Baker Mayfield says he would happily trade some personal success for a few more wins.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5) are currently on a three-game losing streak and have lost four of their last five games, dropping below .500 for the first time this season.
Mayfield leads the NFL with 23 touchdown passes, ranks second in passing yards with 2,389, and is seventh in passer rating at 105.6. However, he has thrown seven interceptions in his last four games, and he knows that improving his ball security is key to helping the Bucs get back on track.
The San Francisco 49ers (4-4), the defending NFC champions, are also hoping to turn their season around. They’ll be visiting Raymond James Stadium on Sunday, aiming to break free from a mediocre start to their season.
“You look at the games, some of the ones that we lost, there’s been turnover problems. And so for me, the most important thing is winning,” Mayfield said.
“I’d rather have below average stats and a lot of wins than what I have now,” added Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick from the 2018 draft. “So it’s about winning for me.”
The 49ers, coming off a bye week, might also be getting their star running back, Christian McCaffrey, back from injury. They are hoping to win back-to-back games for the first time this season.
San Francisco has won their last three matchups against the Buccaneers, including victories by double digits in each of the last two years with Brock Purdy as their quarterback.
Still, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan is cautious about facing the Buccaneers, especially with Mayfield playing so well and leading the Bucs’ offense.
Since joining Tampa Bay in 2023, Mayfield has thrown 51 touchdown passes, which is the most in the NFL over that period. He has four more touchdowns than Jordan Love and Dak Prescott in that time. Only Prescott (6,494 yards) has more passing yards than Mayfield, who has thrown for 6,433 yards.
“I think Baker is a stud. … I thought he was at the top of his game last year, playing real well. And this year, I think he’s the same, if not better,” Shanahan said.
“He’s one of the main reasons I think they were a couple of plays away from playing us in the NFC championship game last year,” the coach added, referring to the Buccaneers’ loss to the Detroit Lions in the divisional playoffs. “We were worried, real worried about him, going into that game.”
