Cold Day, Hot Offense
December 17th, 2023
How bout those Bucs racking up 210 yards of total offense in the first half with 13 points at halftime!
What is this, 2021?
But it got better. A lot better!
Buccaneers playcaller Dave Canales came out throwing and stuck with it early all the way to a commanding 34-20 win at Green Bay. Rightfully so. He has the pass catchers and Baker Mayfield was rather sharp out of the gate. He finished the half 12-of-14 for 187 yards and a touchdown pass to Mike Evans.
Joe wrote “rather sharp” because despite the strong numbers, Mayfield had a bad fumble deep in Bucs territory. The CBS telecast showed he held the ball 4.4 seconds in the pocket before he gave up the sack/fumble. Three seconds is too long in that situation. It was a rookie mistake by a savvy veteran.
Mayfield also ate a bad sack late in the first half that took the Bucs out of field goal range, but the Bucs and Mayfield made up the ground to kick that field goal and take a 13-10 lead into halftime.
And then came the explosion.
The Bucs kept moving the ball when their chance came in the third quarter. Mayfield methodically led the offense down the field, culminating in a Rachaad White 26-yard touchdown catch-and-run down the seam.
Joe loves how the hostile Lambeau Field crowd and the chilly temperatures were no factor for Mayfield and friends. Mayfield finished with 381 yards on 22-of-28 passing and 4 touchdowns against 0 intercptions.
Tampa Bay scored three second-half touchdowns and dominated the ball on their final drive that ended in victory formation. The Packers never got the ball back after turning it over on downs with 4:18 remaining.
It was all a great, great sign for what might lie ahead in the postseason.
December 17th, 2023 at 3:54 pm
S#ck it, Mayfield haters!!!!
December 17th, 2023 at 3:55 pm
Canales had a great game. Baker played well.
December 17th, 2023 at 3:55 pm
White, should have scored, it would have gave Him a 100yrds on the day, but Great decision on His part!!! LFG!!! GOBUCS!!!!
December 17th, 2023 at 3:55 pm
Oh good. We are stuck with Bowles and Baker now. Ugh.
December 17th, 2023 at 3:56 pm
Saints winning big too. Gonna be hard to pull off a sweep over them.
December 17th, 2023 at 3:56 pm
KEEP WINNING BAKER.
December 17th, 2023 at 3:56 pm
Your 2024 Bucs Starting QB, Baker Mayfield.
December 17th, 2023 at 3:57 pm
They mostly played up to their potential today. The offense looked like they should, the defense, minus the pass rush, played to their potential. This team MIGHT be peaking at the right time.
December 17th, 2023 at 3:57 pm
Jacksonvilles defense sucks mayfield gonna pick them part
December 17th, 2023 at 3:57 pm
Great googly moogly
December 17th, 2023 at 3:58 pm
It’s, time to make a change. Trask is the answer. Fire Bowles. Seriously, this team has holes but they play hard and they have hung together.
December 17th, 2023 at 3:58 pm
This must REALLY HURT all you Baker Haters. Not the real Bucs fans, but certainly all the Haters. Keep winning Baker.
December 17th, 2023 at 3:59 pm
No one had this outcome on their Bingo card
December 17th, 2023 at 4:00 pm
F.I.N.A.L.LY a great all around product on the field for a great win on the road…
Canales must have ignored Bowels to get the Bucs to a win….
GO BUCS!
December 17th, 2023 at 4:00 pm
I’m glad to be wrong about my season prediction. I predicted six wins this year.
If Baker throws for 25TDs, 4000 yards on 64% passing he’s coming back.
December 17th, 2023 at 4:00 pm
I will admit it blindsided me. I would never have seen it coming.
I will tip my beer to the Baker side of the argument. You won this one.
December 17th, 2023 at 4:00 pm
This was probably Canales best called game. He really mixed it up. I love how involved Godwin is now. Guess his wife talking smack may have saved the season.
December 17th, 2023 at 4:00 pm
That… was the first full 4 quarters of football I’ve seen from this team all year.
And… the refs, just damn. So many missed/bad calls
December 17th, 2023 at 4:01 pm
Baker had himself a day. Still need to see more than one good game before I buy in, but credit where credit is due. It was a good day.
December 17th, 2023 at 4:01 pm
Those are GOAT numbers for Mayfield.
Best O and team effort of the year.
Props to the victors.
December 17th, 2023 at 4:01 pm
For the second game in a row, to all Traskies, STFU. Our problem is not QB.
December 17th, 2023 at 4:02 pm
After holding the ball, despite several open guys, and getting the ball stripped, Baker finally decided to start letting the passes go, especially in the middle of the field where he has been reluctant to throw all season. He still missed a few, and made some bad plays, but his overall play was excellent. It’s amazing what this offense can do when the QB actually gets the ball out of his hands to the open receivers. Hopefully, he can continue this, but he has a history of not doing so. We’ll see if he can keep this up. Certainly far, far better than the last two games. If he had played like this all season, nobody would be calling for him to be benched and we’d have more wins.
December 17th, 2023 at 4:02 pm
Agree Oddball, GB was holding a lot. Especially the GB WRs on the sideline screens.
