The Buccaneers’ Week 9 Pro Football Focus grades tell a familiar story from the 27-24 loss to the Chicago Bears: a few standout performances, a few costly breakdowns, and not nearly enough consistency to turn the game Tampa Bay’s way.
Rueben Bain Jr. was the brightest spot on defense. He posted an 82.1 overall grade, the best mark on the unit, while making his presence felt in a limited workload.
Bain logged four quarterback pressures on 21 pass-rushing snaps, including one quarterback hit and three hurries, good for a 19% pressure rate without a sack. He also forced a fumble and earned an 88.1 coverage grade, though that came on just four coverage snaps.
Overall, he played 35 defensive snaps, and the impact was obvious even without a sack attached to it.
Baker Mayfield’s day went in the opposite direction. He finished with a 44.0 offensive grade and a 42.6 passing grade after going 18 of 32 for 243 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions.
PFF credited him with two big-time throws and two turnover-worthy plays, a sign that the downfield chances came with real risk. His adjusted completion percentage was 65.5%, compared with an actual completion rate of 56.3%.
He also dealt with 11 pressures on 36 dropbacks and was sacked four times, with a 36.4% pressure-to-sack rate showing how often those disruptions turned into lost yardage.
The interior of the offensive line had its own problems. Left guard Ben Bredeson turned in a 24.1 pass-blocking grade, the lowest among Tampa Bay’s starting linemen, after giving up five pressures on 39 pass-blocking snaps.
That included one sack, one quarterback hit, and three hurries. His 67.5 run-blocking grade was much better, but the pass protection numbers were rough.
By contrast, left tackle Tristan Wirfs earned an 86.0 pass-blocking grade and allowed only two hurries on 39 pass-blocking snaps, while right tackle Luke Goedeke posted a 79.0 pass-blocking grade despite being charged with one sack allowed. The bigger issue was inside, where Bredeson and center Graham Barton combined to allow six pressures.
Bucky Irving gave Tampa Bay plenty on the ground. He finished with a 74.4 offensive grade after rushing for 97 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries.
Of those 97 yards, 84 came after contact, which accounted for 86.6% of his rushing production. PFF also credited him with seven missed tackles forced and 4.2 yards after contact per carry.
He added 28 receiving yards on four catches for a total of 125 yards from scrimmage.
Kenneth Gainwell was efficient as a receiver out of the backfield, catching all three of his targets for 60 yards. He picked up 43 yards after the catch and averaged 5.45 yards per route run.
The coverage grades, though, were a tougher read. Keionte Scott finished with a 56.9 coverage grade after allowing five completions on five targets for 69 yards and a touchdown.
Chicago quarterbacks posted a perfect 158.3 passer rating when targeting him, and 64 of those yards came after the catch. Zyon McCollum intercepted two passes, but his overall defensive grade was 48.2 and his coverage grade sat at 44.6 after he allowed four catches on nine targets for 57 yards and a touchdown and missed one tackle.
Josiah Trotter also had issues in coverage, earning a 37.7 grade after giving up four completions on five targets for 37 yards. His run defense was stronger, with a 72.7 run-defense grade and four defensive stops, but his overall grade still landed at 52.5.
Jacob Parrish offered the cleanest work in the secondary. He put up a 72.4 overall defensive grade and a 70.3 coverage grade across 61 defensive snaps.
Parrish allowed only two completions on five targets for 45 yards, broke up a pass, and did not allow a touchdown. He also earned a 76.9 tackling grade and did not miss a tackle.
For Tampa Bay, the bye week points straight at two issues: cleaner protection for Mayfield, especially inside, and better coverage discipline on the back end. Bain, Irving, and Parrish all delivered strong individual efforts, but the Buccaneers still paid for the mistakes that helped sink them against Chicago.
In Other News...
Bucs Face A Trade Deadline Call That Could Save Baker Mayfield
With the Buccaneers sitting at 3-6 and still somehow atop the NFC South, the offense has become the bigger concern than the standings. Tampa Bays passing game has been stuck at the bottom of the league, and that kind of production puts even a division lead in jeopardy if it does not turn around soon. For a team trying to keep Baker Mayfield upright and productive, the trade deadline offers one of the few realistic chances to add a jolt.
One name that naturally fits the conversation is George Pickens, whose talent has been on display in Dallas and whose contract situation makes him a possible trade candidate. The Buccaneers have not been linked to any official talks, but the fit is obvious enough to keep circling back to: a receiver with the ability to change coverage and give Tampa Bay a more dangerous passing game. Whether the front office is willing to pay the price is another question, and one that could define how aggressive this team wants to be about saving its season. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Wasted A Golden Chance In Chicago And Fans Know Why
A strong defensive effort at Soldier Field should have been enough to give Tampa Bay a road win, especially after the Buccaneers forced five Chicago turnovers and got a much-needed rebound from a unit that had a rough opening stretch. Cornerback Jacob Parrish was part of that turnaround, and for long stretches the defense did its job well enough to put the game in the Bucs' hands.
The problem was the offense never fully cashed in on those chances, and the missed opportunities proved costly in a 27-24 loss to the Bears. Baker Mayfield's night turned on two interceptions, including a pick-six, while Bucky Irving was the one consistent bright spot with 125 total yards and two touchdowns, leaving Tampa Bay with plenty to clean up after letting a golden opening slip away. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Face A Big Bucky Irving Decision After The Bye
Bucky Irving has been the most productive offensive player in Tampa Bays attack this season, giving the Buccaneers a steady ground-game answer while the rest of the offense has worked through its own stretches of inconsistency. His production has put him among the leagues top rushers and made him central to what the Bucs want to do every week, especially with the offense leaning on him to keep drives on schedule and finish them in the red zone.
After the bye, though, the conversation shifts from usage to preservation. Todd Bowles has already acknowledged concern about Irvings workload, and Tampa Bay has some flexibility with other backs who have chipped in recently. The question now is how the Buccaneers balance keeping their best runner involved with making sure hes still fresh and available when the season tightens up. [Read more 🡒]