HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, November 9, 2025

(On the explosive plays allowed defensively)

"There were four and in obvious situations that we didn't make. Obviously, we didn't play it well enough. We definitely didn't coach it well enough – I definitely didn't coach it well enough. It starts with me, and those things can't happen if you're playing against a good team like that, or any team in this league. We gave them up and it was inexcusable on our part. Bad on the coaching, bad on the players"

(On substituting CB Benjamin Morrison in for CB Jamel Dean on certain drives)

"We've been putting him in all year, so the fact that he gave up this play in this game, there's no reason to single him out. We're getting him reps and Dean knows we get him reps – he gets reps. We have a system that we go with. The fact that we trust him to make plays… he gave up a play, it doesn't matter who's in there. If you give up a play, we're not going to give up on you, but he gave up a play and he'll learn from it, and he'll be better."

(On the run defense)

"We gave up two big plays. We weren't in our gaps or where we're supposed to be. That's coaching, that's playing."

(On his message to the team postgame)

"We didn't play well. We've got to take it on the chin. Give [Patriots Head Coach Mike] Vrabel and the Patriots the credit – they did a heck of a job at doing the things they needed to do. Their players made plays, our players did not. We've got to coach it better, we've got to play it better and that starts with me."

(On finding an offensive rhythm)

"It was. All the way around – we didn't play well on all three phrases. We didn't have any rhythm on offense, we didn't have any rhythm on defense, we didn't have any rhythm on special teams, and it showed. You've got to give the Patriots credit. They were part of the reason that happened to us and then we've got to correct the mistakes [and] the other things we can control on our own."

(On the lack of Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield running the ball in recent games and if that is affecting the offense)

"It's hidden yardage only when it is necessary. If they're taking it away, we've got to get open and we've got to block better. It's not about Baker being a runner. He's not a runner – he can make some plays with his feet, but he's a passer. We've got to block it better, we've got to coach it better and we've got to play it better."

(On how difficult it is to continue to lose key players offensively)

"It's difficult, but we've been dealing with it all year. We've got to find a way to win games. That's really where we are at this point. The guys we have on this team have to step up and we have to find a way to win games with the guys we have."

(On if he has an update on the health stats of G Ben Bredeson)

"Not at this time"

(On if he is surprised the team wasn't 'crisper' coming off its Bye Week)

"I'm surprised we gave up the plays on defense and the plays we didn't make on offense. From without their help – and believe me, New England helped out a lot – with the routine things that we should have done, we did not do."

(On S Tykee Smith's interception in the endzone and the opportunity it provided)

"It gave us a chance, but it was third-and-14 – that should have never happened on the play before that. That's one of the routine plays we've got to make, and we've got to understand that. We got caught napping. He made a heck of a play to give us a chance, but nothing came of it."

(On if giving up the touchdown on the final play of the first half affected the team's energy coming out of halftime)

"No, it didn't. I thought we fought tough down there. The play that got them down there was the big play, not exactly the touchdown play. They had four downs. The guy made a tough play in tough coverage. He's a good receiver and he made a good play. [The play to start the] second half – we weren't in our gap."

(On impressions of New England Patriots QB Drake Maye)

"He's a good football player. He's poised in the pocket, he's athletic, he has great touch. He's a heck of a player in this league."

(On the lack of hits and sacks on Maye)

"We didn't win first or second down. In obvious downs that they had to pass, they had extra protection in there, so we had made up our mind we were going to cover more. It worked for us a lot in the second half."

QUARTERBACK BAKER MAYFIELD

Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, November 9, 2025

(On coming off the Bye Week and falling short to the New England Patriots)

"[We] just did not execute good enough. [We have] to do all the little things right in critical moments and we did not do that today. That's what I told the team and told the offense after the game. At some point, when the stuff comes up during the week, whether it's mistakes or things we talk about and then it shows up on Sundays, you have to have some pride about you. You [have] to have the fear of that failure and messing up for your teammates when we talk about something, you [have] to have better responsibility and accountability for the guys around you and get it fixed. In tight ball games like this, when you play a good team like the Patriots, little things will get you beat. That was the case for us on offense today. Case in point, it starts with me; [I missed] some throws there that I would like to have back, some more completions. The low ball that I gave Cade [Otton] towards the end there, if I would have stuck it on his chest, he probably would have gotten the first down, instead of having to get into a short yardage situation. It starts with me, but everybody has got to have pride about it too."

(On how much injuries disrupt continuity and chemistry)

"At this point, it is not an excuse. We have had so many new guys in there; we are used to it by now. Everybody knows what we are trying to get done, we communicate that very well throughout the week. [We] felt really good about the game plan coming into it and I am sure everybody would say the same thing."

