Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield has kept the team in games throughout the season, and that is a credit to his mentality and playstyle. Never one to back down from a challenge, Mayfield is always looking forward to the next play, whether the previous one was a touchdown throw or an interception.

That ability has allowed him and the rest of the team to overcome struggles against the Panthers and a scoring lull against the Raiders in recent weeks. It is a testament to resilience, even if it means hitting the reset button.

Baker Mayfield Plays With “Heightened Awareness” In “Chaotic Situations”

Even amid struggles, Baker Mayfield laces up his bootstraps and fights to the end of games.

The most prominent example of this happened against the Panthers two weeks ago. Mayfield’s two interceptions and overall struggles in the game led to Carolina having a 16-10 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Throughout the rest of the quarter and into overtime though, he was a different player, even after leaving the game briefly due to injury. His ability to flip the switch was crucial to the Bucs winning 26-23 in overtime.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

How is the veteran quarterback able to make plays in crunch time after tough performances? Mayfield shared more about the mentality he plays in those moments this past week.

“To me, it’s the mentality of ‘next play is the most important’ and then when it comes down to in-the-game situations, things that you really want to go over mentally throughout the week,” Mayfield said.

“Obviously, that helps with experience and time, but you cover those situations, you understand where you want to get the ball, where you want to do it and sometimes it’s a chaotic situation but you don’t want to… It’s just heightened awareness – you don’t want to let the situation dictate how you’re feeling but just really [pay] attention to details and get back to basics in those moments.”

After scoring two touchdowns to begin this last week’s game against the Raiders, the offense again fell on hard times before finishing on a high note. After the game, Mayfield admitted he “was probably the worst player on offense.”

He embraces the negative self-talk as a motivational tactic.

“I’m not exactly a great example of positive self-talk,” Mayfield added. “I just hit the reset button, go through it, look at the pictures on the sideline and just move on. We need everybody to do their job each play, so I have to be the tone-setter when it comes to that. If I’m making a bad play, it’s the next one. Let’s move on, let’s make it happen.”

Graham Barton Weighs In On Baker Mayfield’s Mentality

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and C Graham Barton – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Graham Barton has had the opportunity to see Baker Mayfield go through the ebbs and flows of games from a unique vantage point as the Bucs’ starting center. That also means Barton sees the fire Mayfield plays with and how he can bounce back when the going gets tough.

He shared with Pewter Report how his quarterback’s competitive spirit spreads throughout the team.

“Baker’s just a competitor,” Barton said. “It’s in his DNA. He doesn’t get rattled, and if he does he doesn’t express it. He’s very – I wouldn’t say level-headed. You guys can see him out there, he’s a pretty fiery guy. He’s good at keeping his composure when things are going wrong or we’re having a little lull there in the second and third quarters. Baker’s really good at keeping everyone together.

“Taking ownership of the offense and just being able to command us through that. It’s been really good. You never see his confidence waver, no matter where we’re at in a game, if it looks bleak, or if we’re not playing well. Seeing him be that confident and our ability as an offense I think bleeds into everyone else.”

How can this be translated on Sunday afternoon? The going will not get any easier facing a Chargers’ defense that has thrived under first-year defensive coordinator Jessie Minter. With high-end talent on all three levels and the ability to play physical football, points could very well be at a premium. Tampa Bay’s ability to control and move the line of scrimmage will be one key to getting a victory.

Bucs OC Liam Coen – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“Sticking to what we know,” Barton said on how the Bucs’ offense can remain successful. “Just like every game in the past ten weeks, we have to find ways to run the ball. Be able to establish the line of scrimmage. I think when we have success as an offensive line establishing the offensive line, that kind of opens up everything else in our playbook. We have to be able to do that. They’re a good front, they got guys there like [Joey] Bosa, Khalil Mack, Derwin James, all really good players. Those two interior guys [Poona] Ford and [Teair] Tart, a lot of those guys are really good.

“They got their bigger names on the edge and in the secondary with Derwin, but those interior guys are also really talented players. Again, it’s a good challenge for us, but it’s going to come down to, ‘Are we able to establish the line of scrimmage?’ Give Baker time in the pocket to go through his progressions. If we’re able to have success upfront, the story of any football game is that kind of opens everything else for our offense.”