There’s been plenty to like about the first half of the season for Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield. Through eight games he’s compiled 1,919 passing yards and 13 passing touchdowns along with just two interceptions. He’s also produced 158 rushing yards, which puts him on pace to break his career high of 378 yards last season.

Most importantly, he’s led the Bucs to a 6-2 record that’s tied for first place in the NFC and leads the NFC South by two games. Tampa Bay also has a legit shot at the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

A fantastic start to the 2025 season put Mayfield in early NFL MVP conversations. Though he cooled off the last two games, another big outing or two over the next three weeks could put him right back into the picture. But at this point going into the latter half of the season, none of what he has previously done matters.

We’re About To Learn A Lot More About Baker Mayfield And The Bucs

Baker Mayfield’s test got that much tougher without having last year’s top three receivers – Mike Evans, Chris Godwin Jr, and Jalen McMillan – out of the lineup, in addition to starting running back Bucky Irving. The good news is that it’s looking like he’ll have Luke Goedeke back at right tackle, giving him more help and time in the pocket.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

The thought was that maybe Godwin or Irving could return after the bye, but it doesn’t appear that will be the case this week. That means it’s Mayfield and some young stars for the Bucs in rookie wide receivers Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson that are in charge of leading the team to more wins and another playoff berth.

“I think we have already shown that,” Mayfield said about other players stepping up. “With all the guys that have come in there and stepped up in a big way, some of the young guys or vets that have stepped up for us. Guys have shown it is a resilient group and that they are able to handle whatever we throw at them in whatever we have installed. [Have] to keep going, and at this point real football starts and we have a really, really good opponent coming out here.”

Indeed the real football does start now in November, as Mayfield mentioned. Tampa Bay’s next three games are against the league’s toughest opponents in the Patriots (7-2), Bills (6-2) and Rams (6-2). Currently the Bucs have a two game lead over the Panthers, who they have yet to play against. But this stretch for Tampa Bay could see that lead evaporate in the blink of an eye if the team doesn’t get by with a win or two in the next three weeks.

Bucs Rely On Each Other For Rest Of The Season

The trade deadline came and went without Tampa Bay making move. That’s not exactly a shock knowing general manager Jason Licht and his track record with very few trades over the years. But what it does mean is that it’s on everyone in the locker room to get the job done. There are no reinforcements coming in to help on either side of the ball.

It also shows a belief in what the team has to work with offensively.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

“The history of how Jason has done things, that is how it is,” Mayfield said.  “You do not expect anything, and we have said we feel really good about the team we have from the beginning. You always run the risk of bringing in somebody that might throw off the culture a little bit. There is always that risk, unless you bring in Randy Moss or Calvin Johnson out of retirement, I do not think we had any other options. We trust what we have; [it is] just getting healthy and trying to get guys back on the field and still communicating and trust in who we have.”

Feeling Refreshed After The Bye

The bye week came at a much needed time for the Bucs and Baker Mayfield. Tampa Bay’s quarterback has been on the injury report this season for an oblique and knee injury at different times. It potentially could have impacted how he was throwing the ball in their last two games against the Lions and Saints, as he was throwing ball high and inaccurately on occasion.

There was also less scrambling for him, which he had done a tremendous job with this season. Feeling much better, it seems that we’ll see top level performance from Mayfield on Sunday. Mayfield was a full participant in practice on Wednesday.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

“It definitely helps getting rest,” Mayfield said. “[I was] still moving my body around a little bit, not letting yourself get too sore, but then also just the non-contact definitely helps.”

And as much as the it helps the physical toll, it also helped with with the mental side of things, too. When asked if the bye week helped him mentally, Baker Mayfield only needed one word to answer.

“Absolutely.”