Not many analysts around the NFL were expecting much from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 2023 season. Tom Brady announced his retirement in the offseason, leaving a massive hole in the team’s offense.
With 2021 second-round pick Kyle Trask the only quarterback on the roster, the Buccaneers opted to bring in Baker Mayfield in free agency. It was certainly a risk, as Mayfield’s career was on the brink. The Cleveland Browns replaced him as their franchise quarterback with Deshaun Watson and he struggled mightily with the Carolina Panthers during the 2022 season.
During offseason practices, it was reported that Mayfield was struggling and many thought it was only a matter of time until Trask took over as the starter. That ended up not happening as Mayfield turned in the best season of his career.
NFL News & Rumors: Baker Mayfield, Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Updates
He completed 64.3 percent of his passes for 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. He became the only the second quarterback in Buccaneers history to reach those plateaus, joining the man he replaced in Brady.
That aided the Buccaneers in winning the NFC South title and a home game Super Wild Card Weekend against the Philadelphia Eagles. Tampa Bay would dismantle Philadelphia, winning 32-9 to advance to the Divisional Round and a matchup with the Detroit Lions.
Mayfield was excellent against the Eagles, completing 22-of-36 passes for 337 yards and three touchdowns. It was the second career postseason win for Mayfield, who joined an illustrious list with the victory.
He is only the 25th quarterback in NFL history to win a playoff game with multiple franchises. Some names on the list include Brady, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Joe Montana, Kurt Warner and Jared Goff, who joined the list this weekend as well.
NFL News & Rumors: Baker Mayfield, Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Updates
That is quite an achievement for Mayfield, as many people had written him off coming into the season. Winning a playoff game is not easy and doing so after changing teams is even more difficult, as that list shows.
While Mayfield and the Buccaneers are happy about how things have gone thus far, they know their job is far from done. There are still three more games to win if they want to take home the Lombardi Trophy, starting with next weekend in Detroit.
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