Baker Mayfield: “It’s Not Playoff Time Yet”
September 22nd, 2026
Apparently, the Bucs didn’t have a Super Bowl menatlity going into Sunday’s home-opener against the Browns.
They wanted to win, of course, but the reality of it being a must-win for all that is right in the football world didn’t get through to the players. And perhaps nobody seemed to realize it was a must-win for the job stability of their beloved head coach.
Mayfield appeared on the Buccaneers Radio Network last night (Joe listened on 95.7 FM WDAE) and addressed what he needs to do to beat the Vikings on Sunday.
Part 1 of his response was about his play.
“Hitting the deep shots when they’re there, taking advantage of those,” said Mayfield, who connected on 1 of 5 deep shots on Sunday.
“But just more early and often completions. Continue to sustain drives.”
And Part 2 for Mayfield was about his leadership. And what a window into the soul of the Bucs it was.
“And for me during the week, pushing the guys like, ‘We’re 0-2. It’s not where we want to be, but it’s where we’re at, and are we actually going back to what we talked about earlier: actually gonna look ourselves in the mirror and get it fixed,” Mayfield said. “Or are we okay with being 0-2 and just letting this happen? So pushing the guys and it’s not playoff time yet. But sometimes you gotta revert back to that mindset and little details, getting things fixed and not taking anything for granted.”
So it’s not “playoff time” yet? That’s how Mayfield thinks? Shame on him. It should have been “playoff time” for the Week 2 game against the Browns.
The message should have been: “We’re 0-1 and a sloppy football team. We’re not as good as we thought we were. Our home pride is on the line and so is Todd’s job and we gotta get this losing stink off us at all costs immediately.”
Instead, per Mayfield, this is the week the team will try to revert back to a playoff mindset. Got it.
Joe wrote over and over in the offseason that the mentality of the Bucs’ leadership core is off.
And look what happened in Week 1, the majority of the captains played a poor game. And their great leadership bounced back in Week 2 to see the team play worse.
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:11 am
Joe 0-11 against the spread. A $50 bet and letting ride each week would be $102,400.
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:12 am
This team has no accountability and is void of any coaching leadership. This ship is sinking fast. Lose this Sunday and the season officially over.
Bowles should have been fired 2 years ago for Coen.
He should have been fired last year but scape goated Grizzard.
He should have been fired during the lightning delay on Sunday.
Todd Bowles is an utter disgrace to Bucs Nation
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:15 am
losers
I hate Bowles and Baker needs a better OC
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:16 am
0-3 to start the season = less than 3% chances of making the playoffs.
I would say this Sunday’s game is d&mn critical.
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:19 am
In football, preparation is key.
There seems to be a lot of confusion among players and coaches as to who is on the kisses (X) side and who is on the hugs (O) side…
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:20 am
What happened down the stretch last yr. when it was “playoff time”? I’m so tired of all the excuses. Rain delay, OC sucks, coach it better, injuries. This is the real root of the problem, nobody is accountable! as long as you have owners that don’t keep their employees accountable, this is what your left with.
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:21 am
Bowles has been in championship teams. I think he knows what’s wrong culturally but is unable to fix it because it’s not in his dna and/ir doesn’t know how. And no coach is going to voluntarily admit it.
With baker I think he’s genuinely a little dense. I don’t know who would say something like this out loud if they knew better.
I did see him slide Sunday so there’s that.
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:21 am
does Baker even remember what the playoffs feel like?…his last playoff win was 3 years ago lol….
NO SENSE OF URGENCY!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:22 am
“Its not playiff time yet” Lol
It hasn’t been playoff time in a few years thanks to this guy. Ive been speaking about his mindset for years. Hes not locked in and can’t make the simple plays.
Look at the way he’s playing, how can he get on someone who makes a mistake when he makes the most mistakes? Who in the locker room is looking to this guy for leadership? Who? Name names! No one with a working brain is listening to him.
I told you he’d be worse this season. Prepare to see more of what we’ve seen
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:26 am
Please stop hating on Baker Mayfield.
He is the best FULLBACK this team has had since Mike Alstott!
Go Baker!
Keep blocking, running and fumbling us into the #1 overall pick.
