5 Thoughts
- I thought a lot about the worst teams in the NFL Sunday night. I would bet on all of them to beat the Bucs. Even the Raiders.
2. I'm not in the tar-and-feather group, but isn't a coach's job to make is team better as the season goes along? Just asking.
3. Should the Bucs change his name from Baker Mayfield to Burnt Mayfield?
4. At 19 yards a game, it would take 62 and a half games for Bucky Irving to get 1,000. Assuming he stays healthy.
5. I was rewatching the Bucs game last night, and I swear I was seeing a zombie movie. I think it was called "Fear the Walking Dead Who Can't Tackle."
5 Comments
(From Todd Bowles' Tuesday press conference)
(On what contributed to the blocked field goal against Miami in Week 17): "To me, it looked like a low kick because there was no penetration. He had a hand up and I thought the ball came out low.”
(On the decision to punt instead of go for it on fourth-and-2 in the second quarter): "Just better field position – I thought we could hold them back there and get better field position for our offense.”
(On a fan posting a video of Bucky Irving and Tristan Wirfs having a “heated exchange” on the sideline on Sunday, and if Bowles witnessed that): "I had not observed it. I don’t have anything to say about a fan showing a video of our players.”
(On if T Benjamin Chukwuma should have had help on the left side on the play where Baker Mayfield was strip-sacked): "Yeah, we’ve got to help him, but he’s got to be one-on-one some. We’ve just got to block it better.”
(On what he would blame for the recent uptick in turnovers): "[They are] mistakes. We’ve got to be better at the quarterback position and we’ve got to be better at the signal calling position and we’ve got to be better blocking it.”
Game Balls
Offense: Chris Godwin had more than 100 yards, scored a touchdown and set up another.
Defense: Yaya Diaby was the best of a bad lot.
Special teams: Punter Riley Dixon averaged 42 yards a kick and pinned two of his three punts inside the 20.
Grades
Quarterback: When Baker turns it over, the Bucs lose. Grade: F.
Running backs: They were invisible. Grade: F.
Offensive line: They were beaten badly. Grade F.
Receivers: Jalen McMillan and Godwin both had 100 yards. Grade: A.
Defensive line: Miami rushed for 145 yards and their rookie quarterback was unfazed. Grade: F.
Linebackers: Lavonte David had just three tackles. Grade: D.
Secondary: Quinn Ewers carved up the Bucs. Grade: D-.
Second Half Collapses
2011 0-8 Raheem Morris
1987 0-8 Ray Perkins
1978 0-7 John McKay
1986 1-7 Leeman Bennett
2025 1-7 Todd Bowles
Baker's Slide
First 8 games Last 8 Games
6 Wins 1
1919 Yards 1571
13 Tds 12
2 Interceptions 8
98.1 Rating 82.0
Emeka's Slide
Receptions 28 34
Yards 368 562
Tds 1 5
Targets 61 63
Ave. 13 18.7
Baker Stats
Passing yards 3490 12
TD Passes 25 t-7
Interceptions 10 t-39
Rating 90.3 23
NFL Stats
Category Player Stat Rank
Rushing Yards Rachaad White 549 35
Receiving Yards Emeka Egbuka 930 18
Tackles Lavonte David 108 34
Field Goalds Chase McLaughlin 29 t-6
Punting Riley Dixon 44.8 29
Rookie Receivers
Tetairoa McMillan 66 929 7
Emeka Egbuka 62 930 6
Luther Burden III 44 617 2
Jayden Higgins 39 502 5
Eric Ayomanor 38 465 4
Power Rankings
- New England
2. Denver
3. Seattle
4. Philadelphia
5. San Francisco
Bottom 5
- Las Vegas
2. N.Y. Jets
3. Tennessee
4. N.Y. Giants
5. Tampa Bay
5 NFL Stars
- Derrick Henry, Baltimore
2. Drake Maye, New England
3. Dak Prescott, Dallas
4. Tyler Shough, New Orleans
5. Brock Purdy, San Francisco
5 NFL Duds
- Max Brosmer, Minnesota
2. Chris Oladokun, Kansas City
3. Bryce Young, Carolina
4. Geno Smith, Las Vegas
5. Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay
Bucs' penalty leaders
Luke Goedeke 6 36
Graham Barton 5 49
Tristan Wirfs 4 30
Chris Braswell 4 19
Logan Hall 4 50
Cade Otton 4 25
Bucs' Mock Drafts
ESPN.com Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Walterfootball.com Will Heidt, DE, Clemson
Foxsports.com Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
CBS.com Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
Saturdayblitz.com. Peter Woods, DT, Clemson