Bowles, his position coaches and Grizzard for example and ignore that if Mayfield play was just shy of the Mendoza line this is a playoff team with 10 wins..
The team started conceding a FG per game by kicking unit the EZ. Grizzz could keep the team moving on the filed. Bowles seemed to think 33 runs= win.
No one is giving players a pass. Some are prioritizing the faults that contributed to the bad season.
The Bucs lost to the Falcons because they were conceding a FG each KO, Mayfield was sacked 5 times because the lines was injured, they had a very inefficient offense (Evans was the big receiver but on 50% reception rate, Irving ran for 60 but on 16 runs), the defense couldnt stop a TE, Mayfield threw a interception that could have sealed it and a defensive back up failed to do his job on 3rd and 28.
Despite all that if Egbuka turns his around he catches a pass from Mayfield. If Mayfield is more mindful he doesn't throw those late quarter INTs in important game. Players may not control circumstances but at the end of the day the players had a chance to get this team over the hump and they failed which is why Bowles had that tirade and dropping those F bombs. Arians laughs because HE KNOWS that this team needed a swift kick in their ass to avoid the collapse. But I guess that is a lesson learned from Bowles and importantly the players that they have to hold each other accountabile.
But Bain is here now and he is going to be in people's faces if they start slacking. The time of Bain starts aka Baby Sapp!
Bowles, his position coaches and Grizzard for example and ignore that if Mayfield play was just shy of the Mendoza line this is a playoff team with 10 wins..
The team started conceding a FG per game by kicking unit the EZ. Grizzz could keep the team moving on the filed. Bowles seemed to think 33 runs= win.
No one is giving players a pass. Some are prioritizing the faults that contributed to the bad season.
The Bucs lost to the Falcons because they were conceding a FG each KO, Mayfield was sacked 5 times because the lines was injured, they had a very inefficient offense (Evans was the big receiver but on 50% reception rate, Irving ran for 60 but on 16 runs), the defense couldnt stop a TE, Mayfield threw a interception that could have sealed it and a defensive back up failed to do his job on 3rd and 28.
the falcons game was 1 game. What about the other 3 losses to cup cake teams?
special teams and defense being bad/average had nothing to do with offense not being able to muster up more than 17-20 points each week. And somehow the defense still pulled out 2 wins against Carolina and Arizona with such an anemic offense performance.
One thing that was eye opening was how "not in game shape" teddy brigewater was in that Rams game. Holy heck.
so positive thinking me "Baker was too hurt to play" which is why he sucked down the stretch; hopefully improves with Jake Browning as back-up
The Bucs won multiple games early in the season despite special teams blunders in their early run of 2025. Despite Bowles questionable calls late in games Mayfield and the players still made plays to win the games that were tight.
Teddy Bridgewater was hyped up but I think Trask could have given the Bucs a win or 2 which would have punched their ticket into the playoff last year. Younger fresher legs are often better as backup QBs to surprise teams for a small stretches of time. That is how the Dolphins operated under McDaniel as they trotted out Skylar Thompson like this to catch teams off guard with Tua out so frequently.
Browning is better served for longer stretches of time with more game planning involved so if Mayfield is out for an extended period of time then Browning is the best to navigate that period. I just think Browning isn't going to come in off the bench and win a game for you as he is older now.