I’m lovin it!
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:26 am
Baker mentioning Playoffs is hilarious, just win a game man
His deep ball accuracy is as accurate and reliable as Fox News
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:27 am
I know its early in the season but I just dont see a good team here, no pressure on QB erron deep balls WR dropping balls just not a well coached team.
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:28 am
Baker first long throw was off because defender got his legs tied up with receiver, Tez. Not sure why that wasn’t called PI?
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:34 am
This isn’t rocket science. If you can’t block and you sure cannot tackle you will not win unless the other team is even worse.
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:34 am
Baker holds himself clearly accountable, focuses on doing the same for his teammates, and the taek away is that he should have done it a week earlier? Sheesh. If he balls out and the Bucs dominate the Vikings, will all the chatter be about how they should have beaten the Browns?
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:35 am
Baker as a “Franchise QB” has had a 4 game losing streak EVERY season as a Bucs starter and he will likely have one this year as well
You do not pay or extend a guy like him
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:36 am
It’s not going to be playoff time at any point this year.
This team is full of losers.
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:47 am
“Yet?”
Based upon results from the past 25 seasons, there’s like a 15% chance of making the playoffs after an 0-2 start.
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:47 am
Baker is a joke. Needs some bench time to think about his actions
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:49 am
I really don’t give a hoot about this team or the NFL. The responsibility for the complacency that seemingly has permeated throughout the team starts at the top with the owners. The words and actions on and off the field of the players and coaches indicate to me that each is just in it for the money. To each it is just a job.
They all might as well be robots. They only speak “football speak” and the corporate line. They all know it is rigged so why should they care. They are playing not to get hurt. The coaches are like entrenched government bureaucrats that (almost) can’t be fired. If they do get fired a job with another team is almost assured and their pension is protected. The players have contracts and a powerful union and lawyers for agents.
Everyone but the uninformed and naive should know by now that it is all a scam.
I don’t care if the team wins or loses. After 50+ years I view it as a soap opera that I can follow here on this site just like my wife and daughter watched Day’s of Our Lives way back in the day.
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:49 am
THATS our franchise QB. Speaks volumes. Like I said 18 times yesterday, Bucs are picking up right where they left off last season. Zero accountability from JL all the way down. Disgraceful. And do you know what? We will see more of the same Sunday against Minnesota.
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:52 am
Weak sauce…shame indeed.
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:57 am
Unfortunately payoff time has came and went. Baker guaranteed a fortune no matter how he plays.
If that’s his “revenge” game vs the team who drafted him…that’s all we need to
see/know.
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:01 am
Everyone believes that the Glazer drawers are NOT very bright…
I disagree 100%.
Signing Baker to that idiotic deal – keeping the “Toad” as the HC and keeping Licht as our GM – has ensured them a top 5 draft pick for the next 5 years.
Absolutely brilliant IMO.
Go Bucs!
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:02 am
DWARFS not drawers.
LOL!
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:04 am
One more thing, I haven’t watched a sports game of any sort in over two years. I haven’t listened to the Bucs on the radio in over a year. I don’t miss it one iota. Slowly but surely I am weaning off the scams called entertainment all together albeit somewhat difficult not to follow the “written media” after a lifetime of doing so.
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:05 am
This will be the make it or break it year for Todd Bowels. He needs a 10 win season to keep his job. When a good new Head Coach turns a losing franchise into a winning franchise in a year or two, you have the right leader.
We are about to find out this year.
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:05 am
What does #6, know about the playoffs? You have got to be kidding Me, he has two playoff wins in his career….. we need to trade him now, he is the Cancer in the locker room, other players are going to see that, you can sign a deal and underachieve,and that it is acceptable!
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:07 am
this is the rotting mindset of the bucs and many fans and bloggers. the whole “we can or will win the south” mentality.
it’s a loser mindset. what an eye opener.
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:20 am
The great teams approach every game as a playoff/must win game. That’s how you get to 13 or so wins!! This team with this HC approach every game as just another game. That’s how you get to a record of 3 Ws/9 Ls over their last 12 games!!!!!!!!!!! IMHO.
