A few days ago, the Los Angeles Rams‘ matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday looked like a relatively meaningless game for a team that was 3-9 and had apparently lost its starting quarterback, Matthew Stafford, for the season.
Enter Baker Mayfield and what could be a Hollywood-style resurrection act.
His prospects for reviving his career looked bleak, especially after leaving the Cleveland Browns on poor terms and a disappointing seven-game stint with the Carolina Panthers this season.
But in his first game with the Rams, he looked like the QB people thought he was capable of becoming when he was the first pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Although he had some struggles early, he led a last-minute touchdown drive from near his own end zone to give Los Angeles a 17-16 win.
It was pure Hollywood.
OMG. TOUCHDOWN RAMS!#LVvsLAR on Prime Video
Also available on NFL+ https://t.co/m65o43ZLpv pic.twitter.com/lpAk8bVIJ6— NFL (@NFL) December 9, 2022
Fans on Twitter were amazed that Mayfield found a way to fit in so fast.
Commentator Skip Bayless compared what he did on Thursday to what arguably the greatest of all time did just a few days earlier on Monday Night Football.
BAKER MAYFIELD JUST PULLED OFF THE EXACT SAME MIRACLE TOM BRADY DID ON MONDAY NIGHT, FROM 16-3 DOWN TO WIN 17-16.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) December 9, 2022
This fan feels another Progressive commercial is on the way for Mayfield.
Baker Mayfield's agent and the Progressive Insurance marketing department right nowpic.twitter.com/CMQxFlIDxg
— Clem (@TheClemReport) December 9, 2022
Baltimore Ravens defensive end Calais Campbell praised Mayfield for greatly shortening his learning curve.
Wow!!! I don’t think people can really comprehend how hard it is to learn a playbook… let alone find timing with wrs! Have a day Baker Mayfield
— Calais Campbell (@CalaisCampbell) December 9, 2022
A Gut-Wrenching And Possibly Fatal Loss For The Raiders
On the other side, the Raiders’ three-game winning streak is over, and they’re back to having problems holding leads and winning close games.
Commentator Nick Wright pointed out how they had reached a new low with this loss.
The Raiders lost games to the Cardinals that they lead 23-7 with 8:15 left, to the Chiefs AND the Jags that they started up 17-0, and to the Rams that they lead 16-3 with 3:30 left.
And to Jeff Saturday.
Just a different type of impossible fan torture.
— nick wright (@getnickwright) December 9, 2022
Also, semi-related: Only the Raiders could find a way that new and bizarre to rip their fans hearts out. Just total fan brutality.
— nick wright (@getnickwright) December 9, 2022
With a 5-8 record, Las Vegas’ playoff hopes are, for all intents and purposes, just about dead.
