Baker Mayfield’s Week 17 performance was nothing short of spectacular, leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a dominant 48-14 victory over the Carolina Panthers.
The Bucs played with playoff-level intensity, as Mayfield orchestrated a masterful offensive showing while the defense recovered strongly after a pre-halftime touchdown, and special teams made their presence felt.
This commanding win kept Tampa Bay’s division title and playoff hopes firmly intact, prompting NFL analyst Danny Parkins to make a bold statement, on FS1’s “Breakfast Ball,” about Mayfield’s current standing in the league.
“Baker Mayfield is undeniably a top 10 quarterback, and we actually can make lists. This guy what he does, and now he’s done it a couple of years in a row…. It’s incredible. So, if Baker Mayfield has 221 yards and one touchdown this week, it’s him and Drew Brees, ever to have a season like that. 4500 yards, 40 touchdowns, completing 70%.”
"Baker Mayfield is undeniably a top 10 quarterback."@DannyParkins points out that Baker achieving something only 2011 Drew Brees has pulled off… ? pic.twitter.com/rWmQtb7PWt
— Breakfast Ball (@BrkfstBallOnFS1) December 31, 2024
Parkins backed his claim by highlighting Mayfield’s impressive rankings among NFL quarterbacks this season, noting his top-5 position in passing yards, touchdowns, and passer ratings.
The numbers from Week 17 tell the story: Mayfield delivered a near-perfect performance, connecting on 27 of 32 passes for 359 yards, averaging 11.2 yards per attempt.
He threw five touchdowns without a single interception, earning an exceptional 153 passer rating in the process.
Further cementing his status as the NFC’s hottest quarterback, Mayfield claimed the NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for the second time in just three weeks.
His consistent excellence has transformed Tampa Bay’s offense and kept their postseason aspirations very much alive.
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