has been talking about us.
September 12th, 2023 at 7:47 am
Baker wins Angry Runs week 1. Bet Caleb would have just ran out of bounds.
September 12th, 2023 at 8:14 am
The Bears are terrible. Bucs will start 2-0.
September 12th, 2023 at 8:17 am
All this talk will come to a crashing end when we play Philly
September 12th, 2023 at 8:35 am
If this defense plays like it did this past Sunday then we should beat the Bears. Keep the momentum going!
September 12th, 2023 at 8:37 am
Honestly, I’m glad the Brady era is over. He is the GOAT and it was great having him for 2 of the 3 years. Last years circus took a toll on the team and fan base. It is now time to fugettaboutit (?) and move on. Seeing Brady and Kraft at Foxboro said a lot.
September 12th, 2023 at 9:20 am
Keep that chip on your shoulder guys. It can only help.
Go Bucs!
September 12th, 2023 at 9:33 am
Long time Bucs fans are used to the national badmouthing and under-the-radar crap. Cris Collingsworth (who I hate) blew a gasket when the Bucs won their first SB. I’m rooting for Coaches Bowles, Canales, and whoever coaches the ST to have a great year. Go Bucs!
September 12th, 2023 at 9:38 am
They are trying and giving good effort. Playing hard win or lose is all u can ask. I was impressed on all levels Sunday. If they keep at it they can make the playoffs and that seemed to be mission impossible before Sunday.
September 12th, 2023 at 10:44 am
Baker will be our QB….we’re drafting that big WR from fl. st
September 12th, 2023 at 10:59 am
I was pleasantly surprised with this team win. All I was hoping for was seeing a determined team with competitive fire who minimized mistakes. I got that and a win.
Great job, Bucs!!!
September 12th, 2023 at 11:11 am
Deff knew this deff was going to step up. Shutting down JJ in the 2nd half was a win all by itself. Baker in the 1st half played how I thought he would but he came out swinging in the 2nd half and started to make me a believer with those runs. Gotta say he’s got some heart. Can’t miss wide open TD passes tho. If he can play the rest of the season like he did in the 2nd half of the Vikings game and the D keeps it up we are taking the south and shutting up all the haters. I really HOPE joes fav word we do lol
September 12th, 2023 at 1:45 pm
The Bears had a bad game but I would not underestimate them at this point.
September 12th, 2023 at 2:30 pm
All the players in the NFL are very talented athletes!! They are the best of the best that played this game over the past 15 years or so!! Yes, there are a few total freaks like Patrick Mahomes, Nick Bosa, and Tyreek Hill but for the most part any NFL player can match up to any other on any given Sunday! What separates the players is their mental toughness on GameDay! So anything you can do to boost confidence, gives you an edge.
To me, the Bucs being considered one of the worst NFL teams is totally absurd!! So I’m glad they are being motivated by the lack of respect given by the national media. A little extra mental motivation will help produce more wins. More wins will add to team confidence. More confidence will add to team wins. It’s a mental strength building tool.
September 12th, 2023 at 3:04 pm
Only the Bucs know what they have and are capable of, not the talking bobble heads. If they know in their hearts they can win, they will. Most of us played in an organized sport at some point of our lives and you always knew if it was going to be a good or bad season based on the players you had on your team. I think this offense is going to hum, once they settle in more. Defense is already there in my opinion. Also, folks have to remember BM started his career with the Browns, THE BROWNS!! I think this is a Drew Brees 2.0 situation when he left the Chargers and came to New Orleans. Look at Brees’ stats while with the Chargers. Nothing exciting to see there. I think BM is going to thrive here now that he is with a stable franchise, good coaching and folks that believe in him.
September 12th, 2023 at 3:43 pm
Confido75 : Thanks for the endorsement on the Brees 2.0.