Baker Mayfield Is A Third-Down Monster
January 18th, 2026
Baller on third downs.
The way the second-half of the 2025 season shook out, “this Joe” was very down on Baker Mayfield. But in the very same paragraph, “this Joe” is adamant that no quarterback this side of Pat Mahomes has better intangibles.
(The “other Joe” was not down on Mayfield and finds his intangibles overrated after a massive team collapse.)
If half of the Bucs last season had half the heart Mayfield has, Joe is likely writing here about a Bucs divisional round playoff game preview.
Maybe not even Mahomes has a bigger pair than Mayfield.
The evidence for Joe is how Mayfield, ever since he came to the Bucs in 2023, has had scoring drives kept alive by his savvy third-down running. Mayfield quite possibly is the best in the league at this. In fact, he is the best in the NFC at this.
No one in the NFC converted first downs by running on third down at a higher rate than Mayfield. Last season he did this at a 72 percent clip.
No quarterback in the NFL had a higher yards-per-attempt on third down than Mayfield. And only one quarterback, Buffalo’s Josh Allen, has converted more first downs running on third down than Mayfield.
But as former Bucs’ Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians likes to say, when a quarterback puts himself in harm’s way, harm will find him. And Joe believes that’s what happened to Mayfield this season.
Those runs caught up with him and he was very likely beat to hell, which screwed up his passing game.
At the end of the day, a quarterback is judged on his passing, not his feet. And Mayfield’s passing was bad after the bye.
Still, when it comes to intangibles and savvy running, it’s awfully hard to beat Mayfield. Would the Bucs be drafting in the top-10 this spring if not for Mayfield’s legs?
January 18th, 2026 at 12:35 am
That’s great…he still is NOT a Super Bowl QB
January 18th, 2026 at 12:45 am
IF the Bucs would just reverse course and make Klint Kubiak the Bucs next HC, the Future would be BRIGHT in Tampa!
January 18th, 2026 at 1:02 am
Vancouver you know nothing about football talent, obviously.
January 18th, 2026 at 1:06 am
Mayfield is a proven stud
January 18th, 2026 at 1:10 am
VancouverBuc is RodMunch’s husband.
January 18th, 2026 at 1:14 am
🤣🤣
January 18th, 2026 at 1:21 am
It is funny that Josh Allen has 2 interceptions and 2 fumbles today. No one is saying he can’t win a superbowl. I mean the irony is thick. Some people just unjustifiably hate Mayfield.
January 18th, 2026 at 1:22 am
Baker should leave after this next year. This organization is not helping him at all. Sammy Darnold is about to be in the SB and he was his damn backup!!!!!
January 18th, 2026 at 1:47 am
Didn’t Baker beat Sam Darnold who just spanked the 49ers and are going to the NFC Championship game. Seattle also has one of the best defenses in the league and Baker spanked them at home. In fact, against the run Seattle is #1. Strange how Baker can pull that off and people hate him so much they ignorantly say he CANT get a team to the superbowl. Astounding, simply astounding.
January 18th, 2026 at 1:48 am
And then … A 4th Quarter INT
January 18th, 2026 at 2:26 am
Y’all can pump Baker Mayfield up and come up with all these meaningless stats all y’all want. Baker is not a Superbowl quarterback the bucs will not win or go to a Superbowl with Baker Mayfield. He chokes in big games all the time and he’s 1-9 in prime time games that’s not a franchise quarterback. So when the schedule comes out you can pencil in loses in all the games that’s played at night. Thursday night, Monday night, and Sunday night games all will be loses so that’s 3 losses right there. It’s time to move on from Baker Mayfield after this year because it will be the same results and the defense will get the blame and it would be because Baker is hurt lol watch and see.
January 18th, 2026 at 2:44 am
And then the leagues best qb, Allen, turns the ball over 4 times and looses the game. So what, it happens. Turns out Baker ISNT the only qb that makes mistakes. Get over your hate for the guy. We all remember how he spanked those good defenses when he was healthy this year. We all remember how he was playing so well he was the obvious MVP. Head and shoulders better than all the other quarterbacks and that was with backups on the line and receivers. If you don’t hate Baker you know what we got at the quarterback position. If you hate him no amount of proof will change your mind because it’s personal with you haters. We all know if the team can stay healthy and we get a good OC and the line protects Baker there is no stopping him and no stopping this team with him at quarterback.