December 17th, 2023 at 4:02 pm
Offense was amazing today. Big win.
December 17th, 2023 at 4:03 pm
Realistic-Optimistic: You’re such a loser! You can’t even give Baker credit for playing a great game. Just that he “played well.” Troll…
December 17th, 2023 at 4:03 pm
Baker showed me somethin today! He had the fumble early, and was pressured early, but came back and showed out. O-line played great in second half! Go Bucs!
December 17th, 2023 at 4:03 pm
Baker was never the main problem all season and he shut a ton of doubters up today…..this defense is still highly suspect, still no pass rush and Jordan Love missed a ton of wide open throws today
December 17th, 2023 at 4:03 pm
Rachaad is so exciting to watch as a receiver.
December 17th, 2023 at 4:05 pm
One Punt…..
December 17th, 2023 at 4:05 pm
I missed today’s game, which does not afford me a chance to decipher whether the pressure on Todd Bowles we have clamored for actually forced him to let his first year OC finally open up this offense. I firmly suspect this is what led to the offensive explosion. It’s hard to fire Todd Bowles (or want to) as long as the offense is trying to put air under the ball instead of forcing two yard runs up the middle every first down, without deviation. I wish someone could tell me if they feel that was the case today? If we have this type of offense (passing), I am all for keeping Mayfield in. As long as we’re going to throw screens and force run every game, I say blow it up with Trask at the helm for the final few games. Guys, we seriously need to get to the bottom of what spurred our offensive explosion today in the Tundra of all places 🙏🏻
December 17th, 2023 at 4:05 pm
bucsfaninOregon Says:
December 17th, 2023 at 4:01 pm
For the second game in a row, to all Traskies, STFU. Our problem is not QB.
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You do realize that a game where Baker actually throws the ball to his open receivers and we move the ball like that points out that it was indeed his poor play that was holding the offense back, right? I mean, seriously. Baker had a career game because he let the ball go proving the offense has been able to do this for a while (which we’ve seen in small bursts).
December 17th, 2023 at 4:05 pm
I complimented his play several times already. What more needs to happen? I’m not going to climb into his bed with you.
December 17th, 2023 at 4:10 pm
“JUST WIN BABY!”
December 17th, 2023 at 4:11 pm
WHERE YOU AT BAKER HATERS???? yeah thats right. crickets…..and just like crickets, go quietly f yourself!
December 17th, 2023 at 4:12 pm
Best Buc’s game of the last couple years.
Punched the Packers in the face all day long and made it happen.
Still, gotta move on from Bowels.
December 17th, 2023 at 4:13 pm
So suddenly Bowles is a genius deserving of keeping his job because the Bucs put a complete game together? That’s one.
December 17th, 2023 at 4:13 pm
.500!!!
Watch out NFL!!’
December 17th, 2023 at 4:14 pm
“The CBS telecast showed he held the ball 4.4 seconds in the pocket before he gave up the sack/fumble. Three seconds is too long in that situation. It was a rookie mistake by a savvy veteran.”
Uttterly ridiculous statement . Every sunday MULTIPLE veteran Qbs hold the ball longer than 4 seconds going deep
December 17th, 2023 at 4:16 pm
Baker was dealing today and the key to it all was that Godwin was the focal point of the offense. If they continue to play like this then no one is going to want to play us in the playoffs. Devin who?
December 17th, 2023 at 4:16 pm
MadMax Says:
December 17th, 2023 at 4:11 pm
WHERE YOU AT BAKER HATERS???? yeah thats right. crickets…..and just like crickets, go quietly f yourself!
————
Look up dude. He finally played a great game by actually throwing the ball to the open receivers that have been there all year. After he had the fumble sack holding the ball too long despite open guys, he finally started just letting it rip and the result is what we saw. It’s why we’ve been calling for the team to move on from him because he hasn’t done this pretty much all season, though the receivers have been just as open.
I never root against the team and was elated with his play. If he could do this 9 out of 10 games, you’d never hear another peep from me on moving on. We’ll see if he keeps it up. i hope he does if the team wants to keep winning.
December 17th, 2023 at 4:18 pm
Big shout out needs to go to the O line. They are coming together at the right time. They are imposing their will in the run game, and keeping Baker clean. Nice job guys.
December 17th, 2023 at 4:19 pm
It helps that Moore is healthy now so we have a legitimate veteran #3 receiver who knows the system.
December 17th, 2023 at 4:19 pm
Devin gone….sorry bro….and i was the first calling for us to draft you…all good…move on and keep winning at life brother…you made it…wish we could afford you but we cant.
December 17th, 2023 at 4:20 pm
Mayfield had a great game. He calm and delivered kay passes all game. Canales
called a much more aggressive game. But most of all Todd Bowles had some kind of epiphany to let his players play to win and uncuff the offense and his play caller.
There is no going back ,Todd you have to play aggressively every remaining game!
Your conservative style has backed the team into a corner, but you have to use your weapons and play to win the rest of the season.
December 17th, 2023 at 4:23 pm
Falconrap Says:
I never root against the team and was elated with his play.
