Todd Bowles calls out Baker Bayfield as Bucs face elimination

Tampa Bay Buccaneers entered the season as the favorite to win the NFC South for the fifth year in a row, but were one loss away from missing the playoffs.

Baker Mayfield found a spot in Florida after being drafted by the Cleveland Browns and making pit stops with the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams.

However, with their playoff hopes on the line, head coach Todd Bowles was quick to point the finger at the man considered the savior of this generation's Bucs.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS RESOURCES ON FOXNEWS.COM

“We've got to be better at the quarterback position, and we've got to be better at the signal-caller position, and we've got to be better at blocking,” Bowles said after the Buccaneers' 20-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins earlier this week.

After starting 7-5, the Bucs have lost four straight and need both a win over the aforementioned Panthers and a loss to the Atlanta Falcons to make the playoffs as the 8-9 division champion. With a loss on Saturday, Carolina will win the NFC South.

Baker Mayfield (6) of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs off the field after the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans on Monday, September 15, 2025, in Houston, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Looking back at sports gambling controversies through 2025, investigations by the NBA and MLB are leading the way.

Mayfield made the Pro Bowl in each of his first two seasons with Tampa Bay, but this season will be his worst to date. After throwing for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns on a 71.4 completion percentage, Mayfield currently has 3,490 yards and 25 touchdowns while his completion percentage has dropped to 62.8%.

Two weeks ago, Carolina defeated the Bucs 23-20 for its first win over Tampa Bay in more than three years. The Panthers haven't made the playoffs since the 2017 season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) passes against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Florida, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Bowles joined the Bucs as defensive coordinator after being fired from his position. New York Jetshead coach in 2018 and became head coach in 2022 after Bruce Arians retired.

Follow Fox News Digital sports reporting on Xand subscribe to Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter