Pewter Report president Hugh MacArthur, a life-long Bucs follower and NFL fan, offers up his weekly thoughts on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the rest of the league each Tuesday on PewterReport.com in The Dirty Dozen column.

Bucs Or The Browns Get A Get-Well Game?

Here is baker’s dozen thoughts that crossed my desk this week…

1. Usually it takes a few weeks before I want to throw my shoe through the TV screen during a Bucs game. This season it took about 45 minutes. Can someone explain to me how you lose a game without punting even once?

2. Baker Mayfield completed 23-of-28 passes and lost three fumbles. Yes, I wanted him paid. I still think that was the right decision. I would also like him to keep the football. These are not conflicting positions.

3. The concern about Josiah Trotter coming out of college was his pass coverage. He introduced himself to Joe Burrow with a pick-six, a sack and 10 tackles on defense. I’m willing to watch him continue to work on pass coverage with results like that.

4. The Bucs got within six points with 3:19 left, then never touched the football again. Kicking deep was defensible. Missing tackles and committing a neutral-zone penalty on the deciding possession? Less so. I don’t need another explanation about Todd Bowles’ defensive scheme or any more excuses. I need a stop.

5. Four lost fumbles. One loss. The Bucs are still tied for first place. Thank you, NFC South.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect

6. Carolina scored 37 points and lost by 22 points – even with high-priced defenders Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd. That is hard to do. Giving up 291 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns does contribute, though.

7. Bijan Robinson produced 173 yards from scrimmage. The Falcons scored 13 points. Now if only he could play quarterback in Atlanta …

8. Tyler Shough committed three turnovers, then helped bring the Saints back from 21-0 down, finishing with 410 passing yards. New Orleans lost going for a two-point conversion in overtime. I liked the decision, though. I’m less enthusiastic about the Bucs playing them twice.

9. Cleveland comes to Tampa Bay next after losing 34-10 at Jacksonville. Somebody gets a get-well game. It had better not be Cleveland.

10. The Rams lost 27-7 to San Francisco. Myles Garrett recorded no tackles and is headed for knee surgery and injured reserve. At least four games out. So much for having the NFC figured out in August.

11. Minnesota lost Kyler Murray to a concussion and still beat Green Bay 39-22 behind three Carson Wentz touchdown passes. The Vikings visit Tampa Bay in Week 3. Let’s not pencil that one in as a W just yet.

Vikings QB Carson Wentz – Photo by: IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect

12. Jaxson Dart threw three touchdowns, and the Giants converted nine-of-10 third downs before their final kneel-down. John Harbaugh’s debut: a 28-20 win over Dallas. The Giants looked organized. I realize that may take some getting used to.

13. Geno Smith completed 19-of-24 passes for 215 yards in a 23-10 win – his first Jets start since 2016. It took the Jets 10 years to find the quarterback they already had.