Will Baker Mayfield Play Against Eagles? Too Early To Tell, Says Todd Bowles
January 8th, 2024
Will ribs and ankle heal this week?
Yesterday it was clear to Joe that Baker Mayfield was in a lot of pain or discomfort and his injured ribs hindered his throwing motion in some way.
He lost zip on his fastball. Long passes died like ducks. He was inaccurate.
Joe nearly hit the floor when after speaking with Bucs coach Todd Bowles at halftime, FOX sideline reporter Shannon Spake claimed Bowles told her Mayfield was playing fine.
Fine??? He likely had his worst game since he signed with the Bucs.
After the game, Bowles admitted Mayfield wasn’t 100 percent. And as far as the playoff game against the Eagles next Monday, Bowles didn’t know if Mayfield will be good to go.
“He was banged up,” Bowles said of Mayfield. “But the times he had to throw, I think they had great coverage. You’ve got to credit their defense, too. They played very good defense, and we were off, weren’t clicking on all cylinders. …
“As for Baker, I’ll see how he feels and how he goes through his treatment this week, and we’ll make that determination as the week goes.”
Not too encouraging.
In such an important game, for Bowles to have no apparent inclination to go to the bullpen and bring in Kyle Trask with injured Mayfield clearly struggling (he also hurt an ankle in the first half), well, Joe once again says that says a lot about the coaching staff’s trust in Trask.
Remember, Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales last week said of Trask, “He’s ready.” Apparently, he’s not ready enough to bail out Mayfield in a win-or-go-home game.
January 8th, 2024 at 6:14 am
We need new coaches, who can coach
January 8th, 2024 at 6:22 am
This is what happens when you put yourself before the team. There was zero reason Baker should’ve played that whole game. Between the injuries and terrible play, he should have been pulled and rested.
If the Bucs couldn’t beat Carolina with Trask or Wolford then quite frankly they don’t deserve to be in the playoffs. You could clearly see Mayfields play was affected by his injuries, keeping him in was ignorant by Bowles and selfish by Baker.
Had we played any other team those decisions would’ve cost the Bucs the post season. Here’s hoping o hoping his fully healed before Monday Night. Go Bucs!
January 8th, 2024 at 6:24 am
The fact that the Bucs went right to a pass when Trask came in differs with your opinion, Joe. You don’t go straight to a pass play when you’re bringing a guy off the bench if you don’t trust his ability as a QB. You just don’t. Not benching Mayfield due to his obvious pain and inability to make the deeper passes says more about Bowles than Trask. We don’t need to revisit Neal, JTS, White, etc… do we?
January 8th, 2024 at 6:24 am
Hard to undesrtand this haré in Bowles.
No salara cap, 4mm QB, New OC, not a very talented roster with some exceptions, and he Makes the playoffs…..
Really hard the undestrsand all this moanning and bitch&&g!!!
January 8th, 2024 at 6:34 am
Bowles has been in love with Mayfield before either became a Buc. Bowles can not see the forest for the trees. If Mayfield continues to play Monday night as he did yesterday, and Bowles leaves him in, the Bucs will lose and Bowles needs to go spend more time with his family.
January 8th, 2024 at 6:35 am
We need new coaches across the board. We will go nowhere with Mr. Bowles leading the way. He’s a terrible HC for a million reasons.
January 8th, 2024 at 6:36 am
Prolly one and done.
January 8th, 2024 at 6:50 am
Baker was reaaaallllly bad yesterday. And he was reaaaaaaallllllly lucky it was not a 4 pick game. I hope we go deep into playoffs…. But from what I saw yesterday this team should not be in the playoffs.
Cake schedule and luck…..now cake 1st round playoff game. Does anyone actually believe this team is explosive and can turn it on and off as needed?
Y’all better start finding 4 leaf clovers.
January 8th, 2024 at 6:59 am
Caught a little break for Monday night, an extra day+ to heal.
January 8th, 2024 at 7:13 am
Why is that Bowles time and time again is reluctant to make changes for the good of the team. Keeping Baker in the game when he was so obviously hurt, doesn’t instill confidence in his coaching decisions going forward. It isn’t like he is
permanently replacing him ,but saving his chosen QB from further injury.
January 8th, 2024 at 7:14 am
I only watch the team if Mayfield plays. I could give a crap less if a team is on the field I am only in for the Baker Mayfield show, win or lose. Baker>The Buccaneers.
January 8th, 2024 at 7:15 am
The game is on monday nite so it gives him an extra. day to heal.
January 8th, 2024 at 7:17 am
Bowels doesn’t want to look stupid. If Trask comes in and balls out how does that make his sham of a competition and decision to ride with Baker all year look?
January 8th, 2024 at 7:19 am
7 days until an azz beating by the Beagles
January 8th, 2024 at 7:20 am
From what i saw receivers were dropping good passes. Evans should have had one in the first half. Palmer should have had a TD on the drive that gave them 9.
January 8th, 2024 at 7:27 am
Bunch of losers commenting about coaching and Mayfield.
They made the playoffs, cooter boys.
I know you feel more important being the negative on all of this. Get some help. Or go cheer for Jameis. He takes team votes and ignores the coaches.
January 8th, 2024 at 7:27 am
Exact reason Bowles has to go. The guy can’t make the right decision.
January 8th, 2024 at 7:31 am
Yeah Bowles time is up. Poor decision making. We put a player at risk by putting an injured Mayfield in a game against the worst team in the nfl. It was a no brainer to just let him heal n give Trask an opportunity (manage the game) to pull us through along with a defense that was balling out. Mayfield sustained more injuries in the game. Now, Because of Bowles bonehead decision, there’s a possibility that Trask may have to face an Eagles team (much better than the Panthers) as our starting qb in the playoffs. Please someone help me understand the reason Trask has not allowed the opportunity to prove himself. He’s been sat, learned n waited behind Brady for 2 years n still he’s treated like a udfa rookie. But when u have a coach like Bowles who last year wouldn’t allow the GOAT to go for it on 4th n short, that says much about his 70’s ball mind set. The Eagles coach will out coach him again.