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:20 am
Over time, one of Baker’s most obvious qualities has been his giant heart. There aren’t too many players who exhibit this more than Baker, he wears his heart on his sleeve. He gives a damn, period.
The quotes from Baker today, to me, paint a clear picture. The players on this team, for the most part, have had it with the front office not making the changes (Fire Bowles, for one) that need to happen for success. They should be apparent to anyone paying attention (and who aren’t part of the Baker-Hater club).
The leaders on this team have made the choice to engage in what is typically referred to as a “sick-in.” It is a form of a strike workers engage in when calling a real labor strike is not possible. I will not be surprised to see this team not win a game until changes get made at the top, starting with Bowles getting canned. FINALLY!
That’s my take on what, to me, is becoming more and more apparent,
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:21 am
MattBucs Says:
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:12 am
This team has no accountability and is void of any coaching leadership. This ship is sinking fast. Lose this Sunday and the season officially over.
Bowles should have been fired 2 years ago for Coen.
He should have been fired last year but scape goated Grizzard.
He should have been fired during the lightning delay on Sunday.
Todd Bowles is an utter disgrace to Bucs Nation
____________________________________________
No comment of my own. This was so well said it needed to be repeated.
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:29 am
Sad…….
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:46 am
We’re in “ look in the mirror mode” after two weeks.
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:49 am
Tried telling you people, the he is NOT A LEADER. He doesn’t GAF. He’s just out there running around, and doing whatever TF it is that “HE” WANTS TO DO. And, without ANY regard for his teammates, OR the team. Been tellin’ ya… It’s always, ALL About BAKER. 24/7/365.
September 22nd, 2026 at 9:57 am
The Bucs are being exposed without Mike Evans. He usually had double coverage & triple sometimes leaving others open for easy pitch & catch for Baker.
September 22nd, 2026 at 10:00 am
The bucs have plenty of talent, it’s the head coach , offensive coordinator, defense coordinator & of course special teams coaching. It’s obvious these kids lack discipline and composure,conditioning.ill take the head coach job.
September 22nd, 2026 at 10:03 am
The team is a reflection of the head coach.
September 22nd, 2026 at 10:10 am
You can’t blame Baker Mayfield
He duped these clueless Bucs fans into believing he’s the savior
He duped Bowles, Licht into believing….he can get them to the Promise Land
He duped these fools out of a $165 million dollar contract
You gotta give Mayfield his props
He swindle the Bucs organization and their backwards thinking fanbase
I admire Baker Mayfield for delivering the Perfect Con….
September 22nd, 2026 at 10:20 am
Baker can be an inspiring player at times but he isn’t a leader and needs a head coach or OC who is. The fact he thinks he is responsible for firing everyone up during the week is more disturbing to me than the bad quote.
September 22nd, 2026 at 10:42 am
“Or are we okay with 0-2?”
The answer is probably, Yes. Judging by last season.
September 22nd, 2026 at 10:45 am
I just did the math. George R is correct (first post).
September 22nd, 2026 at 10:52 am
Baker needed to have a “prove it” year. If the Bucs had waited just 2 games, they could have signed him for half-price, or better yet, realized he’s not worth extending at all. He started missing open receivers last year in the game at Detroit, that was the beginning of the end of the 2025 season and he hasn’t gotten back on track since.
September 22nd, 2026 at 10:54 am
They are still getting paid. This is just a really sad joke being played on us. This is an unintelligent team from top to bottom (of course with a few exceptions). It’s s Bucs life.
September 22nd, 2026 at 11:03 am
Someone please remind Faker that the playoffs are for winning teams.
He should just go do some back strokes in his money vault like Scrooge McDuck.
Dude is a fraud just like his HC\DC.
September 22nd, 2026 at 11:06 am
Ever watch “The Natural” where the psychiatrist is teaching the team how to lose? Well, that must be happening here except no one is walking out like Redford did.
September 22nd, 2026 at 11:25 am
The message the Bucs / Glazers / Licht sent when they resigned Baker was “This is Bakers team” and this what your gonna get when you go all in on a mediocre/ average short QB. Pair him with a mediocre HC / average DC and what you get is a mediocre team.
