The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have only lost by one score in a 28-23 defeat at the hands of the New England Patriots in Week 10, but anyone who watched the game came away feeling like it was much more than that.
It definitely seemed that way to one person who actually played in the game—two-time Buccaneers Pro Bowl quarterback Baker Mayfield.
“I’m hoping our guys do get pissed off about this,” Mayfield said in a video posted to X by ESPN’s Jenna Laine. “This isn’t the end of our season. I know that. We have a very important game ahead of us. Games like this, when you don’t win them it should sting. It should really, really hurt.”
Mayfield couldn’t be more right. After the home loss to the Patriots, the Buccaneers are staring down their toughest road trip of the year. They will travel to the East Coast to face the Buffalo Bills in Week 11, followed by a trip to the West Coast to face the Los Angeles Rams in Week 12.
With the loss to New England, the Buccaneers dropped to 6-3 on the season.
### Mayfield’s Third Season Follows Similar Path
While the Buccaneers still hold a 2-game lead over the Carolina Panthers in the NFC South Division, their season is starting to take on a similar feel to Mayfield’s first two years as the starter in Tampa Bay.
In 2023, on a one-year, $3 million “prove it” contract, Mayfield led the Buccaneers to a 9-8 regular season finish and an upset win over the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card Round.
In 2024, now armed with a three-year, $100 million contract, Mayfield rallied the Buccaneers from a 4-6 start to a 10-7 regular season record, the NFC South Division title, and another playoff appearance.
How the Buccaneers finish out the 2025 season will largely depend on Mayfield’s performance once again, but also on if and when several key players return from injury.
### Injuries to Skill Positions Finally Take Their Toll
The game against the Patriots was just the latest in which the Buccaneers’ lack of several key skill position players was glaringly noticeable.
When those players will come back remains uncertain.
The Buccaneers have been without second-year running back Bucky Irving for the last four games due to a shoulder injury. Irving hasn’t practiced during that time, and head coach Todd Bowles said in the week leading up to the Patriots game that Irving still wasn’t able to take contact on his shoulder.
It’s also unclear when NFL All-Pro wide receiver Chris Godwin will return. Godwin missed the first three games as he recovered from a dislocated fibula suffered in Week 7 of the 2024 regular season. He returned for two games but was then sidelined for the last four due to irritation in the same injury.
Another NFL All-Pro wide receiver, Mike Evans, broke his collarbone in a Week 7 loss to the Detroit Lions and might not return this season at all.
The Buccaneers’ ability to navigate the rest of the season may hinge on the health and availability of these key players as much as on Mayfield’s leadership on the field.
https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/baker-mayfield-loss-challenge-teammates/