January 8th, 2024 at 7:33 am
I’m really not trying to see Baker go 22/37 for 164 a yards an INT, and a garbage time TD when the game is over. Baker has had 4 good games since the bye week. Texans, Titans, Packers, and Jaguars. He was bad to below average in both Falcon games, Lions, Bills, 49ers, Colts, both Panthers games, and the second Saints game. If he was setting the world on fire while playing hurt that would be one thing, but he’s 42-65 for 446 yards 2 TD’s and 2 INT’S, which should of been like 4 or 5 INT’s after all the dropped ones yesterday. And most of those yards and all the TD’s were in garage time vs the Saints too. Offense is averaging 11 points per game over the last two. That isn’t good.
You got Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and an offensive line that has been pretty good in pass pro. Oh and the defense they are playing this week is garbage. Most NFL QB’s should look good in that situation. Give me the guy that is actually healthy. Not the guy that has been inconsistent all year and is now trying to play limping around with a bad ankle, hurt ribs, and has been the second worst deep ball thrower all season
January 8th, 2024 at 7:38 am
Again, you shouldn’t put off what should’ve been done today til tomorrow In other words, if they had won that game at home against the Saints with ( Mayfield and most of the starters healthy, ) Mayfield could’ve set out this last game . As far as coaching change. Bowles to me haven’t done a good job this season too inconsistent and far all of us who want Bowles gone, who do the Glazers turn too. Belichick is 71 and has lost a little of his mojo. All these top assistants are not proven HCs. Remember all of the coaches who just got fired was top assistants just 2 or 3 years ago. I do like Mike McDonald the DC for the Ravens if Bowles is let go after Monday’s game
January 8th, 2024 at 7:38 am
I have no way to watch this loss. Shucks.
January 8th, 2024 at 7:47 am
As a Fan since 1976 I have never seen such Loosers as fans that want the team to lose .. This is the new Generation of Fantasy ..Lets looses than draft the next Brady and than hire the next Bellichick …When reality was that Brady was a 6th rd pick and Bellichcik was a retread failure HC from Cleveland….As a Fan I want to Win and do not care how just Win.
January 8th, 2024 at 7:48 am
Tell me the coaching staff has zero faith in Kyle Trask without telling me they have zero faith in him.
January 8th, 2024 at 7:49 am
Does it really matter???
January 8th, 2024 at 7:51 am
@ModHairKen
Zactly!
Negative attention is all some of these posters will ever get.
They sucked at ball. Never got the girls. Yell at kids to get off their lawns.
You know ‘em.
To those same malcontents, “What time do the Saints, Falcons and Saints play next weekend? The Jaguars?
Remind me please.
January 8th, 2024 at 7:53 am
The ankle worries me more than the ribs. Bases on where he grabbed it, it looked like he strained his Achilles. The need to do an MRI to make sure there isn’t any damage, otherwise he’s risking a complete tear if he goes out there again before it fully heals. Both Eagles starting safeties are out, a healthy Trask who can drive the ball down the field is a better option than a QB with sore ribs playing on one leg.
January 8th, 2024 at 7:56 am
Dom, I am not sold on Mayfield either. For those who think we’re Mayfield haters just go back to the games and stats. A lot of over and under throws, holding the ball too long, missing or not seeing wide open receivers and a lot of passes batted down ( with the exception of Sunday’s game, you could clearly see Mayfield was injured ). He does have hart and seem to be a great them leader and teammate. What’s more confusing to me is, this year has been one of his best years in the NFL. Anyway, no matter what happens, I am still a diehard Bucs fan since 1976, and I will watch every game next season
January 8th, 2024 at 8:02 am
I never thought that there would be a faction of Buccaneers fans that would be miffed about achieving playoff/division champ status. Were you happier when the team didn’t win a playoff game between ’03 and ’20 and didn’t make the playoff’s in that same frame other than 05? Were you happier with Simms? Gradkowski? Garcia? McClown? Freeman? Leftfoot? J. Johnson? Rattay? Glennon? ……Be appreciative.
January 8th, 2024 at 8:07 am
@Popcorn Mike
100%, the one thing I will give Baker credit for is he’s a gamer. Even in those games I mentioned where he was bad to below average he had moments in the end that helped win them the game. Take the second Falcons game. He was awful all game but he turned it on in the last drive to win them the game. Unfortunately, that won’t work in the playoffs. The teams are too good to do that. He has a lot of heart which is very admirable. I just don’t think he’s the guy if you want to compete for Super Bowls
January 8th, 2024 at 8:08 am
yeah and Baker ran with a bad ankle for 2 key first downs-no interceptions and how many receivers were ever open? Cody Mauch got ran over multiple times cant anyone block?
January 8th, 2024 at 8:09 am
Hey Tom Brady are you available to start in case Baker can’t against the Eagles.
January 8th, 2024 at 8:14 am
The Baker vs. Trask non-debate all year aside, Trask should have been put in the game. He’s the #2 backup for a reason.
January 8th, 2024 at 8:18 am
JerkingCircleofEpileptics,
I completely agree with your statement. I moved to Tampa 23 years ago and during that time I can’t recall a more sour and disappointed fan base for winning the division like we are seeing this year.
I predicted six wins for this team. They ended up getting 9 wins and the division. Four months ago I would have bet anyone $1000 that the Bucs weren’t going to win 9 games and the division and I would have lost. Most people would have taken that same bet.
Appreciate it. Appreciate Baker. He’s going to be the starter next year and the Bucs will draft accordingly.
January 8th, 2024 at 8:19 am
“Fan Boys” say: the playoffs! Now, set-aside logic, shut up and be thankful for the reward of mediocrity.
“Winners” say: Our goal is to win the Super Bowl and this QB and coaching staff will never get us there. No one should be celebrating this season as a success
.
Ignore the history and quality of play. Enjoy your week of delusion. With Bowles, this is all your ever going to get.
January 8th, 2024 at 8:20 am
Yesterday we saw what an injured Baker could do running this offense, no touchdowns, period. Winfield Jr showed why he is the MVP of the Bucs and the best safety in the NFL. Bowles showed why he was too stubborn to play a healthy quarterback vs on who had a injured leg and ribs preventing him from being able to put any zip on the ball.
The Eagles have been failing for weeks but due to a coaching staff that is so damn stubborn and set in this philosophy of slowing games down to keep it close, they are very, very unlikely to “turn it up” vs the Eagles. Philadelphia knows that Mayfield is hurt and they have some dogs on their defensive line that will take advantage of this weak Bucs center and bring pressure from the inside.
