Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

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Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds answers your questions from the @PewterReport X account this week in the Bucs Mailbag. Submit your question to SR each week via X using the hashtag #PRMailbag.  Here are the Bucs questions we chose to answer for this week’s edition.

QUESTION: The win over the Cardinals was an opportunity to get right and it simply didn’t happen. All four games since the bye have been very disappointing. A win is a win – don’t get me wrong – but how concerning was the performance today?

ANSWER: The Bucs looked a little uninspired in their 20-17 win over the Cardinals. The play on both sides of the ball was uneven, and it was disappointing to see double-digit leads of 17-3 and 20-10 in the second half evaporate. The fact that Tampa Bay didn’t show the killer instinct on either offense or defense was concerning, and head coach Todd Bowles said as much after the game. I also think Tampa Bay fans were irked over the fact that the Panthers upset a Rams team, 31-28, that previously kicked the crap out of the Bucs last week.

Having said that, winning is hard in this league, and we at Pewter Report tried to tell Bucs fans throughout the week that the Cardinals game was going to be close. I believe all of the Pewter Reporters had Tampa Bay winning by no more than one score on Sunday. That’s exactly how it played out. The Cardinals are now 3-9, and seven of those losses have come by four points or fewer, including Sunday’s defeat at the hands of the Buccaneers.

Bucs SS Tykee Smith – Photo by: USA Today

Had the final score been 20-10 without that last Arizona touchdown drive, or had Tampa Bay scored one more time to put the game away at 23-17, I think fans would be feeling better on what has been an elusive Victory Monday. I think the Bucs should’ve scored somewhere between 23-28 points versus the Cardinals. Still, for a team that needed to win to end a three-game losing streak, Todd Bowles and Co. accomplished that mission, so that needs to be recognized.

I think the silver lining in this close, yet perhaps unsatisfying win, was the play of running back Bucky Irving and wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. Irving looked fresh and brought some energy to the offense with 61 yards on the ground, including a 14-yard touchdown. The second-year running back is truly a difference-maker, and he picked up a nice block from Godwin on the perimeter for his first rushing touchdown of the season.

As for Godwin, I had my doubts as to whether he would ever return to form following his gruesome fractured ankle from a year ago. After three games with lackluster performance, Godwin looked like the Godwin of old on Sunday versus Arizona. He broke a tackle to rip off a 25-yard catch in the first quarter and convert a key third down. Then he picked up 31 yards on a nice catch to help set up Tampa Bay’s first touchdown in the first half.

Godwin finished with three catches for 78 yards with his only gaffe being a dropped touchdown that hit him right in his hands. I think Godwin’s view was a bit obstructed by the defender in front of him, but outside of that play, Sunday’s production was very encouraging.

QUESTION: General question, is Todd Bowles going to continue saying it’s players not being in position, and not executing? Or is he finally going to admit that his soft zone doesn’t work, sending Anthony Nelson out in coverage doesn’t work, and basically his defensive scheme doesn’t work?

ANSWER: There are two ways to look at Sunday’s defensive performance. After surrendering an average of 35.3 points per game over the last three weeks, Todd Bowles’ defense allowed half of that point total – 17 points – against Arizona. The Cardinals entered the game averaging 22.6 points per game, and the Bucs defense held them 5.6 points below their average. Tampa Bay won the turnover battle 2-0 with an interception by free safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and a fumble recovery by strong safety Tykee Smith. Bowles’ unit also forced a turnover on downs with two fourth down stops in the second half, including one to seal the victory at the end.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

At the same time, the Bucs did lead 17-3 and 20-10 at two junctures, and couldn’t hold to the Cardinals off. The last touchdown drive that was capped off by Trey McBride’s scoring reception was concerning for sure, as it seemed too easy. To say that Bowles’ defense doesn’t work wouldn’t be accurate. This is a team that is 7-5, and includes six wins by holding opponents to 20 points or fewer (the Jets scored 27, but one touchdown came on special teams with a blocked field goal return). That’s pretty good in the modern age of football where scoring is up from a decade ago.