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Nope you rooted againt the team ALLLLL season and here you are cryin a river again.
December 17th, 2023 at 4:24 pm
I love how us winning and Baker having a stellar day has got ” fans” missed off !!?? Unreal
December 17th, 2023 at 4:27 pm
Baker made himself and his family millions of dollars today and Devin White cost himself millions of dollars today.
December 17th, 2023 at 4:34 pm
3 wins in a row at the right time of year. We are trending up baby! Go Bucs!
December 17th, 2023 at 4:35 pm
I cant imagine feeling as stupid as the Traskies must feel right now,
Knowing that Capt Tim,and others, were right along.
Of course, to be a Traskie, I guess you’d feel pretty stupid all of the time.
Run blocking improving, pass blocking getting worse.
One sack Id put on Mayfield( coverage sack).
But our line gave up 4 sacks, on what was historically one of the top 10 performances by a Buc Qb EVER.
Hainsey and Stennie are horrible, and shouldnt be on an NFL field.
Goedeke is mediocre at Right tackle.
Wirfs is average at Left tackle. Playing left tackle is the eye test, and Wirfs isnt as good as everyone thought he was.
Mauch is starting to dominate.
Amazing that Baker had such a legendary performance- behind that horrible line.
Makes today even more impressive
December 17th, 2023 at 4:35 pm
How sweet it is. I’m still laughing at all the fake fans on here. Canales got a brick dropped on his head. The rocks woke him up. I fell asleep at the half. But hearing that ME13, Ungodly CG14, White, and Otton caught passes. Offense won the game and scored 30 points. Sure wish I had beaucoup of $$$$ cos I would be at RJS next weekend. Tampa vs. Jax. Great lineup.
December 17th, 2023 at 4:35 pm
The runs up the middle are telegraphed so the opps are all over them. Like to see better play design so the opps at least have some doubt on what’s going to happen. White as a wide receiver looks awesome. And Moore…what a tight window that was and he has breakaway speed! Hats off to our QB…a great game.
December 17th, 2023 at 4:40 pm
Losing sucks- can ruin the rest of a Sunday. Winning seems just relief. How many games left?
December 17th, 2023 at 4:41 pm
Baker …6yrs, $175million
Super Bowl!
December 17th, 2023 at 4:44 pm
baker looked great today…
really slingin’ it out there…
a little bit of trouble in the pocket holding the ball, they gotta work on that a bit…otherwise a baker/canales gem
December 17th, 2023 at 4:45 pm
Captain Tim is a tool. Complete buffoon
December 17th, 2023 at 4:45 pm
and i’m liking our new 3rd receiver…was wondering why they had him stashed away for so long
December 17th, 2023 at 4:51 pm
I haven’t been very impressed with Baker, and missed the game today due to work travel – but damn boys – nice game! I’ll shut up now about Baker!
December 17th, 2023 at 5:09 pm
@TBBF
Only 1 punt? Wasn’t counting, but that’s amazing.
5 beers, I was count those though.
December 17th, 2023 at 5:14 pm
USEtoCOULD: best comment of 2023 season!
We need to face facts guys…this is now a good team. Not a great one, but a good one, that another pass rusher, and O lineman can help us out with next year.
December 17th, 2023 at 5:22 pm
It was a great win. If defense can hold up the Bucks have a good chance to make the playoffs. One more thing to all the Baker haters and Baker lovers. He is playing on a one year contract. He will not be playing here next year. If takes the Bucks to the playoffs like I think he probably will, he will sign a deal elsewhere if not they probably won’t bring him back.
December 17th, 2023 at 5:47 pm
Tony marks Says:
December 17th, 2023 at 4:23 pm
Falconrap Says:
Nope you rooted againt the team ALLLLL season and here you are cryin a river again.
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I haven’t rooted against the team once this season. You’re just being an idjit like usual. You simply have your whole team identity wrapped up in Baker. I don’t I want the best QB playing, whoever it is, because I want to win. I’ve felt all season that the best QB was sitting on the bench and Baker showed suckage for most of this season. He played great today. I don’t have, nor did I earlier, a problem rooting for the team or him. I want to win. You, it seems, would rather lose with Baker than win with Trask. I just want to win regardless.
December 17th, 2023 at 5:54 pm
Baker Mayfield made history Today.
First visiting QB to Lambeau to have a Perfect QB rating.
Unbelievable.
December 17th, 2023 at 7:07 pm
Hoping this is a turning point for Canales. He took what the defense gave him and didn’t get fixated on a particular approach. BM had his best day, but has had a good season overall, given the situation. I’m not sure why so many folks hate him? I am concerned about the defense. Why does Bowles consistently go into the prevent when his team is up more than 10 points. D needs to tighten it up. They are allowing too many points to be scored.
December 17th, 2023 at 9:11 pm
I said in preseason that Baker’s teams don’t lose because of him. Go Bucs!
December 17th, 2023 at 10:07 pm
Congratulations to our Bucs on a big and complete performance. We all must remember that the team is still settling in to the new OC’s game plan. Of course the offense is going to keep having bigger games. GO BUCS.