Buccaneers’ Baker Mayfield Not a Fan of Night Games

The Buccaneers are set to face the Texans in a Monday night showdown next week, kicking off a non-overlapping doubleheader – a scheduling note that apparently doesn’t sit well with Bucs QB Baker Mayfield.

“I’m personally not a fan of later games,” Mayfield said on the Buccaneers Radio Network. “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.”

Monday’s kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. ET, earlier than usual due to the non-overlapping doubleheader, with the Chargers-Raiders game following at 10:00 p.m. ET. Given the 6:00 p.m. local start time in Houston, some might argue it’s more of an early evening game than a traditional night game.

The Buccaneers’ struggles under Todd Bowles extend to their primetime performances, where they’ve managed just three wins against nine losses in night games. This raises questions about the team’s ability to shine when the lights are brightest.

Mayfield’s primetime record stands at 8-9, with notable success on Thursday Night Football, where he’s 5-1. However, he struggles on Monday Night Football, with a 1-5 record. His overall record encompasses games from Monday Night Football, Thursday Night Football, and Sunday Night Football.

Here’s a Breakdown of Mayfield’s Primetime Record:

• Overall: 8-9
• Sunday Night Football: 2-3
• Monday Night Football: 1-5
• Thursday Night Football: 5-1