The Buccaneers left Week 1 with a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, and while the four fumbles will draw plenty of attention, that issue may not linger. The bigger worry is what Tampa Bay asked Baker Mayfield to do through the air.
ESPN’s Ben Solak pointed out that 42.9% of Mayfield’s pass attempts came behind the line of scrimmage, a career high. That kind of approach is tough to justify for an offense that features Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin Jr., Ted Hurst III, and Jalen McMillan, who was inactive.
"42.9%: That's the percent of Baker Mayfield's pass attempts that were behind the line of scrimmage. It's a career high," Solak writes.
"... This is concerning.
No offense wants to live behind the line this often, and certainly not the Buccaneers, who have a deep pass-catching core featuring Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin Jr., Ted Hurst III, and Jalen McMillan (who was inactive)."
There’s nothing inherently wrong with working short and underneath. Kenny Gainwell and Bucky Irving can be effective in those kinds of roles, and the receiver group has enough pieces to make screens and quick throws useful. But when nearly half of your passing game is built around plays behind the line, that starts to become a problem.
Mayfield and Zac Robinson need to open things up more if this offense is going to produce the way it should. Tampa Bay has to move the ball downfield, even if the throws are only beyond the line of scrimmage. A conservative plan like this cannot be the norm if the Buccaneers want to be taken seriously.
In Other News...
Buccaneers May Have Found The Better Answer At Offensive Coordinator
Mike McDaniel was the name most closely linked to the Buccaneers offensive coordinator opening before he opted to join the Chargers, and that decision now looks a little different after one week of football. Tampa Bays offense under Zac Robinson showed real efficiency both through the air and on the ground, even with turnovers getting in the way, giving the Bucs reason to feel encouraged about the direction of the unit early on.
Meanwhile, the Chargers offense with McDaniel had a rougher opening against the Arizona Cardinals, which only sharpens the contrast between the two situations. It is far too early to draw any hard conclusions from one Sunday, but Tampa Bays first look under Robinson made the case that the better fit may already be in place, even if the offseason chase ended another way. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers' Cade Otton Decision Already Looks Tougher To Defend
Cade Ottons new contract was supposed to settle one of the quieter questions surrounding the Buccaneers offense, but his Week 1 showing made the discussion linger a little longer. After signing a three-year, $30 million extension, Otton finished Tampa Bays loss with three catches for 30 yards and had a notable drop, a start that did little to quiet scrutiny around how the Bucs are valuing him at tight end.
The comparison only gets sharper when Isaiah Likelys debut is in the mix. Likely, who signed a three-year, $40 million deal with the Giants, opened with eight receptions for 78 yards and two touchdowns, and Pro Football Focus also gave him a better run-blocking grade than Otton in 2025. For Tampa Bay, the issue is not just whether Otton can bounce back, but whether the extension already looks harder to justify than it did when it was signed. [Read more 🡒]
Todd Bowles Just Sent An Encouraging Message About Bucs Rookie WR
Ted Hursts first NFL game gave the Buccaneers something to look at beyond the final score. The rookie wide receiver was on the field for about 75% of the offensive snaps in the season opener against the Bengals, and he made the most of the opportunity with three catches for 36 yards. Todd Bowles came away pleased with what he saw, pointing to Hursts ability to create separation, work open when targeted and compete for contested throws.
There is still development ahead, as Bowles made clear, but the early usage suggests the Bucs are willing to trust Hurst quickly. For a young receiver trying to carve out a role, the combination of playing time and a solid debut matters, especially on a team that will keep looking for reliable options to complement its passing game. The question now is how much more the rookie can add as the season moves along. [Read more 🡒]