At this point I just hope the Bucs do the right thing and draft a QB bc we’re gonna be picking in the top 5 this year. But the Bucs are not a well run organization like the Rays or Lightning are unfortunately
September 22nd, 2026 at 11:34 am
Baker Says:
Prediction — they’re going to continue to let this happen. There is something missing with these guys. Ultimately, it’s not going to change until Bowles is gone.
September 22nd, 2026 at 11:57 am
Not playoff time lol one playoff win in 3 years plus. Two playoff wins in entire career. If his play doesn’t get better he will never see another playoff win. I thought the Browns game would be a cake walk.
September 22nd, 2026 at 12:00 pm
Licht, and Bowles both need to go. Licht’s been handing out extensions to underachieving players like Halloween candy. Need a whole house cleaning, get a new set of unbiased eyes on this roster. Licht lives in denial about how good his draft picks have been. Total rebuild time.
September 22nd, 2026 at 12:42 pm
As an observer, how can you feel good about getting a win against the Vikes based on their performance over the past 12 games? Literally, there has been no improvement in any area…we do have a very good kicker, so we should focus on that. 0-3 and things will get real bleak. Individual performances get us nothing. Look at how much the Giants have improved already…and the Jets. (maybe I’m wrong). As for Zac Robinson, not so impressive thus far. But maybe he game plans for our receivers to not get open so he calls those 1-3 yard passes. Anzalone just appears to be ineffective at best.
September 22nd, 2026 at 12:49 pm
And I listened to that radio show for a few minutes last night. What a joke. Definitely a “Buccaneer Radio” controlled “interview”. Not hard-hitting journalism by any means. I’d like to ask Baker how he feels about that new contract and playing like a high schooler. I don’t care that Baker and Wirfs play MarioKart together. It felt like we should be sitting around a candle in a circle and talking about feelings. That team should be in pads every day fixing things. idk…I would definitely start practicing differently….something has to change.
September 22nd, 2026 at 1:27 pm
I have a theory derived from one of Joe’s pictures with a story about the fense being close a couple of days ago. During his delivery he seems to be bent at the knees
lowering his line of sight even less than his height than 6 feet. Could he be losing sight of his target temporarily while he is winding up for his deep balls ?
September 22nd, 2026 at 1:38 pm
“During his delivery he seems to be bent at the knees
lowering his line of sight even less than his height than 6 feet. Could he be losing sight of his target temporarily while he is winding up for his deep balls”
“Warren Brooks Lynch Says:
September 21st, 2026 at 8:45 am
I’ve never said he’s just bad only/just because he’s short but I have explained how his height plays against him. Like needing a 3.5 step drop out of the gun to help his field of vision or when he’s bent at the knees mid throwing motion and throwing from a base that makes him 5’10.”
@Bob
It’s why no OC can ask him to attack the middle of the field lol
September 22nd, 2026 at 2:13 pm
Playoffs?
September 22nd, 2026 at 3:17 pm
I literally laughed at loud on like the 3rd deep ball in a row that Baker missed. I’m a Bucs fan, I don’t want to laugh at failure, but it was involuntary. This d-bag spent all summer talking about being disrespected… all his apologists spent all summer telling us that things would be different when he’s healthy.
Well maybe Baker just isn’t very good, is extremely streaky, and you dopes by into hot streaks as if they’re the norm – and now the Bucs are literally paying him like his hot streaks are the norm.
BTW, Baker hasn’t been on a hot streak since the Seattle-49ers games, he’s been awful in nearly every single game since then, he singlehandedly cost the Bucs the playoffs last year, and now he’s singlehandedly got them to 0-2.
Bum Baker is a fraud.
September 22nd, 2026 at 3:31 pm
Funny, I thought the games at the start of the season count as much as the games at the end of the season.
Mayfield is delusional.
What powerful leadership!
September 22nd, 2026 at 3:41 pm
Franchise QBs are not on three teams in a calendar year.
Most of us know what he is. A hustler, grit and trash talker who gets the most out of his mid QB skills. Hes 31, he is what he is. You’re foolishbto think hebwill take that next step. He talked the Glazers into the contract. Its been obvious for years they dont know much about ball. Look at them, seriously. Take a look.
