Baker Mayfield Says He Doesn’t Like Playing In Night Games
September 9th, 2025
Challenge.
So Baker Mayfield is 1-7 in night games as a Bucs quarterback.
Next up for his team is the Texans on Monday night.
Mayfield needs an attitude adjustment in a hurry based on his comments yesterday.
“I’m personally not a fan of later games,” Mayfield said. “I just, by the end of the work week, you’re like, ‘Ok, I’ve seen enough tape. I can’t watch any more of this defense. I’m not going to learn anything new at this point. Because if I learn something new I obviously didn’t do my job throughout the week.’ It’s just that long waiting game on game day. I’d rather wake up [and] go play because you’re just so amped up and ready for it.”
Mayfield delivered his take on the Buccaneers Radio Network. Joe’s not telling Mayfield how to feel, but it sounds like he needs an intervention immediately. Team Glazer has the cash for a team of mentality experts to help the whole roster, or at least the quarterback. Now is the time.
Under Todd Bowles, the Bucs are 3-9 in night games.
Does anyone think this is a coincidence?
Mayfield added that the Bucs’ sports science team advises players not to drink coffee (presumably a caffeine-related decision) on mornings of night games. Mayfield, like many Americans, says he sticks with his morning java routine. Understandable.
Joe would just rather see the Bucs attack this night-game phenomenon as an organization now, rather than after another night loss.
September 9th, 2025 at 11:06 am
This Texans team is not that good! Yes solid team well coached Bucs should be able to win this they have more talent. Get right baker n bowels Monday night football for all to see.
September 9th, 2025 at 11:08 am
It seems as an organization, we do not do well Sunday and Monday nights.
September 9th, 2025 at 11:13 am
I’ll believe we’ll win at night when i see it. Until then I expect a loss.
September 9th, 2025 at 11:14 am
How good is Houston? How have they been recently in night games at home? And will Baker being close to home help or hurt him?
September 9th, 2025 at 11:14 am
Party all night the evening before the night game so you wake up late. That’ll do it.
September 9th, 2025 at 11:14 am
I cannot have a long successful day if I hit a cup of java before 7am. The caffeine just wares off. I end up needing to reup around noon with a diet coke, and that is just not healthy. But the thought of a warm coffee in the afternoon doesn’t get me going like the diet coke does. That is the problem with night games, you have to shift your whole schedule for one day, or tough it out and double up your stimulants.
September 9th, 2025 at 11:17 am
It’s a 7pm. 6pm central time where the game is played. That’s barely a night game, and it will be daylight.
September 9th, 2025 at 11:20 am
the last time we were good in prime time is when brady was here, he loved the lights and rose to the occasion so baker needs to channel tb on monday night and bomb the texans!!
September 9th, 2025 at 11:21 am
Maybe he should take his caffeine a bit later on those days?!?!
September 9th, 2025 at 11:28 am
Well Baker, you’re going to have to sack up and find a way to perform well. Gameday is the end of your work week bro, whenever you don’t feel like it just look at your bank account/game check and find a friggin way. I don’t wanna hear this nonsense
September 9th, 2025 at 11:38 am
As a UK fan, i hate night games too! 1am start, 4am finish is rough. Not too bad on Sunday night or Thursday night games where i can book the next day off work but MNF just isn’t possible for me to catch sadly!
September 9th, 2025 at 11:47 am
Easy fix:
Take a friggin nap and then wake up at relatively the same time ahead of the night game.
Genius!
Bucs, you should hire me as a consultant immediately!
September 9th, 2025 at 11:51 am
Is there a real head coach in the house? Hello???
September 9th, 2025 at 11:55 am
No excuses need to be stated. Lame. Step up and let’s get the W and go 2-0.
Go Bucs!!
September 9th, 2025 at 11:56 am
Maybe he is just fooling Houston? Let them believe he doesn’t like night games. Baker does kid a lot. It’s not really a late game. It’s at 7:00 Houston time, and with the hour difference it will feel like 6:00 to the Bucs.
September 9th, 2025 at 11:57 am
He needs to get his head in the game. Talk to Lavonte. Bring your own supply of “smellies”. Think of the fans. Let the world see how great the Bucs can be. Remember us non-Tampans who get to watch a rare game instead of listening on the radio. GO BUCS!
GO BAKER!
September 9th, 2025 at 11:59 am
Not a good take for a leader. Keep your negative thoughts to your self and fake it till you make it.
September 9th, 2025 at 12:04 pm
Alright then, Teddy in for Baker. . .
September 9th, 2025 at 12:19 pm
As someone who’s ‘Been there, done that’ Joe, adjusting to a sporadic night schedule from a day schedule isn’t nearly as easy as foregoing your morning cup of coffee.
After flying almost exclusively at night for a full year with a ‘Night Owl’ squadron, I understand exactly where Baker is coming from. It took awhile for the body clocks of newbies to readjust, but eventually day became night & night became day (well, except for the friggin darkness). My son’s a fireman/paramedic who works 24 on/48 off, and he & his co-workers face a similar problem adjusting to a non-standard schedule.
