Franchise Quarterback Time For Baker Mayfield
October 27th, 2024
So here come the Falcons in what’s almost a must-win game for the Bucs’ chances of winning the NFC South for the fourth consecutive season.
It’s a day to lean on your franchise quarterback.
The “put the team on your back” cliché is in full effect. But that’s no empty saying.
Great quarterbacks find ways, maybe two or three times in a regular season, to play spectacularly and raise the games of those around them.
Call it leadership or “being a winner,” or something else. Whatever that special something is, Baker Mayfield needs to pull it out of his pocket immediately — or sniff it from his ZYN pouch.
Joe can’t say it more simply.
It needs to be a no-mistakes day for Mayfield, plus a day of great decisions, many of which will come at the line of scrimmage.
Mayfield has a lot of freedom to change plays, and Joe suspects that will be in the spotlight today as he figures out in real-time what receivers are capable of stepping up to fill the shoes of the Bucs’ two best offensive players.
Good luck, Baker!
Ira Kaufman Dives Deep Into The Bucs Defense, Another Chris Godwin Angle, Atlanta Matchup & Predictions, Locker Room Vibes And More
October 27th, 2024 at 9:48 am
LFB
Go Bucs!
October 27th, 2024 at 9:48 am
Bucs lose, and playoffs are most likely out of the question.
Odds are the Wild Card comes out of the North, and the Birds would have a three-game advantage on the Bucs for the division crown.
Now or never.
The way the D has been playing, I lean towards “never.”
October 27th, 2024 at 9:54 am
Mistake free ball today Bake, some good fortune ball bounces, and we can pull this out.
October 27th, 2024 at 9:54 am
I consider this a must game. Any plans of another NFC South crown depend on it. This one likely will define our season. Our work is cut out for us.
Go Bucs! You can do it!
October 27th, 2024 at 9:59 am
Okay, Baker, you’re no dummy. Start using your noggin and if you’re in the redzone on Atlanta’s 5-yard line or closer, how about running a QB bootleg option, okay? If you did that last week, Bucs would have gone up 14-0. It would have been an entirely different game as in a win. Snort!
October 27th, 2024 at 9:59 am
This is really it in a nutshell.
Baker has to stay cool under very difficult circumstances. Sure, O-line has to block, especially to have a decent run game. WRs have to catch the ball. The D has to show some kind of backbone.
But if the Bucs get down, or when a WR doesn’t catch the ball, or the friggin Todd Boles soft zone defense keeps letting the Dirty Birds score, Baker CANNOT try to play hero and force throws or hold the ball too long and get sacked. That is a recipe for big turnovers and a blow out.
Go get them Baker. I really want to see what you have!!! Are you a franchise QB Mr Baker?
LFG Bucs!!
October 27th, 2024 at 10:03 am
Pretty sure the offense played well last week, minus the two interceptions. It was the defense that struggled! So that’s my question:
Who will step up on defense today? Do we suddenly have a pass rush? If not, this season is done. A quarterback can only get you so far; just look at Mahomes this year. That current Chiefs team is all about defense—just score enough to win.
Bucs put up 30 that would win a Chiefs game no problem this year they havnt even put up 30 points this year yet. It’s not at all on Baker. It’s a TEAM SPORT…
Todd Bowles needs to earn his check today…
October 27th, 2024 at 10:08 am
Bad Karma. Baker plays best when he can relax and be himself. Don,t put any more pressure on him. The coaches got it right. Just be yourself. Don’t try to do too much.
October 27th, 2024 at 10:16 am
Orlbucfan you are right Bakes needs to run more but the slam on his intelligence was dirty. He does not call the plays and there are so many changes he can make at the line. He probably saw the linebacker assigned to shadow him and that was why he did not run if it was an option at all.
October 27th, 2024 at 10:21 am
That interception in the end zone was great instincts and coverage by a very good CB.