(On how the offense could have played better)

"[We] just have to be better on the communication up front on certain fronts, how they are going to twist off, how we are [identifying] it and then also just our third downs, we haven't been nearly good enough, whether it is me missing some throws and different things like that. [Also] just making plays when they are there. We've obviously had a lot of third and long situations, which means that we have been in some behind-the-sticks situations, so we have to be better on early downs and then execute on third downs. Offensively, I am hoping our guys do get pissed off about this. This isn't the end of our season, I know that, we still have very important games ahead of us, but games like this when you don't win them -- it should sting, it should really hurt."

(On starting off strong with an opening drive touchdown to struggling in the drives after that)

"Like I said, lack of execution. There is a certain point -- we are a good team, but to be great, when you score on the opening drive, you know what it looks like, you set the tone, you're not satisfied with it. You come back and in your head, it's 0-0 and you go do it again. Right now, I think we are lacking that on offense and it comes down to me -- that is my job to get that fixed and I will do that."

(On what he means by lacking)

"Killer instinct."

(On S Tykee Smith's interception why they weren't able to capitalize)

"Huge play by Tykee [Smith]. [It is a] matter of execution. [They are] plays that we have run 100 times, plays that we have done well 100 times, coverages we have seen and repped these plays against and just executing, and that's what it comes down to. That is what I am talking about, translating [it] from the practice field to the game field, [and] in critical moments you have to do little things right. It was not like they showed us a pressure we hadn't seen before; it wasn't a coverage we hadn't seen before. We just have to do our job at a very high level and do it well in those moments."

(On the fourth-down play where the Patriots blitzed to turn it over late into the game)

"[It was] just a five-man pressure. Head rushed the back, Rachaad [White] knows how that looks. He is going to get out on his route still, and the safety comes down to play him in man coverage and just a miscommunication there. We [have] to get that fixed, and like I said, it starts with me."

(On how WR Tez Johnson has developed over the last few weeks)

"He just continues to do what we ask of him, to be honest with you. He is doing the little things right. He is coming alive, and his natural talent is showing in the scramble drill situations where he is never stopping until he finds my eyes trying to get open the whole time. He is doing a really good job of that."

(On going one-for-six on drives after scoring an opening drive touchdown)

"[I had] some missed throws. Some missed throws, just a couple in there I would like to have back. They did a good job of taking away some of the deep stuff. We realized and I adjusted to that after the fact and started taking the completions that were there. When I say it starts with me, it starts with me. So that lull, taking those completions and those passes underneath are there, to keep these drives going, to stay out of second-and-long, make it easier on 'Grizz' (Josh Grizzard), make it easier on our o-line. [We have to] get that fixed."

(On if he sensed a "killer instinct" in practice during the week)

"It's hard. It's hard to do that. You can start to feel the energy, and I thought we were prepared, we just didn't execute."

(On if he is still able to do everything in practice with his oblique injury)

"Yeah, I am still able to do everything I need to in practice."

(On how it felt to be able to rush for 113 yards against the No. 1-ranked rushing defense heading into the game)

"It felt really good. Obviously, getting Luke [Goedeke] back was huge, do not get me wrong on that. Luke is an enforcer in the run game. [He is] a guy who kind of sets the tone for us. But then, after the first drive, you lose Ben Bredeson, but Michael Jordan [is] another guy that we have had come in there and play left guard for us and we trust, he is a physical force as well. I am proud of the way those guys ran the ball. Rachaad [White] ran the ball really hard, so did 'Tuck' (Sean Tucker) when he had his opportunities in there. We just have to look at the things we did well, continue that, continue – like, 'How did that happen?' It is probably attitude, effort and just execution, then when you look at the stuff that went wrong, it is probably the opposite of that. If we can be consistent on that and hyperfocus on each play at a time, we are going to be fine, but that has just got to change."

ADDITIONAL BUCCANEERS PLAYERS

CENTER GRAHAM BARTON

(On the impact of G Ben Bredeson's injury)

"I mean, look, it's a next man up mentality. I was super proud of Mike [Jordan] and Dan [Feeney] stepping up like that. You guys know how many injuries we've had this year – to see another one, it just [stinks]. But [I am] super proud of the way Mike stepped up. We haven't had any continuity this year, and that's not anyone's fault, it's just how it is. As I've said to questions like this all year – it doesn't matter, it's the NFL. We've got to step up no matter who's in the game, and play better and execute better. I think we've just got to keep going back to the drawing board and keep getting better."

(On the game being there for the taking)

"The game was there for the taking and we didn't take it. That's what I'm talking about is those moments that you have to come up big. You have to execute when it matters most and we didn't."

(On the touchdown drive to begin the game)

"It felt a little 2024-ish first drive… Take the ball, go down the field, score. I was like, 'Here we go – let's keep rolling,' and we just didn't."