January 18th, 2026 at 2:46 am
First pick of the draft, since this is a wash year, should be a Guard….2nd pick, C, move Barton to LG
January 18th, 2026 at 2:54 am
Olaivavega Loane (G) first, Parker Brailsford (C) second…..
January 18th, 2026 at 2:58 am
oneill, we’ll never win a superbowl with todd you idiot!! but go ahead and keep blaming Baker
3rd and 28 bih
January 18th, 2026 at 3:07 am
RB Jonah Coleman 3rd….since todd loves to turtle and go conservative…
There i did it
1st Loane
2nd Brailsford
3rd Coleman
4th and the rest dont care
January 18th, 2026 at 4:15 am
Anyone who plays for this “head coach” is automatically a loser.
Go Ronde Barber. Preach on.
3rd and 28.
Cooper Kupp.
January 18th, 2026 at 4:43 am
Well, I called the first two right… Harrball to Giants, and Stefanski to the ATL. Both total ‘no-brainers’ all the way around, no matter how you look at it!!!! MAN, that is great hire by Atlanta. Harrball has a pretty stacked roster with THREE ‘high-end’ EDGE-Rushers (if he can get Carter’s head on right), & Nabers and Skatteboohoo on Offense. AND, the number 5-overall Pick in the draft. Need to keep and re-sign WanDale for Dart. I wanted to make them one of my sleepers last season, but couldn’t do it after seeing their schedule. They’ll definitely be one of this year, depending on what they do in this upcoming draft, AND whether or not IF they can extend WanDale. I would definitely NOT draft a WR that high, in this year’s draft… IF they’re going to (and failed to work-out an extension with WanDale), then I would TRADE BACK. Especially, if someone’s wanting to jump up there for QB2 or something. Stefanski’s got a few toys now, too!!!! They could really use a solid #2 alongside of Drake London… Re-sign Pitts (can ‘franchise tag’ him if they need to), and Bijan. Petter LOOK-OUT. He had some really STRONG DEFENSES Cleveland, too!!!! We’re in BIG-trouble. And, we HAD our coach. But, they let him go. Hey, WE GOT Baker & Bowles, and LICKT.
January 18th, 2026 at 5:06 am
Just more meaningless, empty stats. GREAT QB’s WIN. At least, A LOT MORE than they LOSE. Period. End of Story. And, if we’re having to rely on BAKER’s ‘scrambling ability’ then we are in TROUBLE. What do Baker, Lamar, Herbert, and Patrick ALL have in common (actually, the ONLY ‘thing’ they have in common)… They are all BEAT THE HELL UP.
If I were the Chiefs next season (if they get off to a horrible start), I would consider SITTING Patrick for the entire season to try to help preserve his career. I mean, just watching him PLAY over the past two seasons HURTS ME. You can just see it in his face and entire body… HE is in some SERIOUS PAIN. He’s just played soooo much high-level/high-leverage FOOTBALL already, throughout his career. He’s coming up on his age 31 season, and could use all the rest he can get. There’s an awfully good chance he’s NOT cleared to play anywhere even close to Week-1 next season anyway!? And, you’re going to want to be VERY VERY cautious to begin with. So, there’s definitely a real chance. They’ve got to get Herbert an O-Line, or they’re WASTING HIM. Absolutely, ruining him.
January 18th, 2026 at 5:14 am
I like Baker but I wouldn’t give him a raise this season.
January 18th, 2026 at 5:16 am
We have a buncha aging beat up players, alongside of a buncha mediocre at best younger guys, who just also happen to pretty banged up. Our Roster is really struggling now, and BADDDDD. We have ZERO ‘high-level’ young FREAK ATHLETES on this roster. I guess, EE and Kancey is about as good as it gets FOR US. And, NOBODY’s calling either one of them a “FREAK.” Or, with very high ceilings. Just ‘potential’ Pro-Bowl ALTERNATES, at best maybe. We’re in TROUBLE.