October 27th, 2024 at 10:31 am
Clearly Vita has an Knee injury he is dealing with and he is trying To compensate
Hence the hamstring the defense when he is in the field keys off him and it’s not working the last number of games all Bucs fans can see that your not going to heal a MCL tear playing ever week in the NFL He needs to be removed and Allowed to heal and a replacement put in or traded for then the defense can try to evolve to be better Its no different than what Baker is facing on offense
A running game concept must be devised Along with short screen passes and the OL really needs to step up to open running lanes , receivers left are not suddenly going turn into number 1 targets but they can certainly help block for short screens and other plays , Baker is going to need to very strongly stingy if he decides to pass and to make darn sure he protects himself on a run or scramble because if Baker gets hurt then season could be over
October 27th, 2024 at 10:36 am
Anyone blaming Baker clearly doesn’t watch football; they just watch the Bucs. Mahomes has played worse and made dumber decisions this year, but his defense has bailed him out.
They’re UNDEFEATED!
It’s a team sport. The quarterback bears the brunt of blame when they lose and rides the wave of glory when they win. Ultimately, you need a strong quarterback to succeed in today’s NFL, especially with recent rule changes. Occasionally, you’ll see a 500-yard, 5-touchdown game where you can say he won that for us, but…
Defense still wins championships. Over the last six years, offense has dominated, forcing the NFL to revert to two-high safety sets. This change prevents high-scoring offenses like the Dolphins, Chiefs, Bills, and Bengals from dominating. Now, it’s more about methodical 10-15 play drives to score. You need to play good defense and score just enough, or, more commonly, keep it within one score and have the last possession to win.
October 27th, 2024 at 10:38 am
O-line better bring its A game today. Thats all I gotta say.
October 27th, 2024 at 10:43 am
Joe–No betting segment this week? I look forward to it
October 27th, 2024 at 10:46 am
Grady Jarrett is doubtful, with him out Bucs will run the ball down Falcons throat.
October 27th, 2024 at 11:01 am
This is a particularly crucial game for da BUCS. I wish we had picked an easier game for Orange Sunday though. A win today would be monumental. Baker’s reputation is riding on this too. We already know we are pretty screwed at inside linebacker. I sure hope Bowles super glues that porous defense back together. On the bright side for the offense, Baker has gotten a lot more work with the backup receivers.
October 27th, 2024 at 11:07 am
Yeah hopefully not forced to put up a 50 burger
October 27th, 2024 at 11:08 am
I have a feeling our running game is going to shine today. If they can get that going, Baker’s going to be able to rip the Falcon’s passing defense apart. But, as everyone has pointed out, the defense is going to have to step up or this will turn into a shoot out, which I don’t think we’ll win with our #s 3-5 receivers.
October 27th, 2024 at 11:10 am
If Baker starts pressing, we lose.
Play smart, take what the defense gives you. Hopefully Coen has some new plays dialed up to keep the Falcons guessing.
October 27th, 2024 at 11:21 am
Please throw the ball away when there’s no one open and you can’t scramble out of pressure. No stare down also.
October 27th, 2024 at 11:31 am
Doesn’t matter what Bake does if the Defense fails to show up again
October 27th, 2024 at 11:35 am
Baker wore Godwin’s jersey to the game…. he’s dialed in, we got this. Listen to Coen Baker, not the loser todd!
October 27th, 2024 at 11:40 am
Lol,
Are these Bucs fans are Baker fans?
October 27th, 2024 at 11:46 am
Joe: “The “put the team on your back” cliché is in full effect. But that’s no empty saying.”
This is exactly the problem with the defense – they expect the offense to outscore the opposing offense. The defense is playing to hold the opposing offense under 30 pts instead of their typical 20 pts.
October 27th, 2024 at 11:53 am
The only position groups that seem to be totally healthy right now are (1) OLine; and (2) QBs. Next in line would probably be our RBs. Other than that, we’ve been beaten up all to he11. Bucs best take advantage of our strengths right now.
I agree with Jack Gordon that ‘clearly Vita has an knee injury he is dealing with and he is trying to compensate’. To make matters worse, our only other NT (Greg Gaines) is OUT today. So for a DLine we have a hurting Vea, Kancey, Hall, Brown, Brewer & a hurting Gholston. That’s probably the lightest DLine in the NFL right now. Let’s just hope that they can protect their gaps & once in awhile pressure Cousins.
