Baker Mayfield, Accountability, and the Bucs’ Playoff Push: A Closer Look at the Criticism and the Reality
Baker Mayfield’s 2025 season has been a rollercoaster, and depending on who you ask, it’s either a story of resilience or a reminder of inconsistency. Former All-Pro cornerback Aqib Talib seems to lean toward the latter. During a recent appearance on The Arena Gridiron, Talib didn’t mince words when it came to assessing Mayfield’s career arc.
“We can’t put him on a pedestal,” Talib said. “We got to look at his whole career.”
It’s a fair point to raise-Mayfield’s NFL journey has been anything but linear. From being the No. 1 overall pick to bouncing between teams like Carolina and Los Angeles before finding a home in Tampa Bay, his path has been filled with sharp turns.
In Carolina, he was out after just seven games. His stint with the Rams in late 2022?
A result of Matthew Stafford’s injury, not a long-term plan.
Talib added, “This season basically sums up Baker’s whole career.” And in some ways, he’s not wrong.
Mayfield’s current record sits at 7-7 with the Buccaneers clinging to second place in the NFC South-just one game behind, of all teams, his former squad in Carolina. The inconsistency has been part of the narrative, but so has the fight.
Skip Bayless Pushes Back, Points to Playoff Pedigree
Of course, there’s another side to the Baker Mayfield coin. Skip Bayless, also on the show, was quick to defend the quarterback, pointing out that Mayfield holds the highest passer rating in NFL playoff history at 105.9. That’s not a fluke stat-it’s a testament to his ability to rise to the moment when the lights are brightest.
And that’s the paradox with Mayfield. He’s had forgettable stretches, sure, but he’s also shown flashes of brilliance when it matters most.
That’s what makes evaluating him so tricky. He’s not a bust, but he’s not a sure thing either.
He’s somewhere in between-a quarterback capable of both spectacular highs and frustrating lows.
Thursday’s Loss to Atlanta: A Microcosm of the Season
The Bucs’ 29-28 loss to the Falcons on Thursday night was another example of that duality. Mayfield threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns but also tossed a costly interception.
His 19-for-34 line wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t enough. The bigger concern?
He’s averaging just 6.7 yards per attempt this season-his lowest mark since arriving in Tampa. That’s a significant dip from last season’s 7.9 yards per attempt when Liam Coen was calling plays.
The offense as a whole hasn’t been nearly as explosive. Tampa Bay ranks 21st in total yards per game at 316.6, a steep drop from last year’s 399.5 yards per game-a mark that ranked third in the league. Mayfield himself is sitting at 2,999 passing yards, 10th in the NFL after finishing third last season with 4,500.
Accountability and Leadership in a Critical Stretch
What Mayfield lacks in consistency, he’s making up for in leadership. After the loss to Atlanta, he didn’t deflect blame. He owned it.
“We didn’t play well enough to win. That’s on us,” he said postgame-words that didn’t go unnoticed by his head coach.
Todd Bowles backed his quarterback’s message, saying, “He’s taking responsibility as one of our leaders.” For Bowles, this wasn’t just about one game-it was about setting the tone for the final stretch.
“I think it’s an eye-opener for a lot of guys and a lot of coaches on this team,” Bowles added.
Mayfield’s emotional response-saying he was “pissed off” after the loss-speaks to the urgency inside Tampa’s locker room. This isn’t a team coasting into the playoffs. They’re battling, clawing, and trying to find their identity at a critical point in the season.
The Road Ahead: Two Games That Could Decide Everything
With three games left on the schedule, two of them come against the Panthers-the very team that gave up on Mayfield not long ago. Those matchups could very well determine whether the Bucs make it back to the postseason or end the year on the outside looking in.
So, where does that leave Baker Mayfield?
He’s not on a pedestal, but he’s not in the basement either. He’s somewhere in the middle, trying to prove that his story isn’t finished yet. And with the playoffs still within reach, the next few weeks could go a long way in shaping how we talk about his career moving forward.
For now, the spotlight is back on Mayfield. And like it or not, he’s got the ball in his hands-again.