Key Takeaways
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield emphasizes focusing on the “little details” as his team looks to make a deep playoff run in 2025.
- Mayfield also had huge praise for rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, who is expected to be an important piece of the Bucs' offense.
- "he reminds me of Amon-Ra St. Brown in a way, which is obviously high praise," the signal-caller said of Egbuka.
Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield throwing a pass Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Baker Mayfield knows he and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers must improve in situational football if they want to advance deeper in the playoffs.
The 30-year-old quarterback has emerged as a two-time Pro Bowler as a member of the Buccaneers, racking up 41 touchdowns last season. Mayfield ranked second in touchdown passes. He also ranked third in completion rate and fourth in passer rating in the NFL last season.
However, the Buccaneers came up short in the playoffs again, losing to the Washington Commanders in the wild-card round despite carrying a lead into the fourth quarter. Tampa Bay also lost by one possession to the Detroit Lions in the divisional round during the previous season.
"I think the last two years, we've had mid-season lulls, lost quite a few games in the middle of the year," says Mayfield in a one-on-one interview with RG. "Both years we've told each other, just do the little things right. And it always comes down to that."
If not for a lost fumble on their side of the field early in the fourth quarter, the Buccaneers could have very well defeated the Commanders in their playoff game. Self-inflicted mistakes and situational football have cost Tampa Bay in recent seasons.
"We have a great roster, so how good can we do our job and not try and overthink it? You know, really do the bread and butter things extremely at a high level and then go from there," says Mayfield. "It's about the little details, and that's when you see teams that are good, go to the great part."
New Weapon For Mayfield
Mayfield hammers home about doing the "little things" right in order for the Buccaneers to emerge as an elite team and advance deeper in the playoffs. Tampa Bay has been to the playoffs in five consecutive seasons, but they haven't advanced past the divisional round since winning the Super Bowl during the Tom Brady era in the 2020 season.
"It goes back to doing little things right, and key moments, how much can you rely on your basic fundamentals," says Mayfield. "The things that you've seen since training camp or the off season and do the basic things right."
The Buccaneers will enter the 2025 season with a new key weapon in wide receiver Emeka Egbuka. Tampa Bay has arguably the most stacked offensive talent in the NFL following the addition of the first-round draft pick and former College Football National Champion. Egbuka will join the likes of Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Cade Otton, Rachaad White and Bucky Irving.
"Bringing back the whole O-line, obviously some injuries, Tristan Wirfs, and Chris Godwin, we'll see when they're ready to go," says Mayfield. "We're ready to roll, hit the ground running Week 1. I'm excited about it. Emeka coming in and being a guy, even though he's a rookie, doesn't act like one, doesn't handle himself like one. He's a true professional."
Egbuka caught a touchdown pass in the Buccaneers' most recent preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers and has already caught the attention of his quarterback.
"He's so intelligent," says Mayfield of Egbuka. "Between Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, they both have seen a lot of football, a lot of coverages. They understand how to win on leverage and whatnot. He reminds me of those guys mentally. When it comes to physical characteristics, he's quick, twitchy, explosive."
Bucs' Goals, Egbuka Comparison
When asked about a player comparison, Mayfield says Egbuka reminds him of Detroit Lions two-time All-Pro receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. St. Brown and Egbuka have similar frames at six feet tall and roughly 200 pounds.
"Receivers don't always stay on the ground, run through the catch to get yards after the catch, and he reminds me of Amon-Ra St. Brown in a way, which is obviously high praise," says Mayfield. "Amon-Ra St. Brown is an absolute stud, but he does a lot of things similar to where he's always trying to make a big play."
Although Mayfield hasn't appeared in the preseason, he's been able to work with Egbuka in training camp. With Godwin recovering from a broken ankle, that means the rookie receiver may see an increased role at the start of the season.
Mayfield says winning the Super Bowl is always the goal, but you have to take care of the other stuff, such as closing out games and the division early on.
"That's always the goal," says Mayfield. "But for us, it's trying to close out the division early and really have the instinct to finish out games when we need to and play at a high level every single week."