I have documented how the Buccaneers need to do a better job of bolstering their defensive front in 2026 and beyond. This team has missed Calijah Kancey’s pass rush up front, as well as Haason Reddick’s presence, although he hasn’t been nearly as productive as Tampa Bay hoped he would be when the team signed him in the offseason. I think if Bowles had some better pass rushers up front his defense – any defense – would look different and better.

QUESTION: The Glazers and Jason Licht need to have a conversation with Todd Bowles in the offseason because this team is not going far if we even make the playoffs. Bowles can’t continue to be the DC of this team. His scheme is old and makes every opposing QB look great.

ANSWER: Well, first the Bucs have to make the playoffs and finish the season. That conversation looks far different if the team finishes with nine wins, gets swept by the Panthers and doesn’t make the playoffs than if Tampa Bay gets to 11 victories, wins the division and wins a playoff game or two. Let’s let the season play out first and see if the reinforcements – wide receivers Jalen McMillan and Mike Evans and defensive tackle Calijah Kancey – can help give this time a needed boost of energy, production and momentum at the end of the season.

Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby and DT Vita Vea and Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett – Photo by: USA Today

As I mentioned before, I think if the Bucs had held the Cardinals to just 10 or 13 points – rather than seeing Arizona score that final touchdown to make it a three-point game — we’d all be feeling better about the defense. Still, Todd Bowles’ unit held the Cardinals below their season average, played far better than it had the last three games, forced a pair of turnovers and had a couple of sacks.

Still, the four-man pass rush is still lacking, tackling was sub-par, especially in the second half, and the Bucs left several sacks out there by missing quarterback Jacoby Brissett a few times. There is still plenty of work to be done and some improvement needs to be made over the final five weeks. Tampa Bay has three division games in a row on deck with home games versus New Orleans and Atlanta followed by a trip to Carolina. We’ll see if the Bucs can recreate their previous defensive performance against the Saints in next week’s game.

QUESTION: Do you think Baker Mayfield can win a Super Bowl with such up and down play? He played better today, and there were some drops, but man, he struggles with consistency.

ANSWER: I don’t think Baker Mayfield has played as well down the stretch following the bye week as he played earlier in the season. His performances in back-to-back wins at Seattle and against San Francisco were fantastic. Mayfield completed 29-of-33 passes (87.9%) for 379 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in a 38-35 win versus the Seahawks and completed 17-of-23 passes for 256 yards with two TDs and no INTs against the 49ers.

Throw in a couple of heroic, last-minute scoring drives in the first three weeks of the season at Atlanta, at Houston and against the New York Jets, and Mayfield was squarely in the conversation for the NFL MVP award. I think some midseason injuries – knee, oblique and shoulder – have limited his effectiveness and accuracy as a passer. He had a good performance against New England – 28-of-43 (65.1%) for 273 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions – and Arizona – 18-of-28 (64.4%) for 194 yards – to bookend two sub-par passing days at Buffalo and at Los Angeles.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

I think as he continues to get his weapons back and the protection up front solidifies with the return of left guard Ben Bredeson, we’ll see a better and more accurate Mayfield emerge. Mayfield was relatively unscathed on Sunday against Arizona, so that should help. The healthier he gets, the better and more dynamic quarterback he has the chance to be.

Can Mayfield ultimately win a Super Bowl in Tampa Bay? I think that’s possible. If he has his weapons and feels comfortable in the pocket and in sync like he was against the Seahawks and the 49ers this offense is capable of scoring 30 points or more and beating anyone. But if Bad Baker shows up – the QB that gets skittish in the pocket and doesn’t see the field well and doesn’t see wide open receivers – well, the offense will ultimately misfire. I think Mayfield is capable of winning it all, but he does need to be more consistent down the stretch to get to the level necessary to win a championship.