Baker Mayfield is entering his third season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with one priority. Forget stats, forget highlight throws, forget the offseason noise. Mayfield wants wins. He’s collected 19 of them in two years with the Buccaneers, but in his own words, it’s not enough.
“I just want more wins,” Mayfield said as the season kicked off. It’s a stripped-down mission, one that reflects both confidence and urgency.
Building off a career year
Mayfield is coming off the most productive season of his career. He threw 41 touchdowns, piled up 4,500 yards, and completed over 71% of his passes. Those numbers put him in the top tier across the league. The reward was a restructured deal guaranteeing him $30 million in 2026.
But Mayfield knows gaudy stats don’t mean much if the team doesn’t deliver in January. That’s where his focus shifted. Year three is about finishing drives, closing out games, and turning strong performances into more victories.
Battling through adversity
The season opener against Atlanta wasn’t pretty. Mayfield hit on just over half of his throws and never looked comfortable in the pocket. Still, when the game was on the line, he scrambled for key first downs and found rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka on a 25-yard strike to seal the win.
That ability to stay calm late has become a trademark. “The faster the game speeds up, the calmer he is,” coach Todd Bowles said.
Prime-time challenge ahead
Next up is a Monday night matchup with Houston. The Bucs will be without All-Pro tackle Tristan Wirfs and have shuffled the offensive line. That’s a tough setup against Texans pass rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, who combined for 23 sacks last year.
MORE: Shedeur Sanders refuses to answer Ravens draft rumor after Browns loss
Mayfield knows he’ll need quicker reads, smart checkdowns, and better efficiency early to keep the offense in rhythm. “Not doing too much, just doing your job at the highest level,” he said.
Changing the narrative
For all the progress, Mayfield and the Bucs still carry a prime-time problem. They’ve lost six straight regular-season night games over the past two years. If Tampa wants to be seen as a true NFC contender, that trend has to change.
And that’s why Mayfield’s focus on winning rings true. It’s not about silencing critics or proving himself anymore. It’s about stacking victories, one week at a time, until the Bucs are back in the playoff conversation.
MORE NFL NEWS:
- NFL Week 2 Sunday games: Full schedule and key storylines
- Shedeur Sanders refuses to answer Ravens draft rumor after Browns loss
- From sleeping in cars to NFL stardom: The inspiring journey of Josh Jacobs
- Jayden Daniels aims to end decades of Commanders’ misery at Lambeau
- Meet Ronika Stone, the volleyball star married to Packers QB Jordan Love
- Rob Gronkowski blasts Miami Dolphins after ugly opener: “They’re terrible