The good news however is that the opposing team has exactly the same problem. I’m admittedly wary of ‘interventions’ by so-called ‘mentality experts’, BUT … when you’re 1-7 in your last 8 night games it probably wouldn’t hurt to explore potential fixes a little bit. And since Todd is 3-9 in night games with the Bucs, I’m not sure he’s one of the experts I’d be exploring a fix with.
Interestingly BTW, the Bucs lost all 5 of their night games last season, representing almost two-thirds of our losses over the entrie season. It would probably behoove us to explore various ways to improve upon that dismal performance.
September 9th, 2025 at 12:23 pm
Remember… We got “Bruce Arians Tuesdays” on Pat McAfee today!!!! I know I already had my DVR preset to record. I freaking REFUSE to watch commercials on anything anymore, but I wanted to make sure I did not miss it. Definitely, MUST WATCH.
September 9th, 2025 at 12:33 pm
Although this game is at night, the Buc’s seem to do pretty well on the road. So perhaps the two will offset. Wishful thinking I’m sure. If the Buc’s can play a little better offense, defense, and special teams. They can come home 2 and 0.
The team should get BM6 a shrink, hypnotist, or a shrink that is a hypnotist to remedy his issue with night games. PMA( positive mental attitude) brings about positive results. Also, negative mental attitude brings about negative results! IMHO.
September 9th, 2025 at 12:35 pm
Cont. Or perhaps he should learn how to ” visualize” the results he desires!
September 9th, 2025 at 12:35 pm
I saw the other night, where Bowles’ record against the Saints and Panthers is 10-2. Those ‘night’ games are usually against damn good football teams. Wonder what his record is against the rest of the league… Looks-like, he enjoys beating up on the little sisters of the poor. But, hey, at least he’s winning most of the games he should win.
September 9th, 2025 at 12:36 pm
What the mind conceives the body achieves. Your mind is a huge, many believe the major driver in all of this.
As the late Wayne Dyer used to advise, never argue with anybody over their limitations. If they are claiming that limitation then it will certainly manifest.
Baker needs a good brain wash. Perhaps he needs to begin a good meditation program.
September 9th, 2025 at 12:38 pm
“take a nap”…lol, man i wish i could do it like that. Ive got a feeling Baker and a lot of people are like me. We go until our body and brain gives out…then we sleep 4 hours and its back to it.
September 9th, 2025 at 12:38 pm
Bake ain’t the only one who hates night games. I hate them, too. This one does have an earlier start time of 7pm (EDT) which makes it 6 in TX. The Bucs are a close knit team. They’ll figure it out. I might as well have faith.
September 9th, 2025 at 12:50 pm
This is the SB preview I’ve been dreaming of! The Hoston Browns vs the TB Bucs!!!!
September 9th, 2025 at 12:53 pm
Baker is entitled to his opinion, good bet that a large number of NFL veterans
share his opinion.
September 9th, 2025 at 12:54 pm
Heyjude,
You got that backwards, oh Great Timemaster you.
7pm in Houston will feel like 8pm to the Bucs. Not 6pm
Lol, smh
September 9th, 2025 at 12:57 pm
Oh, my bad.
I thought the starting time was 7pm Houston time.
I retract my comment to Heyjude about the incorrect time. 🤦♂️
September 9th, 2025 at 1:03 pm
The leadership from the head coach…….where is it.
September 9th, 2025 at 1:18 pm
How did Brady fare here at night? Seems like we weren’t real successful then either
September 9th, 2025 at 1:18 pm
Heck as a fan I’m right there with him. Can’t stand night games. Loath them. If I had my way all Bucs games would be Sunday at 1:00. Even 4:00 o’clock games are a stretch. Get so hyped during the day by the time the night game rolls around it’s freakin’ time for a nap. Some dudes are just Type A high adrenaline. I’m that way and I would imagine many players are as well.
September 9th, 2025 at 1:35 pm
People are over reacting thanks to Joe’s yellow journalism. Buutt…. Hey Baker the Superbowl is played at night, better buck up.
September 9th, 2025 at 1:40 pm
What about a story on Baker and the smelling salts? Was he sniffing away last Sunday? By the way they started, maybe not.
September 9th, 2025 at 1:47 pm
I really don’t remember Mayfield having a bad games at night. So I looked it up. He’s 4-2 in Thursday night NFL games. He’s 1-7 in Monday night NFL games. Thursday nights over 101 passer rating with 10 touchdowns against 1 interception. Hmm. Monday night football appears to be his Achilles. We all saw KC last year. Baltimore last year we are up 17-0 if Mike doesn’t drop a perfect pass and his ensuing injury shook the team up bad. Hope we learn from that. Then he finished the Baltimore game with 400 yards, 3 TD passes and two interceptions. Henry and Lamar assaulted us relentlessly then most of the other games were with Cleveland. Looks like Baker had tough outings against SanFran and Pittsburgh on MNF while with Cleveland. Once again, it’s about the team and this is the best team he’s ever been on in the NFL. Baker Mayfield may say he’d rather play day games but don’t be fooled. He’s aware of the grumbling about his night game performance. So is Bowles. Just another wrong to right. I think this coming Monday the better team wins. My guess is we win.
