After a hot start to the season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have fallen apart over the last seven weeks.
The Bucs are 2-5 since peaking in Week 6, when they were Super Bowl contenders, a Rookie of the Year frontrunner in Emeka Egbuka, and an MVP candidate at quarterback. Since then, injuries have piled up, the offense has stalled, and defensive collapses have created a tumultuous season.
One problem that stands amongst them all is the glue holding a lot of it together: Baker Mayfield.
At one point, fans were chanting M-V-P in Raymond James Stadium, but not anymore. Ever since that moment, the collapse ensued, and the Bucs are barely hanging onto the NFC South division lead.
Baker Mayfield is unfortunately one of the Buccaneers' biggest problems
Since those chants lit up Tampa Bay, Mayfield has averaged 190 passing yards per game, excluding the putrid 41-yard first half against the Rams due to injury. In that timeframe, Mayfield has an 8/5 TD/INT ratio, both far from his dominant first six weeks.
The Buccaneers' offense rides and dies with Mayfield, and his struggles have been evident on the scoreboard. Through the first six games? 27.5 points per game. The next 6? (excluding Week 12) 21 points per game.
Mayfield has collapsed the last two months, and so have the Buccaneers. The problem is, there's no replacement. Whether Mayfield is still nursing his left shoulder injury or has lost his juice this season, he's been a shadow of himself. 2025 will be his worst season in Tampa Bay so far in nearly every major statistical category.
His 61% completion percentage represents a 10 percent decrease from last season, which could be partly due to the revolving door of receivers. Rookies have struggled, veterans have been injured, and Mayfield has had different targets each week.
The one mainstay, rookie phenom Emeka Egbuka, has severely struggled lately and has lots of growing to do. The two connected just twice for 15 yards over nine targets in the one-score loss on Sunday.
Something has to change for the Bucs to turn their season around, and it all starts with the man captaining the ship.