The Tampa Bay Buccaneers leaned heavily on quarterback Baker Mayfield but came up short in a heartbreaking 36-30 overtime loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Leading up to the game, Mayfield clarified his prior statement about former Bucs quarterback Tom Brady while stressing the implications of winning against Atlanta in their divisional clash.
Mayfield delivered a precise and well-rounded performance, throwing three touchdowns in the first half and 182 yards for a solid showing. But it wasn't enough to stop Kirk Cousins, who had 509 passing yards and four touchdowns in the game.
Mayfield's first touchdown came on a short two-yard pass to his trusted target, Mike Evans, after Mayfield orchestrated a balanced drive utilizing three different receivers to march down the field. The second touchdown was another connection with Evans, marking a significant milestone for the 11-year veteran as his 100th career touchdown .
The chemistry between Mayfield and Evans was essential in opening up the field for five other pass catchers throughout the game. The game would go to overtime, with Cousins completing a 45-yard pass to KhaDarel Hodge to end a 70-yard drive and the game without Mayfield getting a chance to respond.
Before the game, Mayfield told the importance of defeating the Falcons for the chance it presented to get a good start in the schedule. "This is a great opportunity for us to build on what we’ve had so far, playing against a visiting divisional opponent. We know what a burden it is to play this type of opponent," Mayfield said.
While acknowledging the team’s solid start, he emphasized the need for continued growth. "We try to approach every game the same way, but every year is different. We were 3-1 at this point last season, too, but we don’t take anything for granted now. We have to be more consistent," he continued. "It’s a long season, and we have to keep getting better and just build as the season goes on."
Despite his wish to do what they couldn't do last year - advancing to a 4-1 record - the heartbreaking end means the Bucs again sit 3-2. Mayfield's performance came amid a media storm over a perceived back-and-forth with former quarterback Tom Brady.
The game followed Mayfield's clarification of his previous comments regarding the team’s atmosphere during Brady’s Super Bowl winning stint. Mayfield originally said that the locker room wasn’t as "fun" when Brady took over from 2020 to 2022 due to Brady’s intensity and focus on the field.
Brady responded to the comments, saying, "I thought not having Super Bowl rings stressful. There was a mindset of a champion that I took to work every day. This wasn't daycare," he continued. "If I wanted to have fun, I was going to go to Disneyland with my kids."
"I think a lot of that got taken out of context," Mayfield said this week. "None of it was personal by any means. It's just what he demanded of the guys and that's the aura of Tom Brady. And that's what he did to bring a championship here. And so, nothing personal."
Last season, the Buccaneers won three of their first four games, including a key victory against the divisional rival New Orleans Saints, in Week 4. Their early momentum quickly fizzled out and they went on to lose six of their next seven games. This season, the Buccaneers are determined to avoid a similar slump after the division loss.
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