Sooners in the NFL: Baker Mayfield's Magical Playoff Run Falls Short in Detroit
Baker Mayfield left everything on the field in Detroit, but couldn't overcome Jared Goff's high-powered offensive attack.
Detroit knocked off Tampa Bay at home 31-23, and it's Goff who's now one game away from the Super Bowl.
After the best season of his professional career, Mayfield turned in a record-setting wild card performance against Philadelphia. Then, he nearly pulled off the impossible on Sunday afternoon, but couldn't rally late.
Tampa Bay's offense was humming for much of the game, but the Buccaneer defense was nowhere to be found.
Mayfield finished the afternoon 26-of-41 for 349 yards, with three touchdowns, but he also threw two interceptions.
Mayfield single-handedly kept Tampa Bay in the game, and seemed to inspire fight throughout the team.
In what ended up being a terrific performance for Mayfield, it didn't start or end the way he would've liked. After dealing with Detroit DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson's trash talk all week, where he said the Buccaneers didn't have a good quarterback, Mayfield's top target gave the Lions a reason to celebrate after the first possession.
Mike Evans dropped a dart from Mayfield and the ball popped straight up in the air where Gardner-Johnson snagged it for an interception.
Nobody plays better with a chip on their shoulder than the former Heisman winning quarterback, though, and from that point on, Mayfield was on fire.
He led a one-minute drill right before half to tie the game up, connecting with Cade Otton for a touchdown and squaring the score 10-10.
In the third quarter, after Detroit took a touchdown lead out of the half, Mayfield had to work the whole field. He had strikes of 13 yards and 27 yards to Otton, putting Tampa Bay in position to score. Then, on third down and long from the 12-yard line, Mayfield calmly executed a screen and Rachaad White sprinted into the end zone.
Heading to the fourth quarter, the score was all knotted up at 17-17.
After two easy touchdowns for the Lions and zero resistance from a struggling Tampa Bay defense, Detroit took a 31-17 lead late in the fourth quarter. It looked like the Buccaneers were dead in the water.
Baker Mayfield
Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports
Mayfield had no quit, though.
He got the ball back with 6:22 left and marched right down the field. Completions of 24 yards and 17 yards to Evans and Chris Godwin put the Buccaneers in striking distance. Mayfield then fired a 16-yard dart to Evans for the score, giving Tampa Bay life. The Buccaneers didn't get the 2-point conversion, making the Detroit lead 31-23.
After a massive stop on defense, the Buccaneers got the ball back at their own 10-yard line with 1:59 left, giving Mayfield and the offense one last chance. With the clock running and Detroit bringing the heat, Mayfield forced a throw off his back foot and was intercepted across the middle.
It was a crushing end to the season for Mayfield, who played inspired football down the stretch. But this season could be the start of something special in Tampa Bay, and Mayfield's career is officially revitalized.
He finished the regular season with 4,044 yards, 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. In two playoff games, Mayfield totaled 686 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions.
After a season where Mayfield won the NFC South Division, won a playoff game, and came up just short of the NFC Championship, he set himself up for a big payday this offseason. There's known interest from both sides in his return to Tampa Bay, but the team will have to pay him what he deserves.
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