Perfect Baker Mayfield

August 26th, 2023

Baker Mayfield

What a preseason for the Buccaneers’ No. 1 quarterback, capped by a 6-for-6 passing performance tonight against the Ravens.

Yes, Baker Mayfield was perfect tonight.

The Bucs’ first series was a 3-and-out mess with two completions short of the chains, but Mayfield moved the team on the second drive against much of the Ravens’ first-team defense. Mayfield ended the drive with an 11-yard touchdown throw to Chris Godwin over the middle.

Godwin and Mayfield connected four times. Mike Evans did not play.

Mayfield was 8-of-9 with a touchdown pass in his only other preseason work two weeks ago against the Steelers. Yeah, it’s only the worthless preseason, but it’s a fantastic confidence boost for the Bucs offense and Bucs fans.

Joe is Minnesota-ready, and it seems Mayfield is, too.

73 Responses to “Perfect Baker Mayfield”

  1. Pewter941 Says:

    I’m cautiously optimistic

  2. 420Kitty Says:

    Let’s Bake!

  3. Da Bucs Guy Says:

    Why are they hiding Baker? Why won’t they let Trask throw to the starting WR? Baker will be exposed when the real season starts.

  4. Elita Vita Says:

    Ball Out 4 Baker!

  5. Lowest Common Denominator Says:

    The Ravens were playing their backups.

  6. Voice of Truth Says:

    The flat pass to Chris was typical Baker – you couldn’t even see him and all the sudden the ball pops outta nowhere

    Works against the bus drivers and Amazon package handlers….rarely against the first teamers

    Not sold yet, Kyle should be playing and developing

    No Jensen – it’s official

  7. buccanstopit Says:

    Jensen to be placed on IR, per Licht

  8. Daddylonglegs Says:

    Joe, I have s question for you! What makes you think and every other Mayfielder, that Backer is the answer. The guy couldn’t even compete or maintain his starting position in Carolina. Even the Rams didn’t want the guy back! For Christ Sake, I don’t get it! I’m not saying Trask is that much better, but we freaking spent a 2nd round pick on him. Personally I feel like Trask has ooked better. I don’t want to hear experience like Cannales said. Experience doesn’t mean spit if you haven’t had very good success while gaining said experience. You go with Trask and see what you got. If that doesn’t work, insert Mayfield. You HAVE to see what Trask has to offer, so you know what you need to do in the offseason. Mayfield isn’t the long term answer. Mark my word, Trask will be our starter after 4 games in.

  9. Joe Says:

    Joe, I have s question for you! What makes you think and every other Mayfielder, that Backer is the answer.

    Don’t know that he is the answer. Do know — as Joe has written maybe 70 times since March — that Mayfield was a good gamble. Buy low/sell high. If Mayfield led the Bucs to the playoffs, the Bucs have their QB for the next few years. If not, draft one of the expected several QBs expected to be first-round picks in April.

    No harm, no foul.

    And — once again — Bowles was not going with Trask unless Trask played head and shoulders better than Mayfield in camp and preseason because Bowles is not going to risk his career with a guy who only has nine passes under his belt.

    You could argue possibly Trask was better (stats say he wasn’t) but Trask certainly wasn’t head and shoulders better than Mayfield.

  10. Watch More ALL22 Before Commenting Says:

    So far as I’ve seen reported, the Ravens played a majority of starters on their defense early in the first half.

  11. steele Says:

    Jensen on IR, and without a comparable veteran replacement, blows up any notion that this OL will be fully restored. Of course the plan from the first moment of camp last year, thanks to Logan Hall was to hand the job to Hainsey, the golden boy, then deal or dump Jensen at the first opportunity.

  12. WyomingJoe Says:

    Daddylonglegs… I’m watching the game and seeing Trask overthrow guys and look indecisive (at best). If you actually think that he has more talent than Mayfield you’re drinking more than I am. Trask is up against 3rd and 4th teemers so he should begin to pump up his anemic passing numbers. GO BAKER.

  13. Rod Munch Says:

    If you love your passes 3 yards or less in the air, then you’re going to love Mayfield!

    But hey, at least his his completion percentage looks good.

