Week Ten Challenge of Patriots' Signal-Caller Drake Maye
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defense faces a hard task in Week 10, as they will try to contain Patriots' quarterback Drake Maye. Maye leads the league in passer rating and completion percentage, while also being ranked fifth in quarterback rushing yards. He has outstanding touch on the deep ball and fits the football in tight windows. Maye is dangerous when creating outside of structure, whether plunging through the A-gap with open grass in the middle of the field or rolling to the left/right to take advantage of a free lane around the edge. He pairs captivating arm strength with accuracy at all three levels of the field. Maye creates yards-after-catch opportunities for his receivers on underneath routes and he can deliver throws with precision without a proper base. On Sunday, the Bucs' defense will have to corral Maye and get home on sacks, not allowing the dual-threat to find an escape hatch.
"He is very composed and he can run, so it will be a great challenge for us," said cornerback Zyon McCollum. "What is most impressive for me is how much chemistry they seem to have with Drake Maye. You know, they understand that Drake is going to extend the play. He is going to make big plays down the field. A lot of those receivers are really, really good at working the scramble drill, which is something that we have not seen in a while."
Baker Mayfield on MNF "ManningCast"
Standing perpendicular to the line of scrimmage, Emeka Egbuka has created magic on the field with his route-running prowess in year one. He is one-of-four players with 20-plus receptions, 300-plus receiving yards and five-plus receiving touchdowns through five career games over the last 50 years, joining Ja'Marr Chase, Randy Moss and Roy Williams. Egbuka attacks coverage with leverage, pacing and footwork to generate separation at the break point. He utilizes subtle maneuvers to bait the opposition and expands the playbook with his versatility to play all three receiver positions. His ability to adjust to the ball and command the catch point has been highly-touted in 2025, with defensive coordinators in the NFL beginning to double team the first-year player in Tampa Bay. Egbuka, a member of the Ohio State receiver fraternity, hauled in an impressive one-handed grab against the Jets in Week Three and quarterback Baker Mayfield comedically discussed the play via the 'ManningCast' during Monday Night Football.
"When you know they [receivers] could get the other hand in there and make it look like a truly perfect pass and they go show-boating with the sticky gloves and what not, you have to put the rookie in his place every once in a while," laughed Mayfield on his comments made to Egbuka on the sideline.
Run Game Assessment
With an immutable desire to run the football to achieve balance offensively, the Buccaneers will look to reinvigorate the ground attack in Week 10. Tampa Bay faces the league's top-ranked run defense on Sunday, a unit that is holding opponents to 75.4 yards per game. During the allotted bye week, the Bucs entered a self-scout period and the line dissected every nuance of the run game to foster rejuvenation during the second-half stretch. Against the Saints in Week Eight, Tampa Bay averaged only three yards a tote while making a concerted effort to run the football after Baker Mayfield was forced to throw the ball 50 times in Detroit. Mike Vrabel's squad has one agenda: stop the run and force the opponent to be one-dimensional. On Sunday, the Bucs will aim to pound the rock at Raymond James Stadium to set the tone to dial up play-action fakes.
"The run game absolutely starts up front and honestly just like the passing game, I like to say the run game takes all 11," described center Graham Barton. "Obviously, it starts with the five guys that are paid to run block, yes, but when the receivers get involved and they are blocking downfield and backs are making the right reads and we are carrying out the right play fakes, it takes all 11 to set up the run and to continue to execute. I think offensively just as a unit, we have to look and say, 'This week, how can we be better? What are we doing that we need to get away from? What are the things that we have gotten away from that we need to get back to? How can we keep defenses on their heels?' That is what was so beneficial about the bye week was being able to be self-critical and hold ourselves accountable and look within yourself first before you look at other people."