LINEBACKER LAVONTE DAVID

(On how it feels when an offense has multiple explosive plays)

"It hurts, you know what I'm saying. As a defense, we pride ourselves on things like that, explosive plays; we don't give that up – pass game, run game, whatever the case may be, and we let some get out today, which is, you know, very uncharacteristic of us. We have fix it, we got to fix it ASAP before it hurts us in the long run. But the good thing about it is [they're] not hard fixes, it can be done, and we'll definitely fix it for sure."

(On the Bye Week possibly affecting the performance)

"No, I don't think so, man, I feel like the week was smooth. We had a good week at practice, a good week of preparation. We knew what they wanted to do. At this point in the season, it's just about fundamentals, it'll always go back to your fundamentals, and today we had a couple missed cues on fundamentals and that hurt us."

(On how they plan to approach the upcoming week)

"Got to lock in. You know what I'm saying, there's a lot of great football left to play. We're a confident bunch, I'm sure we're going to rebound [and] we're going to be okay. You know nobody's holding their head, nobody's sad about it. The exciting thing is we got a chance to play another week and we're going to be ready for it."

(On S Tykee Smith's interception)

"Big play man. Tykee's been talking about it all week, and how he's got to get himself an interception. It happened in practice this week, and when it happens in practice, it happens in the game. It was a big moment when he got it. I'm proud of him; he's going to continue to stack, and that's what I expect from him."

WIDE RECEIVER EMEKA EGBUKA

(On if he agreed with QB Baker Mayfield's assessment that the offense could not consistently move the ball)

"Yes, absolutely. It's just what happens when you don't execute. So, that's the bottom line. We've got to be better and we will be."

(On the difference in coverage he has faced in the last 3-4 weeks)

"It varies from game to game. [I'm] seeing some of the best corners like I saw today in [Christian] Gonzalez following me around [or] double coverage versus Detroit a lot. A lot of shell and other stuff versus the Saints – depends on their gameplan.

(On if New England adjusted their coverage after the first drive)

"Nah, [Christian] Gonzalez was following me pretty much the whole day."

(On missed third down connections from QB Baker Mayfield)

"I've just got to be better – got to better on third down. It's one of the biggest situations over the course of a game if you look at all the third downs from our team and their team. If you stack them up side-by-side, you kind of can tell the story of how successful you're going to be that day. So, I'll take that one on the chin – I've got to be better. I've got to get more separation, got to get open, got to catch the ball, and create explosive plays. That's what I'm paid to do."

WIDE RECEIVER TEZ JOHNSON

(On his overall thoughts)

"We've just got to go back to work. Kudos to a good team – we've just got to get back to work."

(On the up and down nature of the Buccaneers offense)

"I mean stuff like this happens. Like I said, we've just got to go back to work. We can't blame [anybody] – all we can do is take ownership. [It's] time to go back to work."

(On balancing his two touchdowns with the fact that the team lost)

"Good day – I thank God for that. But, like I said, it's time to get back to work. You can't really [dwell] on this game. If we've got mistakes on the field, we leave it out there on the field, watch film tomorrow, and like I said, focus on Buffalo."

(On how the Buccaneers can move forward as a team)

"The page is already flipped, so I mean, I don't really know what to say [other than we have to] go back to work."

(On his excitement about the future of the Buccaneers' receiving corps, with him and Emeka Egbuka)

"One hundred percent. I mean, I always tell 'Mek' (Emeka Egbuka) he's the best rookie in the country right now, and I think Tampa Bay drafted two good ones, really good ones. So, like I said, he's the best in the country at this position right now at receiver as a rookie. I think he deserves the rookie award 100%. I love 'Mek' – great guy, great kid… I'm saying kid, and I'm the same age, but yeah, he deserves everything. I love him."

SAFETY TYKEE SMITH

(On the explosive plays allowed defensively)

"For us, on defense, you've got to be able to make the routine plays. And then, [we've got to] come out faster, with more juice, after halftime."

(On if he thought that the adjustments that are needed defensively are fixable)

"No doubt. Outside of the big run, the big pass, and then that long run at the end of the game… I think those were the defining factors of the game."

(On if it's nice in knowing that the team was only a few plays away from winning heading into next week)

"No doubt – [that's] time you get a chance to redeem yourself, especially in a tough game like this. Luckily, we have another opportunity next week to fix those little mistakes and try to come out with a 'W.'"

LEFT TACKLE TRISTAN WIRFS

(On the message in the locker room postgame)

"[We] just [have] to be better. [We] can't have mistakes from the week carry over to the game. Yeah, we just [have] to play a cleaner football game."

(On what New England did that was challenging)

"Nothing really, we just have to execute better, it's on us. Credit to them, [they] played a really good clean game. We just [have] to be better."

(On how T Luke Goedeke played coming back from IR)
"We'll watch it, but you didn't hear his name, and that's always great for an offensive lineman."

(On how the team moves forward from today)

"A tough stretch ahead. We [have] to play – we [have] to play good football against good football teams. So, we'll look at it tomorrow and see what we can correct and be better at and go from there."