  14. WyomingJoe Says:

    Baker Haters… just remember what the Jets front office said when Chris Simms asked them about comparing Trask to Baker. In essence, they said that Trask was OK, but Baker’s arm talent was far superior. I know that Trask is a Florida kid, but he ain’t ever going to be better than Baker. I find it odd that very few on this site are giving Baker any chance to succeed. Those critics are very wrong!

  15. HC Grover Says:

    Whoop de Doo…Trask just as good or bettah…But Good showing for whole team and coaches. Especially Stonewall Wirfs.

  16. Watch More All22 Before Commenting Says:

    The Jensen news is deeply disappointing, but not unexpected at this point.

    The new blocking scheme should offset some of it.

  17. tucker Says:

    Go bucs can’t wait for the season to start hope baker lights it up.

  18. HC Grover Says:

    Good Grief. Come on. WHAT!

  19. TDavis Says:

    I don’t think the Ravens played their starters on defense actually, but the design of the offense looks good and Baker played well.

  20. HC Grover Says:

    Inky Dinky Doo. Pftttth!

  21. WyomingJoe Says:

    Rod Munch … yeah Trask is throwing at 6.3 yards per completion with 13 minutes to play. He’s really lighting it up against high school level defenders! He might even break 200 yards passing again tonight!

  22. Tbbucs3 Says:

    Going to be amazing the amount of so called fans rooting against Baker Mayfield for their boy Trask to get in this season, terrible fan base….worst fan base in pro sports

  23. BA’s Red Pen Says:

    Voice of Truthsocial, I’m looking forward to all your expert explanations of Trask’s 5-7 inaccurate passes against backup bus drivers’s and Amazon package handlers, oh wait no I’m not.

  24. frozenbuc Says:

    After Trask threw for a TD he had a higher QB rating than Mayfield. Was he Perfect+? Yes. So Bowles sent Trask back in with scrubs to get his QB rating down.

  25. frozenbuc Says:

    Tbbucs3 Says: “Going to be amazing the amount of so called fans rooting against Baker Mayfield”

    Says the FSU/Jameis fan boi who’s been rooting against Trask.

  26. HC Grover Says:

    We are keeping it close.

  27. Tbbucs3 Says:

    The Bucs will be the only franchise in pro sports where half the fan base will be rooting against the starting quarterback…..SAD!

  28. Rod Munch Says:

    WyomingJoe – Mayfield literally threw 5 of his 6 passes 3 yards or less in the air. Throwing a 1 yard pass to Godwin and having him break 3 tackles to get 9 yards, doesn’t mean Mayfield threw a great pass.

    Trask, with the same players on the field, well, minus Godwin, went 7/9 for like 79 yards and a TD, and one of those incompletions was because Moore stopped on his route – which you claimed was Trask missing the throw and hesitating. Trask was actually pushing the ball down the field, looked great.

    Mayfield, meanwhile, was throwing 2 yards in the air on 3rd and 6.

    But, in fairness, I did say all the people who look at the box score will be impressed. So I was right.

    Anywho, no need to be defensive. Your boy Mayfield has the job, if he performs, he’ll keep the job.

  29. Bobby M. Says:

    Mayfield is capable…..but after watching Josh Johnson dice up our starting defense, I’m more concerned with our defense than our offense. Bowles isn’t a guru….. he’s a good ole boy plugged in with the right people. Without a high powered offense, his defense isn’t effective. Let’s stop pretending having a front seven consisting of JPP, Suh, Shaq, White, Vea, David was Bowles defensive brilliance. Anyone could coach that and look genius.

  30. WyomingJoe Says:

    I’m holding my breath… Trask is hitting on 55% of his passes and may still have a chance to break 200 yards. Btw, he should have been intercepted at least TWICE. Just doesn’t have enough arm strength.

  31. Miller5252 Says:

    Good lord!! Some of this Trask love is just wild! Baker might get the Tonya Harding treatment from one of these Trask fans. Got nothing against either QB, but Bakers the starter, let’s get behind the man and hope they have an undefeated season!!

  32. SB Says:

    All I can see is ti Seems we are better set at QB than we originally thought. Starter or Backup.

  33. geno711 Says:

    Miller5252 Says:
    August 26th, 2023 at 10:03 pm
    Good lord!! Some of this Trask love is just wild! Baker might get the Tonya Harding treatment from one of these Trask fans.

