Bucs head coach Todd Bowles has been called a kingmaker before on the Pewter Report Podcast. That’s because the last two offensive coordinators on Bowles’ staff in Tampa Bay have been one-and-done, going from successful offensive coordinator to head coach. Dave Canales did it after the 2023 season, staying in the division to coach the Panthers, and Liam Coen famously spurned the Bucs at the last second to take the head coaching job with the Jaguars after last season.

While Josh Grizzard might need more than one season as an offensive player-caller, he’s still a young coach with a bright future. His name has popped up a little bit already in national headlines earlier this season during Tampa Bay’s 5-1 start, and it wouldn’t be shocking if he’s a legit candidate in a year or two.

One could argue that it’s Baker Mayfield greatly helping the head coaching candidacy of these offensive coordinators, or Jason Licht accumulating all this talent on Tampa Bay’s roster, and that either is just as much of a kingmaker as Bowles is, but that’s a discussion for another day.

Unfortunately, one thing that is certain is that Bowles and the Bucs defense have become MVP-makers this season, and that’s not a compliment.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The NFL MVP award is given out like all the other season awards on the Thursday before the Super Bowl at the NFL Honors program. The NFL has built it into a gigantic awards show during Super Bowl week that includes a red carpet, star players from around the league and many celebrity guests and presenters.

Right now the top three MVP candidates in the league are Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford at +135 per Hard Rock Bet app, followed by Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (+175) and Bills gunslinger Josh Allen (+450).

The Bucs Will Be On A Lot Of Tape

What connection do these quarterbacks have with the Bucs? Well, they’re the three quarterbacks – and teams – that the Bucs have faced in this post-bye week gauntlet. The Bucs are 6-4, including 0-2 against the Patriots and Bills in successive weeks, and will play the 8-2 Rams on Sunday Night Football. Based on how Tampa Bay’s defense has played poorly in recent weeks, and the high level that Stafford is playing, it could get ugly once again for the Bucs while providing a boost to Stafford’s MVP candidacy.

With each award given out at the NFL Honors program, there’s typically three or so players in the running for the award that receives a highlight package before the envelope is opened and the winner is announced. If these three players maintain their positions at the top of the NFL MVP race, we’re going to see a lot of Bucs moments in these highlights – for all the wrong reasons.

So far Maye and Allen have some of their best performances of the season coming at the expense of the Bucs defense.

Maye passed for 270 yards and two touchdowns against the Bucs. While it was only his fifth-highest game in passing yards, his 72-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Williams was not only his longest touchdown pass and completion of the season, but of his two-year career.

There were also big moments that included a perfect pass to Stefon Diggs in the end zone for a touchdown, and an absolute bomb to Mack Hollins for 54 yards on a third-and-12. There wasn’t much the defense could do on the Diggs touchdown, but the other two plays were coverage busts that Maye exploited.

Bucs OLB Chris Braswell and Patriots QB Drake Maye – Photo by: USA Today

And if you thought that was bad against New England, it got even worse against Buffalo. Josh Allen, the NFL’s reigning MVP, had tons of highlights against Todd Bowles’ unit. After he was done shredding the Bucs with a six-touchdown performance, his game against Tampa Bay might surpass anything else he’s done in his career.

Allen’s 317 passing yards was the second-highest amount he’s had this season, and the 52-yard touchdown pass to Ty Johnson was also the second-longest touchdown and completion, just two yards away from his top number.

Led by Allen, Buffalo put up 44 points against Tampa Bay. His three touchdown passes were tied for a season high, and the three rushing touchdowns he scored were the most he’s had in a game this season. Allen was so dominant that his three passing TDs and three rushing scores were only the third time in NFL history this has been accomplished. Of course, Allen did this last season, but the only other time it had been was back in 1954 when Otto Graham accomplished that feat.

Bills QB Josh Allen and Bucs ILB SirVocea Dennis – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR

Matthew Stafford will have his turn to add to his highlight reel when he plays Bowles’ defense on Sunday Night Football in Los Angeles.

The Bucs have allowed 72 points in the last two games, which is higher than the team’s 25-point average its allowing per game. A 30-point performance by the Rams could make it over 100 points surrendered in three games coming out of the bye week. That’s unheard of by a Bowles’ defense.

By the way, Stafford may have looked pedestrian in last week’s 21-19 win over the Seahawks with two passing touchdowns, but that’s because he had previously ripped off three straight games with four, four and five passing touchdowns. Who would be better for Stafford to rebound against than the Bucs?

It’s not just that Tampa Bay’s secondary has played poorly. It’s that coming from several areas. There is virtually no consistent pass rush from the four-man front and the blitzes haven’t been as impactful. Cornerback Benjamin Morrison has been picked on when he’s in the game, and Zyon McCollum isn’t playing up to his contract extension. Explosive plays have been allowed in the passing game and on the ground. The Bucs defense can look great at times, especially against lesser teams, but when they don’t know how to respond like the game at Buffalo, they looked helpless.

There’s a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” type of feeling with the Bucs facing Stafford. He’s fantastic going against the blitz, as highlighted by that 2021 NFC Divisional playoff loss at home and the fact that he’s thrown 19 touchdowns and no interceptions when blitzed this year. We know Bowles has to generate pressure through blitzing, but Stafford can carve it up. Yet if the Bucs try to rush four and play coverage and aren’t getting home, Stafford will have all day to throw and eventually find the open receiver.

Rams QB Matthew Stafford – Photo by: USA Today

It doesn’t get any easier facing the Rams on Sunday night, and playing in primetime has continued to be an issue for this team, evidenced by a 24-9 loss at Detroit on Monday Night Football back in Week 7. Can it get any worse against Stafford and the Rams? There’s a possibility, especially if Stafford plays at an MVP level against the Bucs defense.

Baker Mayfield Is No Longer In The MVP Race

We had a lot of fun talking about Baker Mayfield being the league’s MVP early in the season during Tampa Bay’s 5-1 start, and he absolutely was. All of the big comeback performances and close wins, highlighted by his best performance of the year in a big, 38-35 win at Seattle that put him in the conversation.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

But Mayfield began to slump, beginning with a 24-9 loss on Monday Night Football where he threw one touchdown, followed by no touchdowns and just 152 yards in a win against the Saints. While he’s gotten back on track in recent games despite the losses, it feels like there’s too much ground for Mayfield to make up. He’s currently behind 12 other players in MVP odds.

It’s not all Mayfield’s fault, either. Injuries to the offensive line, wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin Jr. and running back Bucky Irving all played a huge factor in limiting the weapons he has at his disposal. Plus Mayfield’s also been hurt with oblique and knee injuries. It’s limited his ability to run, and he didn’t start doing that again until last game.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

It would take some big performances to get Mayfield back in the NFL MVP mix. A great game and with an upset win in primetime in Los Angeles in a head-to-head matchup against the Rams’ Matthew Stafford would be a start.

Check out this video from a recent Pewter Report Podcast where it’s talked about more and subscribe to our YouTube channel – PewterReportTV.