The Bucs are a genuine threat in the NFC thanks to Baker Mayfield’s outstanding performance against the Packers.
Things just so happen to work out sometimes. This is exactly what has happened with Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023; both teams are currently aiming for a postseason berth as everything has come together for them.
Mayfield’s career has been filled with highs and lows. He started the 2018 season with the Cleveland Browns, was traded to and later cut by the Carolina Panthers seven games into the season, and then saw some success in five games with the Los Angeles Rams. He has played in 14 games for the Buccaneers, though, and he shows no signs of going down. He might even be able to get an extension in Tampa.
Despite going 1-3 in the four games he started for the Rams the previous season, it was enough for the Buccaneers to pull off the incredible feat of replacing Tom Brady following his retirement. But with three games left, Mayfield can win the NFC South and match or surpass Brady’s 8-9 record from the previous season.
The Bucs are now tied with the New Orleans Saints at 7-7, but they have the tiebreaker advantage. This puts them atop the NFC South. However, one could argue that this team might not even be in the running for the playoffs without Mayfield.
The Buccaneers defense has been strong this year, but Mayfield has been the team’s leader and the reason for their successes. Despite the fact that he is undoubtedly not Tom Brady, he has had one of his best seasons to date and has more than earned the right to start. He’s also been the exact type of quarterback the Buccaneers need to win this NFC South division.
One of the worst divisions in all of football, if not the worst, is the NFC South. With quarterbacks like Derek Carr, Desmond Ridder, and rookie Bryce Young in the division, it’s mostly because of the lack of reliable quarterback play. Although Mayfield has had a few underwhelming performances this season, he has been the most reliable and effective player by far. Additionally, he has been the healthiest this season—something that many of the original, starting quarterbacks from day one cannot claim.
He has completed 63.5% of his passes for 3,315 yards, 24 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in his 14 games this season. In addition, he has 152 more rushing yards and a touchdown. According to StatMuse, he leads all NFC South quarterbacks in passing yards, touchdowns, and yards per game (236.8).
Maybe the best illustration of Mayfield’s recent comeback as a starting quarterback is what he did on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. Mayfield had his best—and most needed—performance of the 2023 season in the Buccaneers’ 34-20 victory. He completed 22 of 28 passes for 381 yards, averaging 13.6 yards per pass, four touchdowns, and no interceptions on a season-high day. But that wasn’t all there was to it.
Having played for the Browns, Rams, and now Buccaneers, Mayfield has had to arrange his December travels to Lambeau Field while wearing a different team uniform each season.
With the Browns, Christmas 2021 was anything but a joyous occasion. He was just taken off the COVID list, and in a 24-22 loss, he was sacked five times and threw four interceptions, a career high. Then, he lost 24-12 to the Rams a few days before Christmas of last year while only throwing for 111 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in his few starts. But this season, he turned the story around by playing at his peak and recording a season-high day in Buccaneers red and pewter.
The Baker Mayfield tale in 2023 has altered the storyline. Not only has he transformed himself, but he has also brought about a team transformation for the Buccaneers, who many had questioned before the season began. That was largely due to a lack of confidence in the former Oklahoma quarterback’s capacity as a team leader. As the leaders of their division, the Buccaneers are currently ranked fourth in the NFC playoff standings. They now have a realistic chance to have an impact during the postseason. You can, however, be sure that Mayfield will be largely depended upon should Tampa wish to advance to the NFC playoffs for the fourth time in a row.
