Despite all of the mistakes the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made this season, the team entered Week 15 in first place and in control of its own playoff destiny.
It's a stunning turn of events given how bad things looked just a few weeks ago. The Bucs stumbled out of their bye week, going 1-6 until getting a grip on the wheel again over the last two games. Wins over the Panthers and Falcons -- objectively bad teams -- has helped course correct the season and put the Bucs in a position to build on positive momentum.
One thing this team is masterful at is stunint such momentum, which is what we saw straight away against the Packers. After a brilliant goal line stand kept Green Bay out of the endzone, Baker Mayfield and the offense tripped over itself and gave the momentum right back.
On a second down pass attempt, Baker held the ball way too long which allowed the Packers pass rush to get home and force a strip-sack. It was a turnover that not only stunted momentum the Bucs defense had built but bailed Green Bay out by giving them the ball on the doorstep of the endzone.
FUMBLE FORCED BY @_kingsleye!#TBvsGB | #ProBowlVote | #GoPackGo
β Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 17, 2023
πΊ: CBS pic.twitter.com/U2OI7fsEdJ
The Packers scored a few plays later to turn the Baker fumble into seven points the other way.
Buccaneers fans roasted Baker Mayfield after brutal strip-sack vs. Packers
It was yet another brutal play by Baker that comes in the middle of a puzzling slump for the quaterback. He had started the season stronger than people gave him credit for in the preseason, but his recent play has validated all those who doubted him.
Needless to say, a Bucs fan base already riled up by frustrating -- and preventable -- mistakes didn't take kindly to Baker's blunder.
Baker Be Like #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/JoGYDybJ0C
β Mr.Smith (@Mrsmithgobucs) December 17, 2023
lol ok Baker
β Ashlie (@EMT_Ashlie) December 17, 2023
Held it wayyyyyyy too long.
β JoeBucsFan (@JoeBucsFan) December 17, 2023
Looked like Desmond Ridder last Sunday.
Baker has the pocket pressure awareness of a peewee football QB
β Salty Buccaneerπ§π΄ββ οΈπ₯π§β¬οΈ (@SaltyBuc91) December 17, 2023
Bakers awareness should be a -50 on madden
β Trigga (@BIMBOxSLICE) December 17, 2023
Yea i canβt keep defending Baker Mayfield. His game isnβt good
β ππ (@DJBucsFan) December 17, 2023
Again!!!! Baker Mayfield is a garbage QB, argue with your wall!
β Artel Cato (@MrAJCato) December 17, 2023
That sack-fumble was essentially on Baker Mayfield, who took wayyyy too long to throw the ball ... but RT Luke Goedeke is having a rough homecoming, getting beat by Rashan Gary and Kingsley Enagbare so far in the first quarter.
β PewterReport π΄ββ οΈ (@PewterReport) December 17, 2023
Baker can't hold the ball that long. He had White open underneath. Have to either pull the trigger downfield or come back underneath.
β Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) December 17, 2023
To be fair, Baker bounced back a drive later to make up for his mistake. In what was a two-for-one for Bucs fans, Mayfield connected with Mike Evans for a 19-yard touchdown to reclaim the lead.
Mike Evans' 9οΈβ£2οΈβ£nd career receiving TD gives the @Buccaneers the lead!
β NFL (@NFL) December 17, 2023
πΊ: #TBvsGB on CBS
π±: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/kw7mays4qU pic.twitter.com/GwPPhASGzv
Why go to the amusement park and pay to go on roller coasters when you can just watch Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers for free every Sunday?