The Bucs are a passing team despite the delusion that they can control the clock. They cannot because they can’t string together long drives by running the ball. Worst in the league as we all know.
Only when Mike Evans gets into the game and gets the ball does this offense show any juice. Good coordinators know how to get the ball in their playmakers hands. You know Tyrek Hill, Stefan Diggs and CeeDee Lamb are going to get targets from their quarterbacks and make the big plays even though the defense double covers them but our coach just surrenders that Evans is double covered and they don’t target him.
If Mike Evans gets an offer with a team that will feature him every game, I would be very surprised if he stays with the Bucs, who don’t feed him the ball.
January 8th, 2024 at 8:25 am
“Fine”
That’s what I always told my father how I was doing in school 🙃
January 8th, 2024 at 8:30 am
Hopefully Baker Mayfield starts and plays well against the Eagles. The playoffs are not the time to start figuring things out with a new quarterback against the defending NFC champs. I’m praying to the football gods that Dave Canales sorry as doesn’t keep wasting our first and second downs running between the tackles.
January 8th, 2024 at 8:34 am
I am happy the Bucs won the NFL Jr Varsity championship aka the NFC South. Bowles is just so full of coach speak. Baker didn’t play well, was it the defense or was it his injury? Bowles really isn’t going to say but one thing is sure, Baker is going to start against Philly.
January 8th, 2024 at 8:42 am
This has nothing to do with Trask. Last time we saw him play he looked good. This is all about promises Bowles made to Baker when he was signed.
Baker could have made more money to be a backup. HeII, for all the crying about how many different OCs he’s had in his career, he could have stayed in LA with McVay, backed up Stafford, and had consistency at OC. But no, he chose TB and a new OC because Bowles promised him a starting gig.
Bowles wanted to draft Baker in the 2018 draft. This year he got his guy. Bowles likely promised him he would remain the starter all year regardless of performance.
January 8th, 2024 at 8:44 am
Oh please with this BS !!! JBF !! You know better !! Does anyone believe we play Philly with Trask ? This is just plain journalistic drama …. Stirring the pot! Don’t try selling that you believe Bowles BS !
January 8th, 2024 at 8:47 am
Oh and by the way, if we haven’t noticed the Saints didn’t make the playoffs, priceless!
January 8th, 2024 at 8:48 am
I’m over the Atlantic right now on a 787 returning from France and just wanted to check in to let Joe and all you Bakies know that Bakey S U C K S.
January 8th, 2024 at 8:49 am
Come Monday, Midge Moxie will be ready to go. You can bet on it. And you’re welcome for the Jimmy B. reference.
January 8th, 2024 at 8:49 am
The Saints were at least playing like a playoff team, unlike this sh**show
January 8th, 2024 at 8:54 am
Trask is ready to play but Bowles and Canales trust factor with Mayfield means the coaches will let Mayfield tell them whether he can go and if Mayfield shows he can make throws in practice, then he’ll be the starter.
Trask just doesn’t have any starts or playing experience to overrule the trust factor between Mayfield and coaches.
January 8th, 2024 at 8:55 am
The last time Trask played he couldn’t score a touchdown with his out of bounds pass. You geniouses want to play a QB with no experience in the most important game of the year! PS THe Bucs beat 3 reams with winning records not 1 and it would have been 4 if they didn’t blow the Houston game
January 8th, 2024 at 8:56 am
All the negativity is quite weird.
We should just try and enjoy it man. This team was never supposed to be some SB winning make noise in the playoff roster so let’s just see what happens.
Saints & Panthers are both division rivals with top 5-10 defenses when you look it up. Sh1t happens. QB played bad and hurt.
IMO I’m ok with Baker/Bowles coming back and re loading the roster unless they have some coach in waiting that is an offensive mind and obvious upgrade.
We need a new C and maybe C + LG. Thank god for Hainsey falling on that one fumble but man he was getting knocked back and the pocket getting collapsed most the game
We lost in the trenches vs a 2-15 team. Their D-line & O-liens outplayed ours. That is not good
January 8th, 2024 at 8:56 am
No reasonable person knows how good Trask might be now if he had as much real live NFL playing time with starters ad Mayfield has. That includes the coaches. As anyone who has coached knows, practice can only tell you so much about how someone would look with game experience under their belts.
That said, I also think it is pretty clear that at this point, with the difference in experience, a healthy Mayfield gives us a better chance against the Eagles than does Trask.
Which is why it seems like such terrible coaching not to have pulled Mayfield for Trask when he was hurt during the Saints game and kept him out resting until this week. If we are not good enough to have beaten the Panthers with our second team QB, surely we should not be in the playoffs anyway. But, in the playoffs, surely we need Mayfield healthy, and so should have rested him since the injury.
I freely admit NFL coaches know a lot more than me, and that my playing and coaching experience is all at a much much lower level than theirs. But bad decision making is the only way I can come up with to possibly explain this one.
YMMV.
January 8th, 2024 at 8:58 am
This is actually the best of all worlds. The Bucs get to start Kyle in a game without a coach’s or comeback QB’s career on the line.
This is NOT on Mayfield!!! A gamer is going to GAME. If he can walk he’s suiting up. It’s up to the coaches! They had to see what we all watched so painfully for four quarters. Jobs were on the line yesterday so if Bowles didn’t wish to trust an unproven rookie in literally the game of Bowles career..OK…but now there is no excuse and lots of reasons to start Trask.
Mayfield has made his bones. Negotiate on a new deal for next year…nothing too long term or guaranteed.
There should be minimal pressure or expectations of Trask. A rookie making his first start in a playoff game where his team is an underdog will not face high expectations. As long as he doesn’t throw up on himself the Bucs can get an idea of what they have. IF Trask played lights out that certainly would affect the Mayfield negotiations. IF Trask lit it up it would probably make a difference in the draft as well.
January 8th, 2024 at 9:01 am
This was supposed to be a down year. And it was and they still won the division. Now they’re out of salary cap. Hell. A lot of rookies played this year. They have three division championships under their belt consecutively. Maybe this is just the beginning.
