From winning the Heisman at the University of Oklahoma to taking the field in the NFL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has always had something to prove.
His 337-yard and three touchdown performance in Monday night's 32-9 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2024 NFL Wild Card Playoff game was just another example of Mayfield's undying tendency to thrive when the lights are brightest.
"There's something about whether it's you're an underdog or [on] a road game, just having your backs against the wall and knowing it's just your team versus everybody else when you're counted out," said Mayfield.
He added, "It's always fun to be in that role. Obviously, I'm pretty comfortable in it, but our team has completely embraced that throughout the year."
Mayfield and the Buccaneers thrived as the underdogs heading into Monday's game, a situation Mayfield is all too familiar with playing as the scrappy underdog.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Baker Mayfield's Career
Before his epic performance Monday night, Mayfield was pegged to be the savior of the Cleveland Browns after being taken number one overall in the 2018 NFL draft. Mayfield thrived in Cleveland, playing a massive part in turning the franchise around despite them still rebuilding at the time.
He helped lead the Browns back to the Playoffs in 2020, defeating the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers 48-37 in the Wild Card round before falling to the inevitable Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs.
After failing to replicate the same magic for the Browns, he would be traded in the 2022 offseason to the Carolina Panthers where he was eventually cut and then signed for the rest of the 2022 season with the Los Angeles Rams. This past offseason, the Bucs would bring Mayfield in for a one year prove it deal worth four million dollars; and he definitely has proved it so far this year.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bounce-Back Season in Tampa
Three teams later, Mayfield would find himself on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers trying to fill the goat-sized shoes that Tom Brady left after choosing retirement.
Baker put up one of his best career seasons in Tampa Bay under second-year head coach Todd Bowles, throwing for 28 Touchdowns and 10 Interceptions; while winning their division and clinching another trip to the playoffs.
The Bucs would start the season strong before a mid-season slide that had them at 4-7, they would then ride the season out finishing 9-8.
Mayfield was instrumental in the final weeks of the season. He would lead the team to win five of their last six games, clinching the NFC South Division Title in a Week 18 win against a two-win Carolina Panthers team.
In the Playoff game against the Eagles, Mayfield would continue his impressive play becoming the second quarterback in Buccaneers history to pass for 300 yards or more and three touchdowns in a playoff game behind Tom Brady.
Now, Mayfield and the Bucs would look ahead to the NFL Divisional Round when they take on the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Sunday.
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