    I agree. Not a huge Baker fan but the hate for him on even nights when he seems fine, seems huge to me.

  34. shak Says:

    good job bake!

  35. Thisisouryear!! Says:

    I was on the trask bandwagon until I read what Joe said the jets said bout mayfield vs trask. The difference is mayfield has an elite arm. I’m excited to see what he does in an offense picked that fits him well. If he struggles we see trask. If they both struggle we go after one of the top QBs next year.

  36. TB2023 Says:

    Ah the this title has awaken All the Baker haters. These so called fans can’t be excited for anything. Negative nancies. It’s sad.

  37. IrishTony Says:

    Jensen didn’t even fit this scheme. Hainsey will do just fine.

  38. IrishTony Says:

    Trask looked good on that one td drive. Honestly believe this Canales can make average qbs look really good!

  39. Since76 Says:

    No worries it’s a throw away year due to cap hell. Bowles was right to fire leftwich and I like what I’ve seen of Caneles. He’s in a tight spot so he’s going with a veteran QB. I think Trask possibly could be traded for a starting Quality lineman. He showed he can play. Your not going to play him so get something for him.

  40. Don’t tell me it’s raining Says:

    I thought Trask played well tonight. And I bet if you asked him if his 24 yard “pass” to Ronnie Brown should count toward his passing stats, he would probably say of course, are you stupid? But we know the pass was in the backfield and that Brown gained those 24 yards with his legs. So I’m curious if the Baker hater calls that’s a dink and dunk pass because it was definitely 3 yards or less in the air.

  41. The Beer Whisperer Says:

    I like what @Since76 has seen of Canales, also.

  42. RGA Says:

    Tbbucs3 and WyomingJoe, Kyle Trask plays for the Tampa Bay Bucs, are you both fans of the team or just Mayfield fans? Maybe moved here from Cleveland? I heard Tbbucs3 mocking people, suggesting they are not a true Bucs fan as he and WyomingJoe ridiculed Kyle Trask as if he was the QB for the Saints. Trask
    Plays for the good guys.

  43. confido75 Says:

    If Trask had gone to New Mexico State would there be this much vitriol for Baker? What college a player went to is irrelevant and as fans we shouldn’t care what school they went to. They just need to perform and win! The way some of these fans act you would think they only hire or work with people from the same college they went to, but then again, I am going to assume if you are this stupid you probably didn’t make it past the 5th grade.

  44. Pewter Power Says:

    It’s crazy how these jokers are down on baker even though he had a perfect game but make all the excuses in the world for Trask. I’m so confused I don’t get why they are guzzling his sack so hard, are you bucs fans or Brady holdovers hoping he’s been reincarnated?

    I know trask makes you dudes moist but the starters are set so get on board already, no one wants to hear you begging for trask all season

  45. chark Says:

    I wish we could ask a panel of well known experts…mariucci, gruden, parcells, etc who they think is the better qb. I know who they would pick. Nothing against kyle I like kyle from his great play against bama in the sec, but baker is a better qb and had more upside and talent. And if you think he is dink and dink you are for sure lying to yourself.. he has 30, 40 50 yard rope passes on his nfl resume..big time throws, and he is more mobile, and has a better arm and vision. How would kyle have done if he played for the 1-31 browns and both qbs histories were switched? Sick of this talk cause i really do like kyle but some of the people on here are just too much man.

  46. WyomingJoe Says:

    RG3… TBBUCS3 and I are defending Baker because no matter how well he plays he’ll be ripped apart by haters on this site. You don’t see that? Trask played almost 3 1/2 quarters and still had below average NFL numbers and should have had two INTs. Yet the Trask lovers will brag about him as if he’s the second coming of Christ!

  47. RGA Says:

    Pewter Power, the people who are down on Baker including most of the national media are of that opinion based on his past results. Baker Mayfield has been terrible at protecting the football, he’s has not just been terrible, he’s been the worst offender since he’s entered the league. Turnovers lose football games.
    I’m guessing Canales is working hard to teach him to take care of the football. Im hoping Mayfield learns while not completely ditching his aggressive down field throws. Mayfield was a number one overall draft pick for a reason, Im hoping that Canales can work wonders for Mayfield as he did with Geno Smith.

