There were some big expectations for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers heading into their Week 1 matchup against the Washington Commanders. They were coming off of an NFC South division crown, including a 32-9 blowout Wild Card victory against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Baker Mayfield was at the center of it all.
His first year with the Bucs was certainly eventful, as he looked for redemption following his small journey since being traded from the Cleveland Browns to the Carolina Panthers in 2022.
Mayfield had a career year in 2023, throwing for 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns with just 10 interceptions. His 64.3 completion percentage was also the highest of his career. His resurgence, coupled with a playoff win, earned him a deal, a sign the Bucs want him to be here long-term.
Going from Dave Canales as his offensive coordinator last year to Liam Coen this year, there was still a small learning curve to be had for Mayfield and the Bucs offense. That didn't appear to be so in Week 1, as Mayfield dominated on the day. He threw for 289 yards, four touchdowns at an insane 80 percent completion rate.
Baker Mayfield showed he can be one of the league's best quarterbacks after strong Week 1 performance
The Bucs simply dominated the weak Commanders defense. They picked apart their young secondary, allowing Mayfield to be the only quarterback in the league to toss four touchdowns in Week 1. It wasn't all Mayfield, as he praised his offensive line for keeping him upright and allowing the offense to function at a high level.
This week, Mayfield and the Bucs head to Detroit for a showdown with the Lions. Last week, Matthew Stafford was able to throw for 317 yards on the Lions defense. Mayfield's shown he can excel in this system and should be able to do the same this week in Detroit.
His ability to use his legs to extend plays, let the ball rip and give his receivers a chance to make a play and his simple understanding of what the defense is giving him are signs that Mayfield is going to turn a lot of heads this season.
Okay, Baker Mayfield pic.twitter.com/JnMoXa8aZr
— Shawn Syed (@SyedSchemes) September 9, 2024
The Bucs have to be pleased with their franchise quarterback's showing in Week 1. The hope now is that he can keep this up for the remainder of the year and keep them in the win column as much as possible.
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