Buccaneers’ Baker Mayfield drops confident declaration on clawing back into NFC South race appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Baker Mayfield has motivation to get the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back on track following a poor start to the 2026 NFL season.
Mayfield has been playing in the league since 2018, going through his fourth season with the Buccaneers. He stands out as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, often helping Tampa Bay be in the mix for playoff contention.
However, the start to the 2026 season has been brutal for the squad. They have lost five of their first six games, being one of the worst performing teams in the league early on. It didn’t help matters that Mayfield dislocated his thumb in Week 3, sidelining him for the next three games.
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Mayfield has made significant progress with his health, conversing with media on Thursday. He is taking his timeline patiently, looking forward to getting Tampa Bay back with winning momentum for the remainder of the 2026 season.
“We’ve got to take it one game at a time, and you know our opponent this week is the one leading division, and so we got to take care of business this week, and that’s all that matters,” Mayfield said, per reporter Rick Stroud. “It’s going to be early on to be a one game at a time mentality, but listen, our guys are ready for it, and we’ll see what happens.”
What lies ahead for Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield knows the stakes that are in play with the Buccaneers needing to return to the playoffs. However, their poor start won’t cut it if they wish to bounce back in convincing fashion.
Tampa Bay has a 1-5 record this season, being at the bottom of the NFC South Division standings. They are behind the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons at the moment. In terms of the conference standings, they are last place. They are under the Washington Commanders and the Los Angeles Rams.
The Buccaneers will continue preparations for their upcoming matchup, being on the road. They take on the Carolina Panthers in Week 7 as kickoff commences on Oct. 25 at 1 p.m. ET.
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