Baker Mayfield Clear Leader In MVP Race
October 13th, 2025
King of the hill.
Joe doesn’t think this is hyperbole. What would the Bucs’ record be without Baker Mayfield.
The Bucs’ quarterback has easily been the best player on one of the NFL’s best teams through six weeks, and on the best team in the NFC.
And no player on the Bucs has had a bigger impact with the success of the Bucs than Mayfield.
In fact, if veteran NFL.com columnist Jeffri Chadiha was choosing his NFL MVP through the first six weeks, he said it’s not even a discussion: The leader is easily Mayfield.
Chadiha also believes the biggest winner coming out of Week 6 is — you guessed it — Mayfield.
It’s been a tough job figuring out who should be the early leader for the MVP award, but that’s no longer an issue. Mayfield has made his case early and often, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback might just be holding that trophy when the season ends. There are quarterbacks with more accomplishments. There are quarterbacks with better numbers. However, nobody is playing this position or doing more for his team through the first six weeks of the season than Mayfield. The Buccaneers have dealt with numerous offensive line injuries. They’ve been playing without running back Bucky Irving and wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin (and rookie sensation Emeka Egbuka also sustained a hamstring injury in Sunday’s win over San Francisco). And yet here the Bucs are, sitting at 5-1 after another dramatic victory. That’s because Mayfield has been that good, that clutch, that inspirational of a leader. It doesn’t matter who is suiting up next to him these days. He’s going to make enough plays to help his team get a win. Because of Mayfield, the Buccaneers were the first team in history to have four wins by three points or less in their first five games. Now, he has thrown 12 touchdown passes this season while turning the ball over once. And the biggest thing he gives Tampa Bay is attitude. You can see it when he rises from a first-down scramble or hits a deep shot after taking a huge hit from a free blitzer. Mayfield is playing with the kind of confidence and bravado that made him a cult hero in college. It’s also made him this league’s best player through the first six weeks of this season.
Take away Mayfield from the Bucs’ roster, say he was injured in training camp, Joe doesn’t think it is a stretch to suggest the Bucs would be 1-5, maybe even 0-6 right now.
That’s how important Mayfield has been. Just take that Houdini act yesterday Mayfield pulled to keep a drive alive scrambling for a first down and then hitting Tez Johnson with a bomb. Does any other quarterback pull that off?
After Mayfield hit Johnson on the heels of scrambling for a first down, it seemed as if that scramble lit a fuse with the Bucs. And they then slammed the door on the 49ers.
Joe thinks a very special season is unfolding the way Mayfield is willing this team to wins damn near every week.
Here in Tampa Bay, they treasure @bakermayfield’s confidence & grit like he’s one of their own.
It reminds me of a lyric from another Florida man, Jimmy Buffett, that sums up Baker’s Bucs tenure perfectly: “Yes, I am a pirate, 200 years too late.”
Our essay as aired on ESPN: pic.twitter.com/qFVRzidYrw
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) October 12, 2025
October 13th, 2025 at 4:31 am
The argument forever has been most valuable or best player. Baker qualifies for both. What a start for the leader of this team.
October 13th, 2025 at 4:34 am
DAWG!
October 13th, 2025 at 4:53 am
I love the MVP chatter and would love to see Baker win it, but it’s awful early in the season. A lot can happen…
Between his 4th down scrambles and two minute drills, he’s also clearly worked on cutting down the INTs. 12 TDs to only 1 INT is darn good in anyone’s book. I’m also pleased as punch to see him taking a slide instead of a hit on his scrambles. That’s gotta be some humble pie for him, but he’s doing it.
I don’t think it’s a stretch to say 1-5 or possibly 0-6. We brought Teddy in for a reason, so if Baker was out, I’d hope the record would be a little better, but I can see why folks would say that.
One week at a time. One game at a time, and I can see us with both an MVP winner and a trip to the Super Bowl.
Go Bucs!!!