Our 4 OLBs are healthy, but they’re not getting to the QB (5.5 sacks as a group in 7 games). Worse yet, they’ve given up way too many explosive runs because they’re not playing contain properly (my guess). LVD’s having a decent year, but Britt is hands-down the weakest link in this defense. Can’t keep compensating for that.
McCollum’s playing decent in our Secondary, but he’s fallen asleep periodically & given up some critical plays (and 4 TDs as well as 15 yards/completion average). Funderburk is what he is … a rookie who’s gonna make mistakes. Winfield & Whitehead SHOULD be the best Safety tandem in the NFL, but they don’t seem to be playing like it. Nevertheless, IF Vea can stay healthy for the entire game, and IF Kancey & Hall & Brown & the others show up, we might have a chance to hold the Falcons under 28-30 points.
October 27th, 2024 at 12:16 pm
yeah but what if we actually win the fuggin’ game…
like the replacements……keanu reeves and gene hackman style !
October 27th, 2024 at 12:18 pm
How long you been here LakelandBuc…. so i cant have an opinion w/o triggering you snowflake?
October 27th, 2024 at 12:18 pm
Dude has thrown picks the last couple games and needs to get back on track but isn’t easy to be a franchise quarterback with average targets if you’re not that guy and baker is good not great
October 27th, 2024 at 12:19 pm
We got this….and yes, Baker’s got this!!!!
October 27th, 2024 at 12:19 pm
Will be looking for the defense to step up today. How bad do ya want it bowles??
October 27th, 2024 at 12:22 pm
Browns win
28-17
Winston 2 TDs
October 27th, 2024 at 12:27 pm
Sometimes I think the team is bipolar. One week they’ll look the way they looked against Philadelphia & then they’ll come out & look the way they looked against Denver, etc.
October 27th, 2024 at 12:31 pm
Maybe the Bucs should just go stick with the creamsicle jerseys. They can’t be doing any worse. Hopefully they get through this with a decent record at least.
October 27th, 2024 at 12:31 pm
Lots of trade rumors out there Trask to Carolina or Raiders etc also one rumor saying Baker getting suspended next week for self medicating on sidelines. Idk what truth is but trading Trask for any serviceable WR makes sense.
The Bucs love Pratt beleive in him so also could be just to protect him from being taken off practice squad.
If only we had a professional sportswriter among us to get to the bottom
of it!
October 27th, 2024 at 12:32 pm
SIGN BOBBY BOUCHER! HE MIGHT SAVE THE TEAM!
October 27th, 2024 at 12:34 pm
Madmax – Saw that too. They are on a mission for Chris and Mike today. Go Bucs! Go Baker! Win this.
PSL Bob – Yes, feeling the running game shining today too.
October 27th, 2024 at 12:48 pm
I still love this team from the FO to the HC and “all” the players on the team. And it’s gonna take all of them “ together” to run this opponent out of our stadium. It’s always been about how a team finishes. And it’s always darkest before the dawn. Don’t know if it’s gonna come together today. But when it peaks it will be a beautiful thing to see.
October 27th, 2024 at 12:51 pm
The Bucs defense hold the Falcons to under 20 points
Big game from Yaya, Winfield, Vea, White, Shepard
October 27th, 2024 at 12:55 pm
Baker does best when he gets rid of the ball quickly on pass plays.
It’s a lot of dink and dunk, but we move the ball down the field. Let’s hope he doesn’t try to over-analyze or compensate today.
A good run game will help. Unleash the three-headed monster!
Our D is really going to have to get its act together, too.
October 27th, 2024 at 1:00 pm
The young receivers probably learned a lot just taking reps this week. Can’t wait to see which one takes a step.
October 27th, 2024 at 2:10 pm
No mistakes is a fantasy, but no interceptions would be awesome.
October 27th, 2024 at 2:44 pm
Coach radio. Is trash
October 27th, 2024 at 4:09 pm
LOLZ
October 27th, 2024 at 9:26 pm
Bucs too pass happy why did they stop running ball after first quarter go Bucs jg