The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are sitting at a brutal 3-6 on the season after dropping an ugly, turnover-filled 27-24 game to the Chicago Bears on Sunday. This was a day Baker Mayfield definitely wants to forget, even if it was a slight step up from last week where he literally completed zero passes against the Falcons.
Another One Forgetting Sunday
Mayfield still had a rough go, throwing for 243 yards and two interceptions on 18-of-32 passing. The guy was sacked four times, and his passer rating hit a cringe-worthy 54.6 in that 27-24 loss. Yeah, Caleb Williams for the Bears threw four picks, but Mayfield’s errors were the kind that really stab you in the gut, especially that one.
The Play That Changed Everything (Almost)
Picture this: Bucs are down 17-13 in the third quarter. They just got a big interception in Chicago territory. Momentum, right? Nope. On the very next play, Mayfield tries to hit Cade Otton but instead serves up a dime to Jaylon Johnson, who took it straight to the house for a pick-six. That wasn’t just any pick; that was points on the board for the other team. Mayfield himself said, “Don’t want to have them ever, but especially when it turns into immediate points on the pick-six. That obviously was the difference in the game.” And he’s not wrong. Even though the Bucs clawed back, tying it up with a field goal and then a touchdown plus a two-point conversion from Mayfield, Chicago still won it on a walk-off field goal. Talk about a punch to the gut.
Bucs Down, But Not Out?
It’s been a super tough season for Mayfield. He’s been battling injuries, and the numbers don’t lie: he’s got more interceptions (4) than touchdowns (3) right now. That’s never good. But here’s the kicker, the only glimmer of hope: they play in the NFC South. Seriously, that division is so weak that even at 3-6, the Bucs’ playoff hopes are somehow still alive. Mayfield knows they need to fix things, saying, “Need to get it fixed. Gotta take this bye to get healthy, continue to get guys back, and just have it in our minds that we need to go on a run. Mentally, it needs to be that way.” This bye week couldn’t come at a better time. They need to get healthy, regroup, and come back ready to make a serious push in the second half of the season. It’s a long shot, but in that division, anything feels possible.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
Leave a Reply