The 2023 season has been a proving ground for Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, and after playing sporadically in his first five NFL seasons, it appears he has put it together consistently this year.
He threw for 4,044 yards, 28 touchdowns, and just 10 interceptions in the regular season, and on Monday, he led his team to a 32-9 victory over the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles in the wild-card round of the playoffs.
While Mayfield played a very strong game on Monday, he will face a different challenge this weekend when he and his men visit the Detroit Lions in the divisional round.
On Fox Sports 1’s “Speak,” Emmanuel Acho said if Mayfield manufactures a win over Detroit, he will prove he’s a true franchise quarterback.
“If Baker wins this weekend, he will prove that he’s a franchise quarterback,” Acho said.
.@EmmanuelAcho: If Baker wins this weekend, he will prove that he’s a franchise quarterback. pic.twitter.com/HRvhcyDIdH
— Speak (@SpeakOnFS1) January 18, 2024
Mayfield was the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns, and at the time, the expectation was that he would be the savior for the Browns franchise.
While he led them to a playoff victory, his time there was marred by poor performances, late-game miscues, and not being on the same page with his coaching staff.
Mayfield was traded to the Carolina Panthers prior to last season, and after playing poorly there, he was released, allowing him to finish the year with the Los Angeles Rams.
With Tampa Bay, he has been under some added pressure given the fact he has succeeded the legendary Tom Brady, but so far, he has done very well and has proven his doubters wrong.
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