Buccaneers Have A Baker Mayfield And Zac Robinson Problem

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had opportunities to defeat the Chicago Bears on Sunday night. Unfortunately, their offense repeatedly failed to capitalize on them.

Baker Mayfield deserves plenty of criticism for his performance. However, Tampa Bay’s passing problems extend well beyond its starting quarterback. The receivers aren’t making enough plays, the offensive approach lacks creativity, and the mistakes continue piling up.

Baker Mayfield Can’t Escape The Blame

There is no sugarcoating Mayfield’s performance against Chicago. His turnovers were costly, particularly the pick-six that ultimately proved decisive in the 24-22 loss.

The Buccaneers’ defense and special teams gave the offense opportunities to take control. Mayfield couldn’t consistently turn those opportunities into points. His toughness and willingness to play through injuries shouldn’t distract from his responsibility to execute.

Following the game, Mayfield accepted responsibility for the offensive shortcomings. He specifically pointed to his interception as a major difference in the outcome.

“It comes back to the turnovers for us, an interception,” Mayfield said via the team’s website, referring to his pick-six. “You don’t want to have them. Ever. Especially when it turns into immediate points on a pick-six. That’s the difference in the game.”

Mayfield also praised the defense’s performance, calling it “amazing” after the unit settled into the game. Still, he acknowledged that his own execution wasn’t good enough.

“I’ve got to make the throws,” Mayfield said via the team’s website. “I’ve got to be more accurate.”

When asked whether the offense failed to capitalize on enough defensive takeaways, Mayfield didn’t hesitate.

“Absolutely.”

The quarterback deserves criticism, but placing the entire offensive collapse on him would ignore several glaring problems.

Tampa Bay’s Receiving Corps Isn’t Getting The Job Done

The Buccaneers’ receivers aren’t creating enough separation or consistently winning their matchups. Opposing defenders appear increasingly comfortable anticipating Tampa Bay’s passing concepts.

Defenders are jumping routes and abandoning their assignments when they recognize what’s coming. That happened on both interceptions against Chicago. The lack of a legitimate downfield threat makes Tampa Bay’s passing attack increasingly predictable.

The production from Tampa Bay’s receivers was particularly disappointing.

Ted Hurst played just one offensive snap, dropped his only target, and didn’t return to action. Emeka Egbuka received five targets, finishing with three receptions for 38 yards.

Tez Johnson also received five targets, catching passes for 76 yards. However, 58 of those yards came on one play. He also had two questionable drops that contributed to another frustrating performance.

Chris Godwin’s involvement presents another concern. The veteran receiver is averaging just over four targets per game while earning $22 million annually.

That’s simply not enough involvement for a player with his experience and ability. Tampa Bay needs to find ways to consistently incorporate Godwin into its passing attack.

Zac Robinson’s Offense Needs Answers

The struggles also raise serious questions about offensive coordinator Zac Robinson. Tampa Bay’s passing attack has become increasingly difficult to watch throughout the 2026 season.

There appears to be little creativity in the passing concepts. Defenses are recognizing tendencies, anticipating routes, and taking advantage of predictable play-calling.

The red-zone offense has been another source of frustration. Too often, Tampa Bay’s possessions fail to produce the touchdowns needed to separate from opponents.

The offensive line deserves criticism for its penalties, despite otherwise providing solid play. Mayfield also faced considerable pressure against Chicago, making an already difficult afternoon even worse.

Still, the offense managed to keep the game within reach late. That makes the repeated mistakes and missed opportunities even more frustrating.

The Problem Is Bigger Than One Player

Mayfield was bad against Chicago, and the turnovers are indefensible. But the Buccaneers have a collection of problems that cannot be fixed by replacing one player or changing one position.

The receivers must start making plays, the offensive coordinator needs to find more creative solutions, and the penalties must stop. Mayfield must also become more consistent when opportunities present themselves.

There is a concerning level of dependence on everything around Mayfield functioning exceptionally well. When the protection struggles, receivers fail to separate, or the play-calling becomes predictable, his effectiveness drops considerably.

A quarterback making that much money annually must be capable of overcoming adversity. Tampa Bay cannot expect perfect conditions every Sunday to get quality quarterback play.

The Buccaneers had enough opportunities to beat Chicago. Instead, another winnable game slipped away because the offense couldn’t get out of its own way.

At this point, the problems are too widespread to blame on Baker Mayfield alone. However, he remains the quarterback, and the responsibility ultimately starts with him.