Baker Mayfield Takes Responsibility for Costly Fumble in Bucs’ Playoff Loss
TAMPA, Fla. — In the world of sports, moments of triumph and heartbreak often walk hand in hand. For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their quarterback, Baker Mayfield, Sunday night was a bitter pill to swallow. The Bucs fell to the Washington Commanders in a nail-biting 23-20 wild-card defeat, and Mayfield was quick to shoulder the blame for a pivotal lost fumble in the fourth quarter.
As the clock ticked down, the Bucs were in a tight spot, and a botched jet sweep with rookie wide receiver Jalen McMillan turned the tide against them. Mayfield lost control of the ball as McMillan moved past him, and despite his efforts to recover it, Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner pounced on it at the Tampa Bay 13-yard line.
“That comes back to me, just timing it up correctly,” Mayfield admitted. “First one all year that it happened on. So obviously the timing of it not great, being backed up. Defense had done a hell of a job getting us the ball, another fourth-down stop and yeah, unfortunate, but that falls on me.”
The fumble occurred on a first-and-10 from the Tampa Bay 15 with 11:58 remaining in regulation. The Commanders had previously advanced to the Tampa Bay 1-yard line, but the Bucs’ defense, led by lineman Calijah Kancey, held firm, forcing a turnover on downs.
However, the Commanders capitalized on the ensuing drive. Quarterback Jayden Daniels connected with second-team All-Pro wide receiver Terry McLaurin for a 5-yard touchdown, putting Washington ahead 20-17. The Bucs managed to tie the game with a Chase McLaughlin 32-yard field goal, but the Commanders had the final say. Kicker Zane Gonzalez nailed a 37-yard field goal that bounced off the right upright and went in, sealing the Bucs’ fate.
McMillan, who caught 2 of 4 targets for 41 receiving yards, reflected on the miscommunication with Mayfield. “[It was] me and Baker not being on the same page,” he said. “Things like that happen. I mean — shoot — mistakes happen.”
For Mayfield, it was his third lost fumble of the season, all occurring after Week 12. It also marked the Bucs’ fourth walk-off loss, a statistic that stings for any team.
“It’s heartbreaking,” McMillan expressed. “Just to lose like that — I don’t like losing like that.”
Despite the setback, Bucs coach Todd Bowles had nothing but praise for Mayfield. “He’s your bell cow. Your bell cow takes a shot and if something goes wrong, you’ve gotta live with that,” Bowles said. “They’re human. We’re gonna make mistakes and he got us here — we wouldn’t even be here without Baker.”
Mayfield’s season was nothing short of remarkable. He surpassed his previous career-best of 28 touchdowns with 41 this regular season, tying with MVP candidate Lamar Jackson for second most in the NFL. His completion percentage also saw a significant jump from 64% to 71%, all achieved without key players like Chris Godwin and Mike Evans for parts of the season.
Yet, for Mayfield, personal achievements took a backseat to team success. “It’s never just about one person and that’s what this team — it’s what they embodied,” he said. “That’s the most important part. That’s the thing that they can be proud of, is that we grew together, guys helped each other and stepped up. It’s never about one person. And unfortunately, made a few mistakes to hurt the team today.”
The Bucs had a rollercoaster season, overcoming a four-game losing streak to win six of their last seven games, finishing 10-7 in the regular season and clinching the NFC South title once again. However, they couldn’t replicate last season’s playoff success, where they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in the wild-card round.
Mayfield’s belief in his team remains unwavering. “It’s disappointing overall because I believe in this team,” he said. “I believe we have the talent, the coaching staff and everybody around us to be able to go far, but looking back, trying to take a step back, big picture — this group fought, there was a lot of people that stepped up throughout the year, a ton of guys that stepped up into huge roles, and so there’s a lot to be proud of.”
- Mayfield’s 41 touchdowns tied for second most in the NFL.
- The Bucs finished the regular season with a 10-7 record.
- Jalen McMillan and Mayfield connected on seven touchdowns in the final five regular-season games.
McMillan, one of the Bucs’ third-round picks, was a standout performer, tying with Ja’Marr Chase for the most touchdowns in the NFL during the final stretch of the regular season.
Mayfield’s introspection was evident when asked if he would extend the same kindness to himself. “Probably not. Just some dumb stuff today that cost the team. That’s gonna wear on me for a while,” he confessed.
Originally Written by: Jenna Laine