October 13th, 2025 at 6:03 am
Also without JMac. Show the kid some love
October 13th, 2025 at 6:17 am
That escape and run was amazing. he received no blocking on the run until about the final final yard from Cade on the spot Otton. Heady play by him. Baker gives new meaning to the term maximum effort.
October 13th, 2025 at 6:29 am
MVPship will be put to the test against Hutchinson and the Lions this week. Fingers crossed some of these guys come back this week.
October 13th, 2025 at 6:30 am
And how about that little twist as he reached out to land on his back so the ball was not the first thing to touch the ground. Maximum effort at its finest.
October 13th, 2025 at 6:41 am
Love that piece on Baker! He truly is a dawg!
October 13th, 2025 at 6:54 am
After the first few games I wasn’t feeling too good about Grizz. TOTALLY over that now
October 13th, 2025 at 7:18 am
I don’t even like Pre qualifiers anymore. “He may not be the best player but…..” “hey may not be as talented as _” After 3 straight years of this – are we sure? Are you 100% sure. Do people like to typecast or something because of his stint in Carolina for a HALF A Season? He was a number one pick, no one except for a few guys eludes pressure like him – and I would argue that no one in the nfl has a stronger arm than the absolute bazooka baker has outside of Josh Allen and Anthony Richardson who sucks. And even then, he can’t escape def give you a 70 air yard throw if he wanted. The guy is an A+ talent
October 13th, 2025 at 7:55 am
The “Confidence and Grit” video about Baker is right on. He has always been the same guy. Best of the best! Many of us have watched him for years and knew he had it. So glad he found the perfect fit on the Bucs!
October 13th, 2025 at 7:57 am
All I have to say along with a few others that seen how this guy can ball before landing in Tampa is I TOLD YOU SO!
October 13th, 2025 at 8:06 am
How sweet it is
October 13th, 2025 at 8:08 am
ONE GAME AT A TIME BAKER!!!!!!
5-1!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
October 13th, 2025 at 8:27 am
Way too early to talk about MVP. However, the game was shown to about 75% of the country and Bake put on a great show for the fans and media. The last year or two, we talked about the Bucs getting respect by winning the national and night games. Well the national wins are bringing recognition and respect back to the Bucs/
Bowles and the Bucs have struggled with the 49ers in the past so it was a big win. Will the Bucs have a let down against the Lions?
October 13th, 2025 at 8:55 am
The only thing Rod Munch ever got correct was that Midget and MVP both begin with M. Other than that never take betting or stock tips from Sir Roderick.
October 13th, 2025 at 9:06 am
Vanessa,
Thoughtful points about BM6. Regarding the interceptions, they are down for a lot of reasons. The first is that many of Baker’s INT’s in the last two years were passes that bounced off a receiver into the hands of a defender. Recall last year in the Dallas game MacMiillan had a perfect bomb taken away from him on the ground in the end zone. Instead of TD pass it became another Baker INT. Another thought is that Mayfield has such a strong arm he is fearless in trying to fit the ball through 2-3 defenders. This year he seems to have cut that out. Finally, the INT thing for.Baker rarely has cost the Bucs a game. It is just something for fat guy, couch potatoes to wring their hands about. For certai, Mayfield will throw
October 13th, 2025 at 9:07 am
Vanessa,
Thoughtful points about BM6. Regarding the interceptions, they are down for a lot of reasons. The first is that many of Baker’s INT’s in the last two years were passes that bounced off a receiver into the hands of a defender. Recall last year in the Dallas game MacMiillan had a perfect bomb taken away from him on the ground in the end zone. Instead of TD pass it became another Baker INT. Another thought is that Mayfield has such a strong arm he is fearless in trying to fit the ball through 2-3 defenders. This year he seems to have cut that out. Finally, the INT thing for.Baker rarely has cost the Bucs a game. It is just something for fat guy, couch potatoes to wring their hands about. For certain , Mayfield will throw more INT’s this year. They come with the job. Everyone just needs to relax when he does.
