It hasn’t been the best of times for Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield. And the team is coming off a tough and shocking loss. Part of the problem is the offense, and Mayfield dropped a “boring” truth bomb about the Buccaneers' woes, according to a post on X by Pewter Report.
“We’ve been really close, and that’s the frustrating part,” Mayfield said. “It’s putting it all together. Everybody just doing their job. As boring and as simple as that sounds, it’s true. Just continue to figure out what we’re going to be as an offense. Just got to eliminate negative plays is the biggest part.”
The Buccaneers are off to a 0-2 start, having lost 33-27 to the Bengals and 23-19 to the Browns. The close calls don’t offer solace. They have three straight NFC opponents coming up and can’t afford to get further behind in the playoff chase.
Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield trying to find a rhythm
In two games, Mayfield has not resembled the quarterback he proved to be over the last two seasons. He threw for only 216 yards against the Bengals. Then he followed up with a 182-yard stinker against the Browns. In two games, he has a paltry one touchdown pass and has been intercepted once.
The theory seems to be that Mayfield is trying too hard. But that seems more like an excuse when it comes to the NFL. Everybody is trying too hard. It’s part of the league.
But head coach Todd Bowles said Mayfield needs to be content with less sometimes, according to Fox Sports.
“The main thing is not turning the ball over and sometimes checking it down,” Bowles said in the offseason. “Understanding when he gets out of the pocket — he makes some great scrambles — but understanding how to get down and putting himself out of harm’s way.”
Unfortunately for Mayfield and Bowles, the Buccaneers will likely need a chance-taking effort from Mayfield against the Vikings' surprisingly good defense.