January 18th, 2026 at 5:22 am
Still very happy Baker is our QB. Let him get healthy and get more help for him. Unsure about a full raise. I think Brady always took a cut so there was money to build around him; Patriots and Bucs.
Bucblind II – Absolutely agreed. After last night’s game, we may hear more fans going after Josh too. A lot of their fans want their coach fired.
January 18th, 2026 at 5:29 am
Bokeh Says: “I like Baker but I wouldn’t give him a raise this season.”
Oh, Hail Noooo… There is ZERO reason to be in ANY type of hurry to extend HIM. He’s not going to regardless, since his agent has already said publicly, that there will be NO DISCOUNTS. Which is totally fine by ME. Let someone else Frickin’ DO-IT then. It doesn’t mean that WE have to. I have a pretty strong feeling that Good Ol’ Bake Bake will be VERY disappointed again. I don’t care what kind of ‘numbers’ he puts up next year, HE IS NOT getting anywhere NEAR 5-years/$300-MIL+. It just ain’t happenin. I would consider a 2yr/$60 with $30-MIL Guatanteed as a “BRIDGE” if we had to, depending on who the next GM and HC is and whatever THEIR timeline/plans would be. But, there is NO RUSH whatsoever, on BAKER. There’s still plentyyyyy of time left and A LOT to happen, before having to make any rash decisions on HIM. There’s a really high chance of this being Baker’s final season in Tampa Bay! VERY HIGH.
January 18th, 2026 at 5:37 am
You cannot put Baker anywhere even close to being in the same class as Josh Allen (everyone else already KNOWS THAT, which makes it PATHETIC that I even have to say it), BUT it’s the same problems that Josh has always had, and he just canNOT seam to get past it… TURNOVERS. He knows it too! It’s just they STILL ask and expect just waaaayyy too much out of him! I mean, he can’t always be SUPERMAN every fricking time. Because, it just cannot work that way. It will ALWAYS catch up with you EVERY TIME. But, HE STILL has to learn how to protect the damn ball.
January 18th, 2026 at 6:01 am
MelvinJunior, I don’t know where you glean your information from. Josh Allen’s last 6 playoff games before last night he had zero turnovers in all 6 of those games. Last night he wins in overtime if his receiver doesn’t have a perfect pass ripped from his hands on his way to the ground.
January 18th, 2026 at 6:38 am
Maybe he wouldn’t have had to run so much if he hit the open receivers and improved his ball placement. Just a reminder, Joe: QBs who play with M1K3 tend to look better than they actually are.
January 18th, 2026 at 7:43 am
You can pick a guard in the 4th round and still get a very good one. Our top 3 should be LB/EDGE/DT in the best player value order then grab a guard and another LB.
January 18th, 2026 at 7:48 am
Really, we should trade down in every round and get 1 first round, 2 second round, and 4 third round picks late.
January 18th, 2026 at 8:03 am
MelJr keeps proving what is wrong with public schools in America.
January 18th, 2026 at 8:19 am
MadMax. In that same game Baker Mayfield threw a pick late in the 4th quarter and the guy ran the ball down field which put them in the red zone and it put the defense in a bad situation. And they gave up a TD . But the bucs got the ball back for another drive and they went 3 and out and Baker missed Payn Durmen wide open in the middle of the field . How about the Panthers game he threw a pick on the last drive in the 4th quarter with time to throw the ball and Godwin and Tedz Johnson was wide open . How about the 2 picks against a trash dolphins teams . Even the saints game the defense held they’re offense under 20 points and Baker threw a 4th quarter pick against them. The bucs will never win or go to a Superbowl with Baker Mayfield as the quarterback.
