Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield didn’t mince words when evaluating his performance after the team’s loss to the Detroit Lions.

Mayfield, who’s been playing some of his best football this season, faced one of his toughest outings against Detroit, struggling with several unusually high throws throughout the game.

When asked about those off-target passes, Mayfield immediately accepted responsibility.

“Just a few misses. I think a couple of them came from not being on time, trying to force it, and the ball just sailing higher than I wanted,” Mayfield admitted. “I just have to be more accurate. It was one of those days. Not perfect. And in games like that, you’ve got to be closer to perfect than I was.”

What stands out in Mayfield’s reflection isn’t only his acknowledgment of the mistakes but his awareness that against top-tier teams like the Lions, every error carries extra weight.

His readiness to take ownership of his shortcomings underscores his growth and leadership style.

The conversation became even more pointed when discussing Tampa Bay’s third-down struggles, as the team converted only 25% of its attempts.

Mayfield refused to shift the blame or rely on excuses about Detroit’s defensive strategy, though he did credit the Lions for their execution.

“They mixed it up really well — showing man coverage, then dropping back into some zone looks,” Mayfield said. “But overall, as a skill group, we’ve got to execute better. That’s on me. A lot of that’s my responsibility, and I just have to be sharper on third down.”

That phrase — “a lot of that’s on me” — sums up Mayfield’s mindset as a leader.

While some quarterbacks might highlight defensive adjustments or shared mistakes, Mayfield puts the burden squarely on himself first.

Perhaps most telling was his insight into how he processes and learns from a poor outing.

With a critical divisional matchup against New Orleans up next, Mayfield’s ability to quickly diagnose and correct mistakes takes on added importance.

“For me, it’s about looking at it schematically,” Mayfield explained. “What did they do to disrupt what we wanted to accomplish? Where did we make mistakes when the play call was right? It’s about execution, efficiency, finding completions, and trusting our guys.”

This systematic approach to self-evaluation highlights Mayfield’s analytical side — one that often hides behind his fiery competitiveness.

He isn’t responding emotionally to the loss but breaking it down strategically, seeking precise fixes instead of overhauling his entire game.

As the Buccaneers prepare for the Saints in a pivotal NFC South battle, Mayfield’s humility and focus could be exactly what helps the team rebound.

His candid self-reflection offers valuable insight into his mindset as he looks to turn the page and lead his team back to form.