The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have not had the type of offense most expected from the team this season.
In fact, their offense isn’t the type one would expect from any team in the NFL.
Even without Mike Evans, Tampa’s passing offense was thought to be left in good hands.
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Baker Mayfield, fresh off signing a three-year, $165 million contract extension, was out to prove that he was worth his new $55 million-per-year salary. Mayfield appeared to have a deep group of wide receivers to spread the ball around to.
Emeka Egbuka, last year’s first-round pick, looked poised for a Year 2 leap after a promising rookie season. Chris Godwin Jr., long part of a terrific duo with Evans, was finally healthy after struggling with injuries over the last two seasons. Jalen McMillan, who missed most of 2025 after a scary neck injury, was expected to be a productive WR3.
Third-round rookie Ted Hurst impressed in camp, earning comparisons to Evans. The Bucs also had talented second-year WR Tez Johnson, who looked good last year after several injuries allowed him to play a significant role.
However, the Bucs’ passing offense is the worst in the NFL through nine weeks. Tampa has only 1,277 passing yards through nine games, averaging a paltry 141.9 yards per game.
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Fortunately for Tampa Bay, the Bucs have the league’s best rushing attack. Led by terrific running back Bucky Irving, Tampa has 1,475 rushing yards through nine games, an average of 163.9 per game.
An offensive having more rushing yards than passing yards is a rare feat in today’s NFL.
The woes of Tampa’s passing game have been plentiful this season.
Mayfield has not played anywhere near the standard he has set over his first three seasons with the team. He also missed three games with a dislocated thumb, forcing the team to turn to undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels.
Even when Mayfield returned, the passing game performed no better. In Week 7 against the Carolina Panthers, Mayfield completed only seven passes for 64 yards, yet Tampa’s rushing attack carried the team to a 43-13 victory.
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The following week, the Bucs became the first NFL team in over 50 years to win a game without completing a single pass. Bucky Irving, Kenny Gainwell, and Tampa’s suffocating defense, which recorded four interceptions, were the stars of the Bucs’ 16-0 win over the Atlanta Falcons.
Though Tampa’s run game has been outstanding this season, the passing game will have to step up in order for the Bucs to make a playoff push after the bye week.
Mayfield’s new contract trails only Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen in average-annual-value. The Bucs didn’t pay their quarterback $55 million per year to have the NFL’s worst passing offense.
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It is almost unheard of for any team to have more rushing yards than passing yards this deep into a season.
The Bucs are 3-6, and need much more from Mayfield and his receivers over the final eight games.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
