Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is synonymous with the chip on his shoulder he has carried throughout his career.
He keeps receipts and lives to silence doubters, and the Buccaneers’ 2026 regular season schedule will give him plenty of chances to do exactly that.
2026 NFL schedule lays out the perfect revenge tour for Baker Mayfield
Nobody in Tampa Bay is happy with how last season ended. After a 6-2 start, the Buccaneers collapsed down the stretch, finishing 8-9 and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
Things were already personal, with the entire team motivated to redeem itself and bounce back, but Tampa Bay’s slate of opponents adds even more fuel for Mayfield in particular.
The immediate game that stands out is the home opener in Week 2 against the Cleveland Browns. Of course, Cleveland is the team that drafted Mayfield No. 1 overall in 2018 before ultimately moving on from him in 2021 despite him leading the franchise to its first playoff win in 26 years.
It will be the first time Mayfield faces the Browns as a member of the Buccaneers, and doing it in the home opener at Raymond James Stadium makes it even more meaningful.
Speaking of Cleveland, the Buccaneers also have two games against the Atlanta Falcons, who hired former Browns coach Kevin Stefanski as their new head coach. Stefanski was at the helm when Cleveland abruptly parted ways with Mayfield, and Mayfield made it more than clear this offseason how he feels about his former coach.
Baker Mayfield vs Kevin Stefanski twice a year is going to be ABSOLUTE CINEMA pic.twitter.com/UhM3K6m6P9
— Barstool Gambling (@stoolgambling) January 21, 2026
Not to mention, Atlanta handed the Buccaneers their worst loss of the season last year, storming back from a 28-14 fourth-quarter deficit to beat Tampa Bay in prime time. Revenge for last year’s collapse, combined with the opportunity to face Stefanski, should have Mayfield fired up.
There are also two matchups against the Carolina Panthers. Mayfield had a rocky stint in Carolina before he was benched and eventually released.
The Panthers also stole the division crown from Tampa Bay last season, giving Mayfield even more motivation. He would love nothing more than to get payback against a former team while helping the Buccaneers reclaim the NFC South in the process.
The revenge tour does not stop there. Waiting in Week 17 is a showdown with the Super Bowl favorite Los Angeles Rams. While Mayfield played for the Rams, he does not appear to hold much resentment toward the organization, and has actually credited his short stint in Los Angeles for helping revive his career and eventually leading him to Tampa Bay.
The revenge angle comes from what happened the last time these teams met. Mayfield went down with an injury as the Buccaneers were humiliated 34-7, continuing Tampa Bay’s struggles against Los Angeles. The Buccaneers are just 2-9 in their last 11 games against the Rams. This matchup is not just personal for Mayfield, but for the entire organization and fan base as well.
Mayfield will face every one of his former teams in 2026, and he has to be chomping at the bit for the chance to lead a revenge tour while helping guide the Buccaneers back to the playoffs. Mayfield has always played his best with something to prove, and the NFL gifted Mayfield a script built for Hollywood in the upcoming season.
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