Baker can giveth …

And Baker can giveth it away.

Just ask the Buccaneers ..and the Raiders, for that matter.

Baker Mayfield has said the playoff season has already started for the Buccaneers.  It is a good thing the Bucs continue to play the dregs of the NFL.  Baker has three touchdown passes to lead the Buccaneers to a third straight win over a last-place team.  In the process, the Buccaneers went to 7-6 and now lead the NFC South, all thanks to a 28-13 win.

Beating the Giants, Panthers, and Raiders in successive weeks will not be something ..the Buccaneers will not use in their season-ticket campaign.  In the SEC, this is akin to beating Mississippi State, Oklahoma, and Vanderbilt…sorry Bama fans, I know this is a little soon.

Yet Baker looked like the NFL MVP in the first quarter.  He led the Buccaneers to a pair of touchdowns, 154 yards of offense, and 11 first downs.  In the second quarter, Baker threw two picks and gave up a fumble.  In the meantime, he was under siege by the Raider defense, taking four sacks in the game.

It was until the fourth quarter, that Baker found his groove once again.  Baker can thank the Buccaneer run game of Rachaad White and Sean Tucker..  It is also clear Baker and the rest of the Buccaneer offense feeds off rookie Bucky Irving.  The rookie from Oregon, left early with back troubles and never returned.

This was clearly a game when the Buccaneers saw the best of Baker and the worst.  It is obvious you see what you get with Baker.  They thrive on his attitude and swagger and can lose by it as well.

I’ll take it.  And so will most Buccaneer fans.

Once again, even the worst of NFL quarterbacks can have their best games against this Buccaneer defense.  It has been that way ever since Todd Bowles became head coach, and he cannot turn that around.  Just don’t count on his Buccaneer defense to slam the door.  Bowles will point to injuries.  The stats say the Buccaneers have among the most hideous defenses in the NFL.  Only the Colts, Saints, Carolina, and Jags are worse.

So it’s obvious, if you want to see the Buccaneers win a fourth NFC South title in a row and a fifth consecutive trip to the playoffs, it will be Baker doing the cooking.

And here’s another issue the Buccaneers will be facing.  Offensive coordinator Liam Coen will be a head coach next season.  The question is, will it be for the Buccaneers, or someplace else?  Will the Buccaneers give up one of the bright offensive minds in football to stay with Bowles?

Does Baker make jello??

Written by Al Keck