Overview
- On Sunday in Cincinnati, the Buccaneers fell 33-27 after Baker Mayfield lost three fumbles that directly led to opponent points and swung the game in the Bengals’ favor.
- Mayfield completed 23 of 28 passes for 216 yards and rushed for 30 yards and a touchdown, but his three lost fumbles and a teammate’s fumble produced most of Cincinnati’s scoring.
- Mayfield and coach Todd Bowles both said the turnovers cost the team, with Mayfield taking blame and Bowles noting four total turnovers were the difference in a one-possession game.
- The misstep comes days after Tampa Bay signed Mayfield to a three-year, $165 million extension that reduces the team’s short-term cap flexibility and makes early roster moves to replace him difficult.
- Reporters pointed to a longer ball-security trend — Mayfield has led the league in fumbles since 2023 according to social-media reporting — a pattern that will shape scrutiny of his play and the team’s commitment going forward.