January 8th, 2024 at 9:02 am
Here comes the Trask talk again. And again like last week we will hear nobody will expect much from him. It is a bad situation to start him in because he is a ROOKIE. He has had no time with the starters. Could not possibly throw multiple td’s. But yet he is the greatest backup and should have started the season to begin with.
January 8th, 2024 at 9:05 am
Jason Anthony Sturgess Says: “The last time Trask played he couldn’t score a touchdown with his out of bounds pass.”
Nice try. Godwin caught Trask’s beautiful pass in the end zone 2 yards from the right sideline but failed to get both feet inbounds like he should have. You obviously haven’t seen the video of the pass. Typical Bakey Boi.
January 8th, 2024 at 9:07 am
Gotta laugh at all the Bakey Bois panicking to defend their loser hero who could muster only 3 fields goals in 60 minutes of football.
January 8th, 2024 at 9:13 am
I agree with Times up completely. Trask definitely could have won that game against the panthers while Baker rested, bad coaching and selfish on Baker’s part.i tried to tell yall
January 8th, 2024 at 9:21 am
Todd will start Baker against the Eagles and if he looks bad in the first half , Todd will put in Trask to start the second half. If Trask wins the game Todd looks like a genius and if he does not Todd will say we did not have Baker and blame the loss on Bakers’ injury. This is a no lose scenario for Todd and one I expect to play out Monday , unless Mayfield suffers incapacitating injury in the first half and same scenario would apply , just with Trask entering in the first half.
January 8th, 2024 at 9:21 am
“Joe once again says that says a lot about the coaching staff’s trust in Trask.”
Nope. It’s because (1) Bowles obviously promised Mayfield the starting job and is leaving it up to Mayfield to say he can’t play, and (2) Bowles knows Trask is likely to light it up and expose Bowles for being the idiot he is.
January 8th, 2024 at 9:22 am
Joe once again says that says a lot about the coaching staff’s trust in Trask.”
Nope. It’s because (1) Bowles obviously promised Mayfield the starting job and is leaving it up to Mayfield to say he can’t play, and (2) Bowles knows Trask is likely to light it up and expose Bowles for being the fool.
January 8th, 2024 at 9:24 am
Clueless Todd! What a goober!
January 8th, 2024 at 9:29 am
Trask looked like a legit NFL QB this preseason and improved markedly since last year. I understand Bowles hesitancy in playing him in such a critical game given his lack of prior experience in even regular-season games, but he could have been given some real playing time in the 4th Quarter of both the Green Bay and Jacksonville games when we were in full control of the outcome.
It’s the job of the coaches to get their backup QB ready to play in case he is needed. That Trask has never been allowed to get real live game reps is absurd. Why have a backup QB if you’re afraid to use him when needed?
Contrary to what some posting here believe, we do NOT know how Trask would perform given a real opportunity. Even professionals in the league get their evaluations dead wrong at times. That’s why Brady was drafted in the 6th round and why Brock Purdy (also known as Mr. Irrelevant) was drafted at the very end of the 7th round last season and is now one of the best QB’s in the NFL.
January 8th, 2024 at 9:31 am
C’mon. No coach is purposely going to Pearl Harbor his entire team if he trusted his backup, which he clearly doesn’t.
January 8th, 2024 at 9:33 am
Their isn’t one 3rd string QB in the league that couldn’t have played better than Mayfield. The Online and running game did most of the offensive damage. Can’t say an injured baker played bad. His stats are in line with most of his games this year. But the defense won the game. Won’t happen in the playoffs. Team can’t drag baker to every victory.
January 8th, 2024 at 9:34 am
If you have a stud QB I can understand letting him play while injured. But we don’t have a stud QB. We have a barely-starter-level QB who struggles against more often than not. Why TF are you acting like we need him, even when injured? The dude is average when healthy and was horrible yesterday.
We don’t “need” him to play through injury. Him playing through injury is not “moxie,” it’s stupidity. He was clearly not up to the task. 3 dropped INTs and Winfield heroics saved his sorry azz. Against the worst team in the league, in the final game of their season, when they were mailing it in. Lucky, lucky, lucky.
January 8th, 2024 at 9:38 am
Nope. It’s because (1) Bowles obviously promised Mayfield the starting job
C’mon. No coach is purposely going to Pearl Harbor his entire team if he trusted his backup, which he clearly doesn’t.
Joe, you, me, and every fan saw Mayfield play like sh** yesterday. You can’t convince me that Bowles didn’t see that all week in practice. Or that he didn’t see it during the game. He obviously plans to ride or die with Mayfield. He pinned his season on him, and nothing will make him bench the guy.
January 8th, 2024 at 9:41 am
Joe Says:
“C’mon. No coach is purposely going to Pearl Harbor his entire team if he trusted his backup, which he clearly doesn’t.”
You’re talking about a guy who started the guy who was “outplayed in training camp” (your words). And he did that because it was promised, which now plays into the decision to continue playing the training camp loser. But you prefer knocking Trask.
January 8th, 2024 at 9:42 am
Also Joe, why are we supposed to have faith in Bowles’ player evaluation skills after the Diaby, JTS, DWhite, Goedeky at LG, Feiler, Ryan Neal debacles? Nothing this guy does says “I’m good at evaluating talent.”
January 8th, 2024 at 9:42 am
I am assuming not all Bucs fans are like the few that are on here bashing the coach, bashing the qb, bashing the oc, bashing the owners…. This team over achieved, PERIOD. These Bashers are losers and I bet have very few friends because of their constant b!tching.
I hope Mayfield gets a $30M+ a year contract else where, because Tampa fans represented on this board don’t deserve any winning at all, so they can just BASH and B!TCH.
January 8th, 2024 at 9:43 am
The Bucs are the NFL’s tallest midget. Winning this division is no great accomplishment. We lost games to teams that were worse than us, and we never beat a good team that was healthy..The Fleagles are crippled, so maybe we can put off getting slaughtered by San Francisco for the following week. It’s depressing to think we’ll be stuck with Bowles and/or Mayfield for the future.
January 8th, 2024 at 9:45 am
bulldog Says:
Nice try. Godwin caught Trask’s beautiful pass in the end zone 2 yards from the right sideline but failed to get both feet inbounds like he should have.