  48. RGA Says:

    Wyomingjoe, you just made my point. 3 1/2 quarters and below average and speculating on possible interceptions. Trask has been called the player of the game by Ronde Barber and the NBC crew two games in a row.
    Your negative comment on Trask exactly made my point!
    You just can’t acknowledge that he played well. Mayfield is the starter. When he lines up against the Vikings, we will all be Bucs fans.

  49. Call the Salt Truck Says:

    Pewter Power, the people who are down on Baker including most of the national media are of that opinion based on his past results. Baker Mayfield has been terrible at protecting the football, he’s has not just been terrible, he’s been the worst offender since he’s entered the league.

    I love this argument, like it wasn’t one bad season 4 years ago that makes him a ‘turnover machine’. Since 2020, who’s had more turnovers, Mayfield or Josh Allen? Oh wait, it’s Allen.

    Since 2020, who’s had more turnovers, Mayfield or Derek Carr? Oh wait, it’s Carr.

    Since 2020, who’s had more turnovers, Mayfield or Lamar Jackson? Oh wait, it’s Jackson.

    By the way ALL of those are true for 2020 and 2021 individually also, so claiming it’s just because Mayfield wasn’t a starter for 2022 doesn’t fly.

    The ‘turnover machine’ stat is a trash stat that people with their heads up their butts throw out to pretend they’re smart.

  50. chark Says:

    Josh allen has 80 turnovers last 6 years
    Baker 78 turnovers
    Goff 80 turnovers
    Carr 78 turnovers
    Cousins 70 turnovers
    Mahomes 58 turnovers
    Tannehill 56 turnovers
    Russell 53 turnovers
    Lamar 53 turnovers……….so what does it all mean ?

  51. RGA Says:

    Call the salt truck might want to do some research before posting. Allen with 60, Carr with 55, Jackson with 38, Mayfield the most in the league with 64. Facts are facts!

  52. Call the Salt Truck Says:

    Call the salt truck might want to do some research before posting. Allen with 60, Carr with 55, Jackson with 38, Mayfield the most in the league with 64. Facts are facts!

    Facts like Mayfield having more wins in the playoffs than Carr, and just as many as Jackson since he entered the league?

    Facts like you restating your trash point like you did something because I showed how trash it is? Go hide under the bed, the adults are talking.

  53. RGA Says:

    Chark, Mayfield has Been in the league 5 years not 6, not sure where you find your stats. It’s an easy google search to see how many int’s a QB has thrown.
    We’ve also heard many times in the national media the Mayfield is prone for turnovers, it’s not a secret. It is something however he really needs to focus on and as I mentioned previously, I hope he plays great football for the Bucs and makes us all proud, I’m not rooting against Mayfield, Im just expressing my concerns. Winston was run out of town for turnovers, probably not many here would want him back, so the Bucs turn to a guy who has a history of turning ball over as well.

  54. RGA Says:

    Salt truck I’m just stating facts, you’re acting like a whining child. Grow up young man.

  55. Herbiebuc Says:

    Let That Man Bake!! I can see Raymond James full of baking aprons

  56. Call the Salt Truck Says:

    Salt truck I’m just stating facts, you’re acting like a whining child. Grow up young man.

    You stated a single fact, which I called out as trash because it’s as relevant as saying Tom Brady lost his last game as a Patriot. You then restated that fact, because your reading comprehension is roughly that of a five year old.

    Fact: The last three years Baker’s been better at protecting the ball than many contemporary QBs. Living in the past does not magically make him worse, and will not convince mean ol’ Todd Bowles that your idol is better.

    Please keep crying though. Your salty tears pay my check.

  57. chark Says:

    googled baker fumbles ..used statmuse and added fumbles and ints together..josh allen has more I guess you should be concerned about him as a starting qb as well..maybe the bills should trade for trask

  58. JD Still Says:

    So, a quick summary of the preseason Quarterback play will show Kyle in the three games passed for over five hundred yards , Mayfield , a little over a hundred, Kyle led the team to more scores and was named player of the game twice, Mayfield none, Kyle actually scrambled more and better, running over multiple defenders once to make a needed first down, did not get flustered, and unlike Mayfield, was not pulled out when the Bucs were pinned deep in their own territory in order to keep him from making mistakes, but led the team out of trouble by making multiple long drives, truth is stranger than fiction.

