The Washington Commanders made life difficult for Baker Mayfield on Sunday night.
Dan Quinn’s defense did an outstanding job of holding the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback back, especially in the second half.
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles still wanted to credit his quarterback, stating that they wouldn’t have been there without him (via Scott Smith).
Todd Bowles: We wouldn’t be here without Baker Mayfield
— Scott Smith (@ScottSBucs) January 13, 2025
Truth be told, it’s hard to blame Mayfield for the loss.
He made some big, gutsy plays, even running over future Hall of Fame LB Bobby Wagner for a crucial first down.
Mayfield completed 15 of 18 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns.
He added seven scrambles for 23 yards.
It wasn’t a proficient offensive performance by the Buccaneers, but it had plenty to do with the Commanders’ defensive game plan.
Overall, the Buccaneers finished the game with 284 yards, which is not enough to get the job done often.
However, they only turned the ball over once and had two punts, so it’s not like they were erratic or Mayfield was missing throws left and right.
Baker Mayfield had the best season of his career in 2024, and it’s safe to assume that he’s finally changed the narrative around him.
It was a disappointing outcome to a once-promising season, but one thing’s for sure: Mayfield proved that he can be a franchise quarterback and put his team on his shoulders to lead them to the playoffs.
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