The Bucs will do a 180 after Todd is gone and look for an OC or HC to save Baker. They have to now because of that ridiculous contract.
Watch. They will have buyers remorse and do a 180 on him.
Bake is also working himself into a bridge QB next off-season or in 2028.
Im saying it now, top 5 pick in 2027, they better draft a QB. I like Mensah.
September 22nd, 2026 at 4:39 pm
Maybe Baker kind of knew they might stink and pressed for the new contract as did VV because Todd… Don’t blame the players. Blame Todd, Jason and Glazered Kids. You watch other games of good teams and you know it’s a completely different vibe on the sidelines with players and HC. When Playoff Lenny calls you out it’s time to go. And don’t forget this offense has had a different offense and Offensive Coordinator 4 years running. There is no continuity. Blame JL and Glazered Kids….
September 22nd, 2026 at 4:43 pm
I agree with you on the former, but not the later old-school. At least a third or more teams have HC and/or OC changes yearly. Maybe not four in a row, but frequently coaching changes on every team every year. Just saying.
September 22nd, 2026 at 5:40 pm
How much more of this ridiculous charade do the fans have to go through.
September 22nd, 2026 at 5:41 pm
I’ve been reading this website for years, first time posting. Hearing “I’m playing for my dawgs”, “this is my family”, it’s more about the camaraderie and friendship focus than winning the game focus. When two of your team leaders start training camp and verbally express they deserve to be paid, (even with another year under contract), it seems to be more about them and not so much about the team. Other lower tiered players have to take a pay cut to make up the difference in salary cap overage it has to affect the overall team attitude. I don’t see any player publicly pissed off and leading the effort to change like Lynch, Brooks and Sapp did to turn their team around. While coaching and play calling is certainly suspect, this is all on the players.
September 22nd, 2026 at 5:48 pm
Talking is worthless, even the best motivational pre game or halftime speeches last 1 series at most Doesn’t matter what Baker -Joe or Todd say. This is a poorly coached team with mid level talent at best. One more thing Cooper Rush was a stud playing behind Dallas’s talented O line, now he’s a dog playing behind a weak
O line. Drew Lock sucked but now he’s got an O line who protects him, a good play caller and a great Defense so he doesn’t have to press. The great QB’s are limited to a half dozen at most and they’re great because they can play behind average O lines. Baker clearly is not great, give him a good O line and good play caller and he’ll win. Drafting a stud and keeping this O line or coaching staff will just result in failure
September 22nd, 2026 at 6:14 pm
Personally, the teams ownership and HC should have let it ride and let Baker play with a “chip on his shoulder”. Michael Jordan once said “It’s hard to play hungry, when you’re full” (or words to that effect”. Baker isn’t playing hungry.
September 22nd, 2026 at 6:15 pm
“Im saying it now, top 5 pick in 2027, they better draft a QB. I like Mensah”
Everybody is
The problem is, Cristobal is actively trying to get Mensah or Toney or likely both to be Heisman finalist, because in these few games Miami has played they have not called off the dogs.
Think it was 2 weeks ago, the 3rd string QB Nickel came in and started tossing bombs with Miami up like 30 points. Cristobal is building something that’s going to last, and I think he’ll be one of the best coaches at that school since Coker.
Make sure you look at other guys too Big Z. Guys like Chiles at northwestern. Don’t waste your time on Lagway and I’m losing hope on Sellars too because he lives up to his last name with his play. Whether he’s selling or playing like he’s in the cellar.
If you can watch Mizzou they have a lefty with a laser guided arm.
Louisvilles’ QB has my attention.
Kamario Taylor is another to look at, but not draft eligible until 2028 which is good because he’ll need the experience to grow his game.
I literally watch CFB now and think “yea, he could work with what we’ve got” at about 4-5 QBs and a few others Í wouldn’t mind bringing in to compete.
I think play style tho, my favorite is Chambliss. That only knock I don’t like is he’s kind of small-ish, but put together well and is waaaaay more decisive with his reads and throws with what we have. No wastied pump fake or pat the ball motion, footwork is good, delivers from a strong base and has a beautful deep ball.