Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is embracing the chip on his shoulder. After a disappointing 2025 campaign that saw the team miss the playoffs, Mayfield is promising a resurgence—one that he believes will leave the NFL world stunned.
Speaking with JoeBucsFan.com, Mayfield expressed his excitement about opening the season on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals. For him, it's the perfect stage to make a statement and silence the doubters.
“You’re with your guys, and it’s just the Bucs against everybody else in that city you’re going to, and so I think it’s a good opportunity for us against the Bengals,” Mayfield said. “I think we’re going to shock a lot of people this year. And so I’m excited.”
The Buccaneers entered 2025 with high hopes after consecutive NFC South titles, but a late-season collapse derailed their postseason ambitions. Following a Week 9 bye, Tampa Bay lost seven of their final nine games, with Mayfield throwing eight interceptions and absorbing 12 sacks in the last four contests. The offense also lost a longtime cornerstone when wide receiver Mike Evans departed for the San Francisco 49ers, and Emeka Egbuka's toe injury could sideline him for Week 1.
Despite those setbacks, oddsmakers still favor the Buccaneers to reclaim the division, listing them at +170 on DraftKings Sportsbook. ESPN's Football Power Index gives them a 41.2% chance to win the NFC South, projecting 8.5 wins. But Mayfield isn't buying the external optimism—he insists the media narrative is far more pessimistic.
“You can’t avoid it. The TVs everywhere,” Mayfield said. “Everybody’s picking us probably to have a losing record.”
That underdog mentality is exactly what Mayfield thrives on. He's built a career on proving people wrong, from his Heisman-winning days at Oklahoma to resurrecting his NFL journey in Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers will enter Cincinnati as 3.5-point road underdogs, but Mayfield sees that as fuel.
“I think we’re going to shock a lot of people,” he reiterated. With a revamped receiving corps and a defense that showed flashes last season, Tampa Bay has the pieces to exceed expectations. The key will be protecting Mayfield and cutting down on turnovers—areas that plagued them down the stretch.
If Mayfield can recapture his early-season form, the Buccaneers could indeed be a surprise contender. As he prepares for the season opener on Sunday, Sept. 13, the quarterback is ready to lead the charge. And he's not shy about predicting the outcome.
“I’m excited,” Mayfield said. So are Bucs fans, who are hoping their quarterback's bold promise becomes reality.
For more on the Buccaneers' outlook, check out the debate over quarterbacks like Mayfield and how underdog narratives play out in sports.