January 18th, 2026 at 8:28 am
And please stop with the Baker injury excuse he showed us why he’s on his 4th team 6 games in a row he was the reason why we lost those games. When Jamies was the quarterback it was all his fault lol 🤣🤣. He had a broken finger on his throwing hand with a torn meniscus but that didn’t matter remember? Jamies had a defense that was historically bad with a trash running game in a much harder division. Jamies was told to throw 45 to 50 times a game up the field and we still had a top 5 offense every year he was our quarterback. But now Baker gets every excuse in the book lol 🤣🤣. Next year will be the same thing same lame excuses game after game it was the defense fault, it was the o line fault, it was Bowles fault, it was the OC fault oh and my favorite Baker is hurt 🤕 lol 🤣🤣 .
January 18th, 2026 at 8:34 am
Max, we already have our center. Bredeson. I’m okay with the move to guard for Barton. But bredeson has proven to be a better center. As for Allen versus Baker, they are actually similar players. Of course Allen is a level above Baker. Better arm and better legs but he has big game problems as well. For 6 years in a row now he has lost the final playoff game they’ve played. Bills fans are as tired of their head coach as we are of ours. For similar reasons too. But when Baker is healthy and we have a healthy o-line, he has proven to be a reliable starter.
Melvin, you mentioned Herbert above. I agree, he is being wasted there currently. They too need to get their o-line correct.
January 18th, 2026 at 8:37 am
Attaboy. You know Baker Mayfield personally lol 🤣🤣 because I don’t and yes I hate the way he plays football. It’s crazy how fans today say people hate or love these players personally as if we know these guys personally? Lol 🤣🤣
January 18th, 2026 at 8:38 am
Hey Vancouver Buc. Go back to perusing the Lions,Cancon list. Maybe Simon Frazier has,a great offensive lineman. Or us that Vancouver , Washington. The Trailblazer lost a coach to a gambling sting. Ouch. In any case guess who else is not a Super Bowl QB? Yep Josh Allen with great coaching , ownership, and Hamilton Tiger Cat fans in attendance. How about Dock man Philip Rivers or even better the Chargers Qb from Oregon near,Vancouver, WA.
January 18th, 2026 at 8:43 am
Steven 007. I would pick Josh Allen over Baker Mayfield any time any day over Baker Mayfield that’s not even a debate. You give Josh Allen our weapons we will be a garuteed Superbowl team. You give Baker Mayfield the Bills team they don’t win 5 games you can’t compare Baker Mayfield to Josh Allen lol 🤣🤣. Josh Allen is waay better than Baker Mayfield that’s why he’s still with the team that drafted him and Baker is on his 4th team.
January 18th, 2026 at 8:45 am
Oneilbuc went to the same public school as MelJr.
January 18th, 2026 at 8:55 am
Oneilbic still stuck in Jameis mode.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
January 18th, 2026 at 8:57 am
Oneilbuc
January 18th, 2026 at 8:59 am
We wont have to worry about those prime time games this year. We’ll get Atlanta on a Thursday night and that will thankfully be that. And they will roll us up.
January 18th, 2026 at 9:20 am
Oneill, of course you can compare them. I just did. And I gave Allen his flowers as the better quarterback. I don’t think that’s a controversial opinion. Would I prefer Allen on the Bucs over Baker? Of course! Again, you’re reading too much into my comment. All I was stating was the obvious which is that Allen has big game problems as well. That said, he is also clearly had more success in getting to those big games. But he’s not our quarterback nor will he be. Unfortunately. Our guy is Baker. You are clearly a huge jameis fan. I wasn’t. But when he was our quarterback, I wanted him to have great success. Obviously. It seems like that kind of concept is hard to come by for the baker haters.
January 18th, 2026 at 9:27 am
Gulper trying to down play people’s intelligence quotient because they don’t like her favorite male athlete proving Forrest Gump’s mama right “stupid is as stupid does”. Bakie slurpers are truly a unique life form. Cannot handle anything remotely close to criticism of him. You can make up all the stats you want for him and twist them to “prove” your point but Baker is too short and can’t read defenses. He’s a decently athletic qb but lacks that inate ability to win those really big games. Even though Josh Allen is a much more gifted qb he’s in the same boat, choke artist. All the moxie in the world beaters will not win us any championship games because the football iq just isn’t quite there between the ears.