  59. Call the Salt Truck Says:

    JD Still- A quick summary of preseason quarter back play

    TDs: Mayfield 2, Trask 2.

    Ints: Mayfield 0, Trask 1.

    Times Sacked-Yards Lost: Mayfield 0-0, Trask 6-36

    Pretty easy to tell why Mayfield won. Protected the ball, eluded the sacks, scored just as often.

    See? I can manipulate data to say what I want, too. Seriously Trask fans, get over it already. Trask got better, he’s improved, but Mayfield won because the coaches liked what they saw from him more, not just in the pre-season games, but in practice. Even the Jets admitted Mayfield was better against them in the practice sessions.

  60. JD Still Says:

    Salt Truck: it’s not hard to protect the ball when you’re playing a few downs with the first team and sitting on the bench the rest of the game, it remains to be seen how he does when he has to make more than glorified cameo appearances ,( how do you think Mayfield would have done if he had to play with the same players Kyle had to play with or in the same situations, having to continuously place them in the proper positions and having to wait to see it they were running the proper routes), personably I don’t think Mayfield could hang under that kind of pressure without panicking, it’s a shame we didn’t find out in the preseason.

  61. Call the Salt Truck Says:

    JD Still-

    Well, when Mayfield and Trask had the SAME o-line and the SAME WRs against the Steelers, while Trask got to play against WORSE competition because the Steelers had taken their first team D out by the time Trask got into the game-

    Mayfield- 8-9 with 1 TD, 0 Int, 0 Sacks
    Trask- 6-10 with 0 TD, 1 int, 3 Sacks 17 yards lost.

    So… Mayfield was better.

    In the Jets practice where they swapped playing with the first team offense- Mayfield was better. The Jets said so, the Buccs said so- everyone who was there said so.

    At which point, Bowles didn’t need to ask that question any more, because it had been pretty conclusive: that in a large sample of equivalent situations, the answer was- Mayfield would play better. That’s why he’s the starter.

  62. Daniel Dream Says:

    Daddylonglegs Says:
    August 26th, 2023 at 8:51 pm
    Joe, I have s question

    No, you don’t have a question: you have a long erroneous rant. Get a grip. The guy was the first pick in the draft and led the Browns single season turnaround from 0-16 to the playoffs for a reason. The Panthers are utter trash and you’re way off base- the Rams absolutely wanted Mayfield back. Get your head out of your rear end, dude.

  63. Lev Says:

    We may be Baltimore ready, but will we ever be Tennessee ready?

  64. Oneilbuc Says:

    Con75 . That’s what happens when you have a NFL team in a college town. The city of Tampa is a like what Austin is to Texas it’s a college town and that’s been the problem with the bucs to me. Most of the people in this fan base cares more about what college a player comes from. I was called a Jamies fan because I was rooting for the guy because the bucs drafted him. Than they started calling me a FSU fan and now I hope Trask plays well because the bucs drafted him now I’m a UF fan . Truth be told I don’t think Baker Mayfield earned the starting job he was gifted the starting job and the way Trask has played in training camp and preseason I believe you always go with the young guy it makes more sense. But at the same time we are stuck with Baker Mayfield a guy that’s on his 4th team in 6 years. So because he’s the starter I have to root for him. I hope he helps the bucs win to many games that we can’t draft a quarterback next year in the first round. So let’s go Baker Mayfield I’m counting on you to play good enough that we can at least get in the playoffs.

  65. Mark hardt Says:

    Baker does not have to do it all. Defense is good and can score also..

  66. JB Says:

    Those who are saying Trask should be the starter are the same people that think Tebow was a good NFL QB. 🙄

  67. frozenbuc Says:

    Call the Salt Truck Says: “Even the Jets admitted Mayfield was better against them in the practice sessions.”

    Even Joe admitted Trask was better than Mayfield in training camp. Ever consider the Jets might want to face the less capable quarterback down the road?

  68. Call the Salt Truck Says:

    Even Joe admitted Trask was better than Mayfield in training camp. Ever consider the Jets might want to face the less capable quarterback down the road?

    Joe admitted he was better in camp up until the week before the first pre-season game. But he also admitted he didn’t know what the coaches were doing, and that Baker might be testing his limits, seeing who could get the jump balls, what can he get away with. Patrick Mahomes famously threw seven interceptions in six practice sessions doing just that. It’s a pretty veteran move, and the only concern would be if they kept happening through the other practices and games as we got closer to the season.

