Todd Bowles seemingly throws Baker Mayfield under the bus following Bucs QB's 3 INT performance in 20-17 loss vs. Dolphins

Todd Bowles was blunt and unfiltered about Baker Mayfield’s performance in recent weeks during his media availability on Monday, making no effort to mask his frustration. Mayfield’s recent series of performances has played a role in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' struggles lately.

The story was the same for the quarterback in the 20-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday as he threw two interceptions and was sacked three times. Despite completing 33 of 44 passes for 346 yards and two touchdowns in the game, quite a lot of things were not done well.

With the Buccaneers staring down a do-or-die matchup against the Carolina Panthers, Todd Bowles openly singled out quarterback play as the primary culprit behind the season’s collapse. He was candid when questioned on what he would blame for the recent rise in turnovers.

“[They are] mistakes,” Bowles said Monday in reference to Baker Mayfield, via the team’s official transcript. We've got to be better at the quarterback position and we've got to be better at the signal calling position and we've got to be better at blocking it.”

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Although Todd Bowles tried to spread the blame across the entire offense, his pointed criticism unmistakably zeroed in on Baker Mayfield. With the Buccaneers’ playoff chances dangling by a thread, the quarterback needs to rise up to the occasion against the Panthers.

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Also Read: Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel explains rationality in drafting QB while raving about Quinn Ewers after win vs. Buccaneers

Todd Bowles on his message to the team ahead of a crucial week

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a huge task ahead of them in the season finale as they welcome the Carolina Panthers for the NFC South title. In his media availability on Monday, Todd Bowles shared his message to the team ahead of the crucial week.

“It's working on us” Bowles said. “Obviously, working on us. Understanding the things that we did wrong so we can get right. We don't play 48 or 60 minutes of bad football, we play spurts and we have a couple plays. We've got to put it together. It's the last game – one way or the other, we've got to find a way to win."

Bowles also addressed how he plans to prevent negativity from taking root in the locker room and keep the entire team locked in on the job ahead.

“Winning in this league is hard,” Bowles. “There's no negativity inside the locker room, inside the building, as far as we're concerned. There's mistakes and things we've got to clean up…There's trust, there's belief. We've got to play harder, we've got to play a lot better, we've got to coach a lot better.”

The Buccaneers recently fell 23-20 on the road to the Panthers in Week 16. Todd Bowles is hoping his team can exact revenge on the divisional rival where it matters most on Sunday.

Edited by Farouk Yusuf