—-
Liar liar pants on fire. he pretty much threw a pick the first throw but was bailed out by a flag and then the next he went to receiver with no space. No way Godwin could have got his feet down while trying to get to the ball in that space
It would defy Physics due to his run to get open. Try again. I remember that play very well because back then you all were trying to sell it like you are now.
January 8th, 2024 at 9:48 am
Me too!
January 8th, 2024 at 9:48 am
Please let it be ATL
January 8th, 2024 at 9:49 am
Bowles’ job was on the line along with all his coaches…..Mayfield’s potential contract was on the line.
I don’t have a problem with the two of them making the decision for Mayfield to play……win or lose, it’s their a$$es on the line.
January 8th, 2024 at 9:53 am
Joe Says:
C’mon. No coach is purposely going to Pearl Harbor his entire team if he trusted his backup, which he clearly doesn’t.
—–
Its useless Joe. They are going to die on that stupid hill.
Yesterday sealed the argument. You got to be some kind of silly to think Bowles is thinking I’d rather get fired than put in the best QB. Like you said He CLEARLy has no trust in Kyle and at that level with all that was on the line right or wrong he holds that mistrust for some kind of cause.
January 8th, 2024 at 9:54 am
Love this… the final argument of the Baker Bois and Trask Cans … may be settled in a playoff game.
But seriously, Bowles know if Baker can’t go, he had a perfect alibi if they lose by 30.
January 8th, 2024 at 10:04 am
BakerFan Says:
I am assuming not all Bucs fans are like the few that are on here bashing the coach, bashing the qb, bashing the oc, bashing the owners…. This team over achieved, PERIOD. These Bashers are losers and I bet have very few friends because of their constant b!tching.
I hope Mayfield gets a $30M+ a year contract else where, because Tampa fans represented on this board don’t deserve any winning at all, so they can just BASH and B!TCH.
————————————————————————
@Bakerfan,
I also am a Baker fan as well. But Baker’s injuries are clearly impacting him significantly and he didn’t play well. He gave Carolina two golden opportunities right at the beginning of the game for interceptions. Had the Panthers accepted these gifts the game may have gone a different way.
January 8th, 2024 at 10:09 am
realistic-optimistic Says:
Joe, you, me, and every fan saw Mayfield play like sh** yesterday. You can’t convince me that Bowles didn’t see that all week in practice. Or that he didn’t see it during the game.
—
What we all saw was the score at the end and the won division. Bowles made his call and he WON much to your chagrin. Did baker look really beat up? sure did – at times like the walking dead.
However theres really nothing incredible or strange about Bowles decision. HE’s alwasy bet his career on defense. It was the lowly Panthers so he wanted a guy that even half dead knew how to run the offense even when he wasn’t throwing well. For all the talk of “coulda been” picks there were none and your crystal ball can’t say Kyle with his lack of experience woudn’t have thrown any – well you can but not without me lauging at you.
NOw against the Eagles? Different story – if Baker is still banged up by th end of the week even Bowles knows he can’t dream of a shutout.
You gake buc fans can be salty all you want. Coach made his decision and its validated by the win. You lose – just like you traskies have lost all season.
January 8th, 2024 at 10:13 am
Baker, while I agree with you that the QB bashing is overdone. But it is soooo overwhelmingly obvious that Bowels is a liability as HC. And he is WEAK. He coaches like he is scared.
You say the team over achieved, but you don’t know that. The prognosticators calling for 5-6 wins were simply wrong. I say the Bucs managed to be an average team despite having Bowles as HC. Insert any one of the 20 or so top HC s and the Bucs are good for 2-3 more wins.
Here is the litmus test for evaluating a coach’s effectiveness. Look at the spread in the team’s performance when at their best and at their worse. The larger the spread, the worse the coach. So where do the Bucs fall on the consistency continuum? I rest my case.
January 8th, 2024 at 10:13 am
Bucs defense had that game completely handled. The only reason Trask didnt play is because both mayfield and bowles are stubborn and proud. Now they pushed him even further into injury and it showed… while our back up who couldve used the reps… the reps he didnt ONCE ALL SEASON.. had to sit and watch mayfield flounder around. Theres no trust being shown and its just disrespectful to trask at this point. He may turn out to be a stud and the second his oppurtunity arises he will bounce from Tampa to a team that is willing to give him his chance. Bowles and bakers love affair is a cancer to this team.
January 8th, 2024 at 10:27 am
AW Jr was the sole reason for yesterday’s win. He saved 10 points single handedly. The defense gave up 0 points yesterday. 0. Any QB could have won yesterday and Baker still almost screwed it up. I’m not a huge believer in Trask but the Baker stans are acting like he’s the worst QB of all time. It’s year 3 and we never seen him with the starters. No one knows what he is. But I bet he would have been better than a hurt Baker yesterday. The coaches are just incompetent when it comes to personnel decisions. They’ve shown this for two years straight
January 8th, 2024 at 10:34 am
Trask is not #2 but #3 that is why they kept Wolford-Wolford is miles better than Trask-Trask jerseys are the lowest price so why dont all you trask lovers buy them up since hes right next to Brady in your minds.
January 8th, 2024 at 10:34 am
Baker was visibly hurt. He should’ve been pulled, but I don’t see how that makes Baker selfish. That’s a silly statement. Every baller is gonna play hurt and play until their coach pulls them.
January 8th, 2024 at 10:36 am
The Baker hate reminds me if Cowboys qb Dandy Don Meredith hate in the 1960’s
“Outlined against a gray November sky, The Four Horsemen rode again Sunday in the Cotton Bowl. You remember their names: Death, Famine, Pestilence and Meredith.” -Dallas Times Herald
January 8th, 2024 at 10:45 am
Joe Says:
C’mon. No coach is purposely going to Pearl Harbor his entire team if he trusted his backup, which he clearly doesn’t.
