Baker Mayfield exudes confidence and his ability to bring guys together was crucial to his and the Bucs’ success last season. There were bumps in the road during his first season in Tampa Bay, and after a 3-1 start in 2023, the losses piled up. After trailing just 4-7, the team finished strong with a 9-8 record in the regular season, thanks largely to Mayfield’s play in the final period.

The 3-1 start to the 2024 season renewed confidence that this year’s team can compete – not just for the NFC South – but also get out of the NFC entirely. Although those conversations aren’t nearly as loud after losing three of the last four games, the veteran quarterback doesn’t want to hear them, and he’s not giving up on his guys or the remaining games, either.

No matter who the upcoming opponents are on the schedule.

The Bucs’ offense continued to thrive on Sunday

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

Without wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, one wouldn’t have been surprised to see Baker Mayfield’s game slump on Sunday afternoon against the Falcons.

Well, not so fast.

Mayfield completed a season-high 37 of 50 passes (74%) for 330 passing yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions. The offense continued to perform well, scoring 24 points, although there were many deciding factors when it came to which wide receivers were on the field.

Instead of Evans and Godwin, it was a group effort with five wide receivers catching multiple passes. Not to mention the running backs, who combined for 13 receptions and Tight end Cade Otton’s career game. Mayfield praised offensive coordinator Liam Coen for providing a diverse set of offensive weapons to contribute leading up to Sunday’s game.

“I mean, he did an unreal job just getting everyone ready,” Mayfield said. “Because we had different ways to attack them, the running game worked. I thought the O-line played great, but he just talked to everyone. I think Liam obviously called the shots, but so did the guys that were there, step up and do their job the way they’re supposed to. Once again, it’s just a matter of not shooting ourselves in the foot in critical situations. Against a team like that, they’re going to take advantage of their mistakes – the mistakes you make, and I think that’s why you see the result we had today.”

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and OC Liam Coen – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

There were mistakes by Mayfield, like two costly interceptions at midfield and at the Atlanta 24-yard line, that could have resulted in additional points on the scoreboard. However, overall he still put in a good performance to give the team a chance and given the circumstances it was a solid game.

Going back to Coen, he continues to shine as an offensive mastermind, putting the team in pretty good position and doing things that haven’t been done in a long time. For example, the Bucs rank fourth in the league with 389.5 offensive yards per game and 29.4 points per game. They ran for over 100 yards on the ground for the fifth straight game, something not done since Weeks 11-16 of the 2015 season during Doug Martin’s era.

After going 9 of 14 on third downs on Sunday, they rank first in the league with a conversion rate of 52.5%.

Baker Mayfield wants Bucs to ‘come together as a group’

Despite a tougher road to success, Baker Mayfield believes they can get back to winning ways by continuing to fight as an offense and as a team.

After being swept by the Falcons this season, the Bucs have a more difficult path back to the playoffs. They can’t count on winning the NFC South as Atlanta is now 5-3 and holds the division tiebreaker. Things won’t get any easier in the next two weeks either, as the team travels to Kansas City to face the 7-0 Chiefs before returning to town to play the still-dangerous 49ers, who improved to 4-4 with a win over Dallas on Sunday night.

Despite facing these well-trained heavyweights, how can the team get back on track and in the win column?

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and TE Cade Otton – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“Come together as a group,” Mayfield said. “This is the only option. The guys who were here last year understand what happened midway through the season and it’s about doing the little things right. That’s how we got out of there and that’s how you just have to do your job in this group we have now. That’s plain and simple. We have the talent in this room. We moved the ball today. We’ve been moving it up and down the field and so we just need to do the little things right.

“We have to come together as a team and obviously in an environment like we’re in on a Monday night in Kansas City, we know what we’re going to get, so it’s all about execution, doing the little things right, playing. “Play Field position play and see what happens. We have the veterans, we have the leadership that we need to make this thing work and that’s — (the) season isn’t over yet. We’re not even halfway done yet.”

Tampa Bay may be going through a rough patch, but they were in a similar boat last year. Everyone has counted them out, and no matter what others may say, Mayfield is far from ready to give up on the task of getting this ship back on course. He takes things one game at a time.

“Yeah, the guys that were here (last year), we know how we did it and like I said, it’s about doing the little things right and not beating yourself up,” Mayfield said. “But everyone else – we have the mental makeup to overcome anything, and I really believe that. “I think that’s the group we have. I believe we can overcome a lot and take it one day at a time, one game at a time. I’d be damned if I gave up on this group. I won’t.”