September 9th, 2025 at 1:53 pm
we need to run the ball if Baker comes out flat, run it till it works
September 9th, 2025 at 1:59 pm
There away to bounce that dope jack out of this forum?
Bro is a straight clown. Sure dolphins are looking for some new fans jack.
September 9th, 2025 at 2:09 pm
Hate to say it, but I figure we’ll lose this one. And if you’re gonna lose a game, non conference games are the ones to lose. Hope they prove me wrong.
September 9th, 2025 at 2:15 pm
Hilarious blaming it on the coach.
People forget these are millionaires playing football. You want the real fix
LOOK AT YOUR BANK ACCOUNT AND FIND LAST FRIDAYS DEPOSIT FROM THE GLAZERS!!!!! You really don’t need coffee or anything else to be motivated. Players tend to forget they are adults working and earning their paycheck. It’s not college any longer.
LFG!!!!!
September 9th, 2025 at 2:21 pm
What is the Bucs’ record all- time in night games?
For that matter, what is the NFL average record in night games?
I have a hunch that very few teams have good records at night. Other than Thursday night, chances are, it’s a premier match-up against a top team and I would think that most teams have poorer records against top teams than they do against middle of the road or.bad teams
September 9th, 2025 at 2:22 pm
Jack is upset because the Bulls stampeded the swamp and ate some Gator tail on Saturday. Go Bulls 🤘🤘
September 9th, 2025 at 2:31 pm
Warren Brooks Lynch… I concur.
September 9th, 2025 at 2:31 pm
Well then we need to lean on the run game!
September 9th, 2025 at 2:54 pm
I think a good number of those nine losses probably would have happened at 1 PM too.
September 9th, 2025 at 3:39 pm
Arguably the team’s biggest win since the Super Bowl win was a night game playoff against the Eagles. Bowles’ strategy to stop the lol tush push near the goal line, executed by Britt, was the big play. Mayfield played great, he needs to watch the tape of that game.
September 9th, 2025 at 4:35 pm
“Does anyone think this is a coincidence?”
To a large degree, yes.
I’d wager there ARE MANY NFL players who would say the same thing.
September 9th, 2025 at 5:16 pm
Last year it seemed like the Defense killed us in the night games, not Baker. Maybe I am wrong, just do not remember him being the problem.
Not worried about him at all. I get what he is saying, when he gets up, he wants to play rather than sit around all day waiting for the game.
September 9th, 2025 at 5:57 pm
” Joe’s not telling Mayfield how to feel, but it sounds like he needs an intervention immediately. Team Glazer has the cash for a team of mentality experts to help the whole roster, or at least the quarterback. Now is the time.”
———
Talk about jack ass “journalism”.
” He needs an intervention immediately”
That may be the most imbecilic thing I have ever seen written by this site. The three stooges at JBF are now recommending a player needing an intervention? What! An Intervention! You friggin’ idiots. Baker should slap all three of you upside the head.
Talking like punks.
September 9th, 2025 at 6:31 pm
The SUPERBOWL is played at night 🤦🏾♂️ so this is him saying he’ll never win one🤷🏾♂️
September 9th, 2025 at 6:53 pm
Good gosh, people get triggered by stuff.
It’s simple. A strong HC would have already addressed this with team leaders and have the narrative and the attitude corrected. Wouldn’t have been said in the first place. Not our dual hatted genius though.
September 9th, 2025 at 7:05 pm
Well, go ahead and put one in the L column with that attitude!
No wonder he’s1&7!
September 9th, 2025 at 9:19 pm
Aqualung Says:
September 9th, 2025 at 6:53 pm
Good gosh, people get triggered by stuff.
It’s simple. A strong HC would have already addressed this with team leaders and have the narrative and the attitude corrected.
—–
Address what with the team leaders?
Have what corrected?
I have absolutely no idea of what you’re talking about.
Baker doesn’t like night games?
Lol. That is the issue?
I watched the clip JBF is quoting, last night.
So what?
Baker doesn’t like night games.
Oh the horror!
Also, he also doesn’t like chocolate ice cream. Shall we contact the dairy industry?
Seriously though did you watch the clip? This is the biggest nothing burger in the history of mankind. Do yourself a favor don’t rely on JBF’s Insanity and spin on what was said. Watch it yourself. Come back here and give me the 411 on what this all about. (keep in mind you know what I think of Bowles) Whoever wrote this blurb is a freakin” jack ass of the first order. To put it mildly.Complete freakin’ fool. “An Intervention”. Whoever wrote this needs an intervention.
Unreal.
September 9th, 2025 at 11:44 pm
It’s a nothing burger. I agree. It triggers people. The overreact.
But, suckage at night and in prime time is a fact. And as long as suckage continues at night and on prime time, perhaps the head coach needs to assert more leadership to identify the root causes and implement corrective action.
But that won’t happen, our HC is too busy trying to fix a defense that has cost us lots of games during his three year dual hatted tenure.