… except for Bowles
January 8th, 2024 at 10:53 am
Well, 1st off, I read everything on here. Great site. The bucs have been hot/cold this season. Either the defense plays great or the offense does. Everyone can blame, everything. for whatever reason. But, 3rd division champs, Baker is top 10 in every reasonable metric. Canales “balanced” approach, even with the up the middle runs, works. Bowles, Glad to see the risks early, and conservative when winning. I feel for Trask, never given a chance, but, they have never tried to trade him, so is probally decent. All that said, for a “rebuilding year” and cap space, can anyone fault, winning the division? Baker will be back, probally 3 year contract, Trask, traded, as will the coaches. Oh, 35-17 bucs vs eagles
January 8th, 2024 at 11:00 am
Bosch, your ” litmus test” is your own contrivance. You could use that to determine any coach in the NFL and get a spread. No different than our coaches. The niners got smacked around big time in the middle of the season. The spread would be there. Same with the cowboys. Obviously same with the eagles. Vegas has a long history of being quite accurate. They were off by nearly three games with us. Clearly they were wrong. I’m not a fan of our coach but neither you nor I have any way of knowing that if we plugged in. Kyle shanahan we’d have two, three more wins. It just doesn’t work that way because then everything changes and it’s not the same team or circumstances.
January 8th, 2024 at 11:03 am
When your game plan is not to lose rather than to win and your quarterback is maybe 70% healthy, the Bucs were extremely fortunate that Carolina did not ever score and take the lead. As for next Monday and the Eagles, If your quarterback is not 100% healthy, the Eagles will make it a long night for Bucs fans. As for Baker, haters will always hate regardless how well he plays.
January 8th, 2024 at 11:03 am
When your game plan is not to lose rather than to win and your quarterback is maybe 70% healthy, the Bucs were extremely fortunate that Carolina did not ever score and take the lead. As for next Monday and the Eagles, If your quarterback is not 100% healthy, the Eagles will make it a long night for Bucs fans.
January 8th, 2024 at 11:07 am
Bowles just admitted Trask is doing reps this week with the first team offense. Go back and re-read what he said. The fake ‘fans’ on here can f### off. Hey joes, where’s the kudos for Special Teams?? They scored the 9 points. And Camarda nailing a 70+yd punt? Neutron bomb, anyone? McLaughlin kicking 50+yard FG? Who has to defend these two kickers of the world? That’s right. The Defense and Special Teams are already fired up. And All-Pro Wirfs has issued a challenge to his crew and Canales.
January 8th, 2024 at 11:07 am
^ Exactly.
This isn’t an indictment of Trask, it’s an indictment of Bowles, once again showing he’s stubborn to the point of stupidity.
Hopefully Baker has some private doctors that can shoot him up with all sorts of cocktails to increase his mobility / decrease his pain. Cuz we are 100% screwed if he plays like he did yesterday again.
January 8th, 2024 at 11:09 am
This site seems devoted to ripping a guy who was a major reason the Bucs are now in the playoffs. I didn’t see many open receivers yesterday because the Panthers have an excellent pass defense and their overall defense is #3 in the NFL. But Canales should have stuck with the slant patterns that they were unable to stop and used screens instead of again sticking with runs up the middle that haven’t worked all year. Mayfield came through with critical third down plays late in the game that ensured the win. Nobody really expected the Bucs to do this well this year. At the beginning of the year Booger McFarland basically said the Bucs would be terrible. Yet they win the division. Congratulations are in order for Mayfield and the whole team.
January 8th, 2024 at 11:13 am
Rewatch the game. Baker had 3-4 worse games this season. Also, Bowles isn’t going to signal to the Eagles which QB to prepare for. If Baker is out, the soonest we’ll hear is Friday, but more likely game time. His ribs should be better next week than they were this week and the ankle should be good enough by Monday.
January 8th, 2024 at 11:20 am
We ride him all Season and you think he will sit against the E Gals, CMON MAN!!! If he was going to sit it should have been yesterday. Prove me wrong again Baker!!! LETSSSS GOOOOO BUCS!!!!
January 8th, 2024 at 11:21 am
bulldog Says:
Nice try. Godwin caught Trask’s beautiful pass in the end zone 2 yards from the right sideline but failed to get both feet inbounds like he should have.
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Liar liar pants on fire. he pretty much threw a pick the first throw but was bailed out by a flag and then the next he went to receiver with no space. No way Godwin could have got his feet down while trying to get to the ball in that space
It would defy Physics due to his run to get open. Try again. I remember that play very well because back then you all were trying to sell it like you are now.
————
Tony Marks, once again stop spreading garbage!!!
The FIRST play Trask had when he came in was the BS false start by Stinney that pushed them back 5 yards. Mind you, it is 2nd down, cuz Baker got injured on 1st down…this 2nd play was the throw to Godwin that Godwin didn’t get his feet down. It was a perfect throw, and Canales admitted to it as well after the game..
January 8th, 2024 at 11:22 am
So let Joe get this straight: Joe is “ripping” a guy who he thinks should be “Comeback Player of the Year” and the Bucs may want to re-sign?
So Joe pointed out Mayfield had a bad game — he did — and that is somehow a character assassination of the guy? When did reasoned analysis somehow become such an evil?
If you think Mayfield had a good game, you should really catch a game where top-shelf quarterbacks play.
January 8th, 2024 at 11:25 am
You’re beef is with Todd Bowles, not Joe. It is Bowles who kept the door open.
January 8th, 2024 at 11:28 am
Yesterday’s game was rough. I know Mayfield “almost” had 2 picks but he had none. I’m only speculating here but one reason Bowles didn’t want to go to Trask was “fear” of turnovers. They killed us in the Saints game, especially the fumbles by White and the inexplicable fumble by Palmer, both coming after what were huge gains. (Palmer has been a big let down for me).
Canales had no answers to the Panthers pass coverage. They doubled Evans and had tight coverage most of the game on Godwin and our TEs. He did nothing to counter it. White out of the backfield with WRs clearing out the middle of the field to leave a LB on White for example.
I was screaming at the TV for them to run a flea-flicker on 2nd and medium to allow Evans to get behind the coverage or at least get him in one-on-one. Just give their D something to think about. We were very predictable again.
Tell me….when you see Thompkins lined up wide right and he goes in motion what do you expect? A jet sweep of course. If he’s on the field and doesn’t go in motion, look for a quick throw behind the line and “hope” he can make a move or get some blocks. It’s a huge “tell” any time he’s out there.
Our TEs are like robots out there, going through the motions of running a “route” but someone forgot to program them to know how to catch as well.
I hope Mayfield is able to go Monday night. If not I hope Kyle is up to the task. More importantly, I hope Canales digs deeper into his playbook with some “surprises” that he’s saved for special occasions (like the playoffs).