    They didn’t. Mysteriously, Baker’s pick count plummeted to roughly Trask level the week prior to the Steelers- but he kept making all the big plays better than Trask did, just like he had before. And then when the bright lights came on, he showed who was the better QB.

  69. LANshark Says:

    I’m tired of hearing about Baker the “turnover machine”. Let’s take a look at the truth here:

    2018 – 14
    2019 – 21
    2020 – 8
    2021 – 13
    2022 – 8

    SO, while yes, he has thrown 64 since 2018, he’s thrown just 29 since 2020… His first two years in the league the Browns were among the worst teams in the league, and they were playing from behind most of the time. And yes, that means Baker was pushing the ball down field trying to come from behind.

    IF you’re gonna use stats, at least use them honestly.

    Last night Trask overthrew AT LEAST 3 wide open receivers – plays Baker generally makes.

  70. Bitter Britter Says:

    Our fan base is full of some complete idiots. Baker has not proven anything this preseason. He and Trask were not on an equal playing field.
    (Trask got sacked 6 times to bakers 0) yeah Trask played almost exclusively behind the backups. Our coach literally said out loud the he sent Trask out behind them and not baker because he didn’t want Baker to get hurt.
    (Baker was 6 of 6) yeah for 43 yards. Literally 40 yards came from 4 passes to Godwin. Baker never pushed the ball down the field. Kyle never once played with Godwin. His incompletions came when throwing deep to scrubs.
    Baker never played outside of his scripted drives.

    I will cheer for the Bucs regardless of who is QB, but only one guy was forced to compete this preseason and he did pretty dang well.

  71. Bitter Britter Says:

    Call the Salt Truck

    How this frick did he show he was the better QB?!?? He threw for 106 yards total in the preseason. He never played behind the full scrub oline. He never threw the ball more than 12 yards past the line of scrimmage. Once he completed his one full scripted series he sat the bench.

  72. Call the Salt Truck Says:

    How this frick did he show he was the better QB?!?? He threw for 106 yards total in the preseason. He never played behind the full scrub oline. He never threw the ball more than 12 yards past the line of scrimmage. Once he completed his one full scripted series he sat the bench.

    Played same o-line. Same WRs. Did better. Same against the Jets. Did I stutter? Or you just can’t read. Either way, cry those bitter tears for me.

    He was better. The coaches know it. The players know it. And deep down, YOU know it, but you have such a hard on for your guy that you just can’t accept he lost out to someone who was just a better player. It wasn’t a LOT better. It usually isn’t at the NFL level.

    Both of these things are true:

    -Trask legit got better and could probably do a decent job as a starter.

    -Baker played better than Trask when the lights were on. He was better in the camp sessions between pre-season games. He fits the offense better.

    And yes, he has the stronger arm. Your whining about him not pushing the ball down-field doesn’t change the multiple highlights in camp of him finding guys deep, nor him throwing a 24 air-yard LASER to Godwin (His foot was on the 19 hash, Godwin was at least 6 yards deep in the endzone and it was still at head height).

    It’s not complicated. The Buccs picked the better player. The problem is some of ya’ll Trask fans are still at Denial/Anger. Need to move past Bargaining. I feel like your Depression phase won’t last long once the season actually starts and the Buccs start winning, so good news there.

  73. 1#bucsfan Says:

    Bakers our starter so ima root for him. But y’all tripping ask JOE. Baker is the starter because he’s Bowles guy. He was the starter since he was signed. Bowles is going to put his career in the hands of trask who has pretty much zero experience. Trask got shafted. Y’all can say what you want. Trask played just as good as baker since training camp. Use common since trask has bin neck n neck with baker yet baker has 5 seasons on trask. Sorry but baker should have bin playing light years better than trask. Trask developed so nice over this year that nobody recognizes him. Joe thinks it was a imposter. My only question is if trask is developing great over these last few months why stunt his growth. He needs to be in the game learning. Is he going to make mistakes of course dude have no real game experience only way you get that and get better is by being in the game. Baker was a 1st overall pick but let me tell ya trask is a 2nd an he kept it neck and neck all TC. He just needs a shot. Bowles is not HC material. All know it. Keep him on DC