Baker Mayfield has been at the heart of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offense all season, but lately, the results haven’t matched the effort. Sunday’s 23-20 loss to the Carolina Panthers marked the team’s third straight defeat - a tough pill to swallow for a Bucs squad that started the year with promise but now finds itself scrambling to keep playoff hopes alive.
And the frustration is starting to show, not just in the locker room but on the field. After the game, Panthers cornerback Mike Jackson had some pointed comments about Mayfield. According to Jackson, the two exchanged words throughout the game - and he didn’t hold back when asked about the interaction.
“Sometimes you got to show people you’re not scared of them,” Jackson said. “I don’t usually talk trash, but it felt like he thought I was. I don’t know what he thought.”
Jackson added, “He didn’t say much - it’s just how he carries himself. Like he’s Brett Favre or something. At the end of the day, you just go out there and play ball.”
It was a chippy game, and Mayfield’s performance didn’t do much to quiet the critics. He completed 18 of 26 passes for 145 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception. On the other side, Panthers rookie Bryce Young looked more comfortable than he has in weeks, finishing with 191 yards and two scores on 21-of-31 passing.
The loss dropped the Bucs to 7-8 on the season, second in the NFC South behind the surging Panthers. Tampa Bay has now lost six of its last seven games, a stark contrast to the strong start they put together earlier in the year. The offense has sputtered, the defense has struggled to close out games, and the margin for error is now razor thin.
Still, Mayfield isn’t backing down from the challenge. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the veteran quarterback remained optimistic about the road ahead.
“It’s a long season,” Mayfield said. “Everything we want is still right in front of us, despite everything that’s gone on.
We can win out, make the playoffs, and still have our goals ahead of us. You have to endure the storm.
It’s the ups and downs of it, and that’s just how it goes.”
That’s the kind of mentality you want from your quarterback - steady, confident, and focused. And Mayfield has earned the right to lead with that mindset.
Since signing a three-year deal worth up to $100 million in 2024, he’s helped guide Tampa Bay to the postseason in each of his first two seasons with the team. This year, he’s thrown for 3,144 yards and 23 touchdowns - numbers that show he’s still capable of leading a playoff-caliber offense when things click.
But the clock is ticking. The Bucs have just two games left to right the ship, and it starts this Sunday with a tough matchup against the Miami Dolphins.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET - and if Tampa Bay wants to keep its season alive, it’s going to take more than belief.
It’s going to take execution, resilience, and a little bit of that Mayfield fire.