Maybe we’ll even see a fake punt and let Camarda show off some of his speed and athleticism? I won’t hold my breath.
Go Bucs!
January 8th, 2024 at 11:29 am
Joe’s, you’re seeing this verbal war going on with the Mayfield vs Trask supporters….
What is your take on the way Bowles has handled this with the blowouts against Greenbay & Jacksonville, and Trask getting no opportunity to play??
Curious to know here??
This has creating MAJOR dissension with the Bucs fan base on your site.
Don’t remember seeing this much QB controversy before….
January 8th, 2024 at 11:32 am
GLASS HALF FULL GUY, you know during TC when Trask & Mayfiekd were battling, it was MAYFIELD that had all the turnovers, not Trask. That was a daily topic on Joe’s coverage.
Once again, Bowles has zero excuses here on how he’s handled this…
January 8th, 2024 at 11:40 am
Wow! I’ve never seen so much complaining from fans when their team actually makes the playoffs. Allow me to let you in a little secret – TB doesn’t have the roster of the 49ers, Bills, Eagles, or Ravens. Instead, you have some young players who are learning and gaining experience. Mayfield is ranked 12th out of 32 QBs and you still complain. You have the BEST safety in the entire NFL and a receiver who will make the HOF. Chill out and be glad you’re in the playoffs against a struggling Eagle’s team.
January 8th, 2024 at 11:51 am
GDT, we are complaining because our offense is ANEMIC!!
This being led by a dide now with injuries galore and Bowles is too stubborn to do the appropriate thing and put Trask in…
You can’t have an anemic offense against the Eagles.
It’s pointless to make the playoffs and get your a$$ handed to you in the wildcard game cuz you can’t get 1st downs…
That’s why a ton of us are complaining….
January 8th, 2024 at 12:26 pm
After Winfield’s play the game was close but never in jeopardy so Coach stayed with Mayfield. He had the most skin in the game with his Incentives. Has nothing to do with trust in Trask.
Bucs put up 9 points and to be generous you could tack on another 3-7 due to kneeling at the end of the game. So in two games Mayfield put up 33-37 points in 2 games on a team that gives up 24.5 (49 for2) points a game. Jax put up 26 points on the Panthers one week before with a back-up QB. Some might argue Panthers match up better with the Bucs. That would be pretty sad if your claim to fame is you match up well with a 2-15 team.
Had Trask come in and put up a bunch of points it would have diminished the value that some think that Mayfield has built this season and it would have created a decision of what to do going forward.
Sure Mayfield may have played because he is tough but self preservation and financial gain was also a big part of it.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:28 pm
GDT, go look at the full history of the Tampa Bay Bucs over the last 49 years, and you’ll get the mindset on here. It’s not rocket science.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:46 pm
What he said:
Irishmist Says:
January 8th, 2024 at 7:53 am
The ankle worries me more than the ribs. Bases on where he grabbed it, it looked like he strained his Achilles. The need to do an MRI to make sure there isn’t any damage, otherwise he’s risking a complete tear if he goes out there again before it fully heals. Both Eagles starting safeties are out, a healthy Trask who can drive the ball down the field is a better option than a QB with sore ribs playing on one leg.
Why are you and I the only ones to notice this? Why are Bucs so silent on his ankle injury?
January 8th, 2024 at 12:48 pm
Its funny to me that a lot of you want Bowles fired even though the Bucs made the playoffs. The defense bailed out the offense once again and yall are whining because some of yall want Trask to play. Hurts throwing hand is injured and I don’t hear Eagles fans wanting to risk the playoffs to let a backup QB play. Trask is a backup for a reason. Maybe he isn’t as good as a 70% Baker Mayfield. Also, Trask isn’t anywhere as elusive as Baker so why would Bowles start a backup for their first NFL start in the playoffs on Monday night against one of the top D-lines in the league. I’m glad many of you don’t make personnel decisions for the Bucs.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:51 pm
Hey coach, we’ve got a backup who’s gonna take over the league, save your job and be the new franchise QB. Are we gonna put him in?
‘Nope. I promised Baker the starting gig, and dammit we’re all going down on the sinking ship together’
– Traskie logic.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:58 pm
Tony Marks – you have to tighten up your debate game man. You can’t attack the person you are debating on Baker’s could have been interceptions point but then use Trask’s could have been interception as your argument against Trask. It’s not logical.
On to the issue at hand, now we have our starting QB more banged up for the playoffs. We should have started Baker and once we all saw his performance we should have shifted to Trask coming out at the half. In the first series have the trainers working on Baker to see if they can ease some of the pain to slide him back in again if Trask is stinking things up.
January 8th, 2024 at 1:04 pm
I can think of 3 QBs who were buried on the depth chart and turned out great when given a chance.
Brady, Favre, Purdy. Hundreds more capped out at decent or worse.
The odds are the coaches see what they have in Trask in practice and if given a shot he’d be in the latter category. There’s no way you go with him unless Baker is so injured he cant play.
January 8th, 2024 at 1:14 pm
I hope Trask can come in and play like a champ. The last time we played the Eagles they beat Baker up. Being already hurt coming into this game I don’t know if Baker can make a complete game unless our O-line comes up big.
January 8th, 2024 at 2:07 pm
Baker gives us the best chance to win, and he has earned the right to play if he can go. I think this team is better than last years team. Not going to apologize for another division title and playoff appearance. Panthers, are horrible, Dirty Birds just ran their coach, and I cant even begin to understand what goes on in the heads of those guys in Nawlins. Sad sacks, and bellyachers can embrace their loser nature and begin their wait for next season. There are fans in NO, Atl, and Car that can use the company. Still more football to come, and meaningful games to be played here.
January 8th, 2024 at 2:32 pm
This is why Bowles needs to go. It was obvious to everyone that Baker was not 100%. He kept throwing balls to parts of the field with no one there. He also continued to hold on to the ball too long. Three trips to the red zone to only come away with 3 field goals. I am not sure where the offense keeps disappearing to, but they need to get their crap together for the Eagles. Thankfully, the Eagles are self-combusting down the stretch, so the actually, might be beatable. However, Bowles mismanagement on the field is clear and he should be relieved of his job when we are done this with this season. I am not sure about Canales, because I think he called some very questionable plays on Sunday. Thank God the Panthers are such a lousy team and thank God for Antoine Winfield and that golden, defensive play to deny the Carolina touchdown, which was recovered as a fumble. Give Winfield a big contract. He has saved the Bucs several times this season. Bye, bye Bowles. Ciao Canales. Go Bucs and thanks for all the fish.
