Baker Mayfield sends strong message to Buccaneers after 0-2 start

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in danger of having their 2026 season spiral out of control after they opened the campaign with back-to-back losses.

During a Monday appearance on the Buccaneers Radio Network, quarterback Baker Mayfield addressed what he will say to his teammates ahead of Tampa Bay's Week 3 home game against the 2-0 Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 27. 

What is Baker Mayfield's message to Buccaneers amid latest woes?

"And for me during the week, pushing the guys like, 'We’re 0-2. It’s not where we want to be, but it’s where we’re at, and are we actually going back to what we talked about earlier: actually gonna look ourselves in the mirror and get it fixed,'" Mayfield explained, per the JoeBucsFan website. "Or are we okay with being 0-2 and just letting this happen? So pushing the guys, and, it’s not playoff time yet. But sometimes you gotta revert back to that mindset and little details, getting things fixed and not taking anything for granted." 

The Buccaneers have endured more lows than highs since they entered their Week 9 bye of the 2025 season with a record of 6-2. Mayfield suffered a significant injury to his non-throwing shoulder in Week 12 of that campaign, and Tampa Bay ultimately ended the season at 8-9. 

Baker Mayfield reveals how he needs to improve for Buccaneers

As for the ongoing season, Mayfield lost three fumbles in Tampa Bay's 33-27 Week 1 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 13. This past Sunday, he completed 21 of 34 passes for 182 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a 23-19 loss to the Cleveland Browns, his former team. 

Fair or not, the perception exists that the Buccaneers need better from Mayfield after they signed him to a big-money contract extension earlier this month. 

"Hitting the deep shots when they’re there, taking advantage of those," Mayfield said about how he wants to play better against the Vikings. "But just more early and often completions. Continue to sustain drives." 

Whispers have already surfaced suggesting that Buccaneers ownership will part ways with head coach Todd Bowles if Tampa Bay misses out on the playoffs for a second straight year. In short, Mayfield and Co. may need to treat the Vikings game as a win-now matchup and as an opportunity for Tampa Bay to stop the figurative bleeding.