October 13th, 2025 at 9:22 am
i doubt baker cares about mvp. he cares about getting a ring.
October 13th, 2025 at 9:24 am
Couldn’t care any less about MVP, etc.. But I’m sure Bakers contract likes it a lot.
October 13th, 2025 at 9:58 am
New contract coming with enough money to buy Miami. But I don’t think he will pi$$ It away.
October 13th, 2025 at 10:08 am
It’s Naive to suggest Baker doesn’t care about MVP. All athletes have an ego, and are hyper competitive, you know dang well it would bring great joy to live rent free in his doubters heads with the ultimate individual award.
To the other guy about “respectability as a team.” Umm, wut. Going to the playoffs every year with a ring matter to you? How does that tickle your fancy? The Bucs are a model organization with an elite gm, they have proven to win important games over and over and over. Treat your 2010’s PTSD, and come forward to 2025
October 13th, 2025 at 10:14 am
Interesting to see that next contract, Durango. We can be sure, Jason isn’t letting Baker go anywhere else.
October 13th, 2025 at 10:40 am
I’ve been saying this for quite sometime: Feisty Bake is on a mission. It’s contagious and the entire Bucs team including front office has caught it. I can tell you, Bake is already figuring out how to deal with Hutchinson. The Lions don’t have the injuries Tampa Bay is enduring. This Detroit game is on my birthday. Nope, not jinxing my Bucs!! And Kudos to Coach Todd Bowles for following Bake and bringing him here!!
October 13th, 2025 at 10:48 am
Not only would it be amazing if he won the M.V.P cause it would mean Bucs are contenders at end of year….Ole Flo will have $500 coming for bet i made on my boy!$$$ LETSGO!!
October 13th, 2025 at 10:52 am
I’ll say it once and I’ll keep saying it a thousand times over… When I suggested Baker should come here once Brady retired. People tore me a new one, people laughed at the thought. The dude never lost anything. Browns got impatient as usual. I’ve LOVED this man since he suited up and Cleveland… There’s a reason why he was drafted #1 in 2018 Baker is HIM! Where are the haters now? So I ask.. Where are all the haters now?
GO BUCS!!
October 13th, 2025 at 11:38 am
Yusef,
Good for you. I was probably the most prominent victim of the derogatory term “ Baker Boies.” Didn’t bother me because I really know football talent and with Baker it was obvious to everyone except the followers. The followers are people who are told what to think. We have a country full of them. Independent, critical thinking is not taught in schools. Most just repeat the noise they hear from “experts” who are frauds that for one reason or another have a platform. What are all the experts saying today? You guessed it, Mayfield is the greatest.
Baker had the best response to this stuff last week when he was asked about when. being young he was “Iimmature and cocky” …..He said he is the same guy but now they say “mature and poised.”
October 13th, 2025 at 11:42 am
Kinda crazy to believe early in that game fans were talking about resigning Kyle trask to start let it go let it go Baker is the man right now.
October 13th, 2025 at 2:33 pm
If he gets MVP Brown’s fans might start a riot in Cleveland.
October 13th, 2025 at 2:34 pm
Where’s “Trask to the Future” ??????
October 13th, 2025 at 2:48 pm
Buc1987 Says:
October 13th, 2025 at 2:33 pm
If he gets MVP Brown’s fans might start a riot in Cleveland.
————————-
Can you blame them? Man, look at all the lousy teams, etc., we Buc fans endured. The Culverhouse Era, gawdalmighty, that yahoo spent more $$ on his harem than he did the Bucs.
October 13th, 2025 at 7:32 pm
“Buc1987 Says:
October 13th, 2025 at 2:33 pm
If he gets MVP Brown’s fans might start a riot in Cleveland.”
If you listen closely you can hear them singing……
🎶🎶🎶
Baby come back
You can blame it all on me
I was wrong
And I just can’t live without you
🎶🎶🎶