Mayfield says Jets win was personal after Wilks cut
Bucs improve to 3-0 with 29-27 comeback over Jets as Mayfield accounts for 233 yards and a TD in a game defined by a late blocked field-goal reset and a winning kick.
Baker Mayfield said the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Week 3 victory over the New York Jets carried extra weight for him, calling it personal because Jets defensive coordinator Steve Wilks had released him while they were with the Carolina Panthers. The Jets’ visit to Tampa on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, ended with a 29-27 win that kept the Buccaneers unbeaten through three weeks of the NFL season. Mayfield completed 19 of 29 passes for 233 yards and connected with Mike Evans on a touchdown pass as Tampa Bay preserved its perfect start.
New York briefly surged ahead after a pivotal moment on special teams. A blocked field-goal attempt by the Buccaneers on the previous drive was recovered by Jets linebacker Will McDonald IV and returned for a touchdown, giving the Jets a late lead. But the Buccaneers answered in the closing minutes, as Chase McLaughlin nailed a 36-yard field goal to seal the win for Tampa Bay. Mayfield’s performance anchored the comeback, and the quarterback emphasized the personal motivation behind the victory after the game.
Mayfield’s comments underscored a longer arc in his career. Wilks was the Panthers head coach when Carolina chose to move on from Mayfield in the middle of the 2022 season. The quarterback moved quickly to the Rams the day after Wilks’s departure from the Panthers, and he eventually landed in Tampa Bay in 2023, where he became the starting quarterback and earned Pro Bowl nods in both 2023 and 2024. In those seasons, Mayfield surpassed 4,000 passing yards, a testament to his revival in Tampa and a factor in the Buccaneers’ strong start to the 2025 campaign.
Through three games, Tampa Bay sits atop the NFL standings, driven by Mayfield’s steady play and a balanced offense that has produced both high-airyard throws and executing in critical moments. Mayfield’s 233-yard effort on Sunday included a late touchdown connection to Evans that helped push back a Jets rally and contributed to the edge needed to finish off a street-to-street game between two teams vying for postseason positioning. The Buccaneers also leaned on a defense that provided the short field and timely stops to complement Mayfield’s production.
The Jets, meanwhile, were stung by the late sequence that changed the game’s dynamic. A field-goal attempt that Tampa Bay blocked earlier in the drive created the window for New York to gain a temporary advantage, but McLaughlin’s field goal finished the chance for the Buccaneers and prevented a Jets upset. The close nature of the contest reflected the parity of the early NFL season, with both teams piling up competitive drives and big plays on either side of the ball.
The game’s emotional undertone was undeniable for Mayfield, who had spoken in the weeks leading up to the matchup about how personal the win felt given Wilks’s role in his earlier career. After the game, Mayfield repeated those sentiments, saying, “I loved it. Also, their (defensive coordinator) was the one who cut me in Carolina. So, a lot of stuff was personal today.” The QB’s comments added another layer to a game that already had high stakes for both teams as they jockey for position in a crowded league.
In the broader arc of Mayfield’s career, the Buccaneers’ 3-0 start marks a continuation of a revitalized period in which he has transitioned from a former Pro Bowler to a steady leader in a Tampa Bay offense that values accuracy and timing. The 2023 season, the first full year Mayfield started in Tampa Bay, saw him emerge as a Pro Bowler, followed by another Pro Bowl nod in 2024, with both seasons featuring passing yards totals well above the 4,000-yard mark. The current season has added a fresh layer of confidence for Mayfield and a renewed sense of momentum for the Buccaneers as they navigate a demanding schedule ahead.
For the Jets, the loss underscored how quickly fortunes can shift in the closing minutes of a game in which defense and special teams produced a dramatic change in momentum. While New York’s defense delivered several stops and a crucial turnover, the late field-goal setback left head coach in need of adjustments as the team looks to rebound in the next game. The result kept Tampa Bay undefeated at 3-0 through three weeks, while New York remained a contender in a rough-spaced early-season slate.
As the season progresses, Mayfield’s personal narrative will likely remain a talking point whenever the Buccaneers face difficult tests or high-profile opponents. The quarterback’s ability to align decision-making with a steady supporting cast — Evans and a complementary group of receivers, plus a defensive unit capable of creating pressure and turnovers — will be critical as Tampa Bay pursues a deeper playoff push in a conference where every win carries extra weight.