January 8th, 2024 at 3:37 pm
johnnymoon Says:
January 8th, 2024 at 7:47 am
As a Fan since 1976 I have never seen such Loosers as fans that want the team to lose .. This is the new Generation of Fantasy ..Lets looses than draft the next Brady and than hire the next Bellichick …When reality was that Brady was a 6th rd pick and Bellichcik was a retread failure HC from Cleveland….As a Fan I want to Win and do not care how just Win.
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Its this website. It’s flooded with negativity. The worst I’ve seen
January 8th, 2024 at 4:06 pm
Kyle Trask is ready. He’s been held back by the coaches for 3 years now. The only chance the offense comes alive is if Trask plays. I think he’s capable of pulling a Nick Foles and lead the team to a superbowl.
January 8th, 2024 at 5:41 pm
You are the dumbest bunch of know it alls that ever existed. Does our offense play against the whole team. NO THEY DO NOT. Carolina’s defense is ranked 3rd in the entire league in yards allowed, 2nd in the nation against the pass. Wake up idiots this was not the WORST DEFENSE in the league. Far from it. Philadelphia defense is much worse.
January 8th, 2024 at 7:59 pm
Let’s bottom line this. When looking at the adjusted QBR, Baker is 18th overall. He’s had 2 elite games, 2 above average games (70+), 4 average games, and 9 games below average or awful (5 games were awful – Under 30 QBR). Just for comparisons (I’m not using last year as Brady was 12lbs down going through a divorce, playing behind a much worse pass blocking line, and running an offense that had become extremely predictable), Brady in 2020 had 8 games above average, with 5 of those at elite (80+), and 2 average in a 16 game season. In 2021 he had 11 games at above average with 7 of those at elite, and 4 average. He had a total of 8 below average games in 2 years and 33 regular season games, 3 of those coming against the Saints. Two years to have the one less below average game as Baker has had this year alone. Nobody expects him to play as well as Brady in his good years, but nobody thought Brady was all that good last year, but we still knew he could make a comeback on teams at any time. Baker…not so much. I would be happy with a QB that could be in the top 10 of adjusted QBR because I think it’s a better indicator than raw stats, especially when the QB is known to run up their stats at the end of losing games against prevent defenses.
He’s gritty and tough, and all that, but he misses open guys all the time, and panics way too often. That’s the bottom line. And we’ll probably end up signing this guy to a decently large contract, because we’re the Bucs and it’s a Bucs life.
January 8th, 2024 at 8:49 pm
We are in the playoffs because of Baker Mayfield
We are NFC South CHAMPIONS because of Baker Mayfield.
If he is ok, we can win
If not, we have no chance.
This is a bad Team, with a Franchise QB proving his worth.
Without Baker, its just a bad team
January 8th, 2024 at 10:00 pm
Capt.Tim Says:
January 8th, 2024 at 8:49 pm
We are in the playoffs because of Baker Mayfield
We are NFC South CHAMPIONS because of Baker Mayfield.
If he is ok, we can win
If not, we have no chance.
This is a bad Team, with a Franchise QB proving his worth.
Without Baker, its just a bad team
_____________
I’m assuming whatever you’re on is an illegal substance, right? Franchise QB? FRANCHISE!? The 18th best QB in a QB sorry year? The guy with only 4, FOUR!!, games that were better than average and 9, NINE!!!, below average!? That guy!!?? Perhaps you should call 1-800-CHARTER. If you don’t get help there, please get it somewhere.
January 8th, 2024 at 10:41 pm
Strategy against the Brotherly Shove play. Have 5 biggest D linemen stand up at the line of scrimmage. . When ball is snapped jump as high as they can and come down on the O linemen. Let’s see how the Eagles offense does with a couple of replacements in the O line.
January 8th, 2024 at 11:37 pm
You people are the absolute worst fans in the NFL ! Same people who said our Bucs were going to win 5 games at most ! You all are forgetting that the Panthers have a top 5 defense .. And I don’t care if they limped into the PLAYOFFS ! They made the PLAYOFFS and won the Division, AGAIN ! Why don’t you go ask Jets fans, or Chargers fans, etc , if they would trade places with our Bucs ? Bears , and on and on . Super Bowl in 2020 , would have been back to back Super Bowl wins 🏆 🏆 if not for the AINTS Bounty Gate 2.0 game in 21 , still won the division. 22 won the division at 8-9 , and now, in 23 , with zero cap room, a bunch of rookies, and a QB that had to follow TB12 , we win the division and made the playoffs AGAIN ! What, do you think that we are supposed to win the Super Bowl every year to make you happy ? There’s 12 or 15 teams that have never won a single Super Bowl or even made it to the Super Bowl ! Bunch of pansies azz fans who sell their tickets to the opponents fans 🤔 You are the ones who are terrible ! Go Bucs and thanks for another great year regardless
January 8th, 2024 at 11:57 pm
Stop crying like a bunch of spoiled kids 🤧 😭 😪 !! The lions just won their division for the first time in 30 YEARS !! 30 YEARS OF NOTHING !! Are you kidding me ? Lmfao 💯 you all are the worst fans in the WORLD ! You think you know better than Todd Bowels on how to coach an NFL team ? He has forget more about football than you will ever know. You couldn’t hold his play book , or even his game day underwear on a 100 degree day at Ray-Jay in September ! He has made mistakes, but he’s also gotten the best out of what he has to work with. He has a first year play caller OC , who has gotten WAYYY better than the beginning of the year. They make the playoffs, the game hasn’t been played yet, and you people are crying 😢 ? What about the stinking Eagles, who started 10-1 ?? I think they are in a big pile of shiznit and in worse condition than my Bucs are ! It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. Baker took that cheap shot from the AINTS, like I called the day before the game, and still went out and won the division. His throws were not up to par ? Well I heard from multiple people who were at the game, the wind was blowing hard and swirling all game ! Why do you think our great rookie punter had a few crazy punts ? You people are Sheep 🐑 and listen to the first moron with a bad OPINION 👎 🤔… GO BUCS