Wild Mayfield stat highlights return of confidence for Bucs QB

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield. Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Wild Baker Mayfield stat highlights return of confidence for Buccaneers QB

By Jeff Smith | Last updated 9/18/23

When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers named Baker Mayfield their starting quarterback for the 2023 NFL season, it wasn’t a decision that grabbed an immense amount of national attention.

After all, the player who was replacing Tom Brady had such big shoes to fill that it felt like a nearly impossible task and it will virtually always be that way.

But for Mayfield, he doesn’t appear to be phased by that idea or concept in the slightest, and his play through the start of the new season has proven that.

After leading the Buccaneers to a surprising Week 1 upset on the road against the Minnesota Vikings by throwing two touchdown passes, Mayfield was at peak form in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears.

The 28-year-old signal-caller completed 26-of-34 passes for 317 yards and one touchdown, but even his numbers didn’t tell the whole story.

As ESPN’s Next Gen Stats detailed, Mayfield completed 14-of-17 passes for 233 yards and one touchdown while under pressure — a mark which tied the most passing yards under pressure since 2020.

Baker Mayfield finished 14/17 for 223 yards and a TD under pressure, tied for the most passing yards under pressure in a game over the last four seasons (since 2020).

The Bears pressured Mayfield 17 times without recording a sack, tied for the 6th-most pressures without a sack… pic.twitter.com/iN10FDrSak
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) September 17, 2023

It’s an impressive stat for Mayfield, who has led the way for a team who very few likely pegged to be 2-0 to start the season.

After spending the first four seasons of his career with the Cleveland Browns as the franchise’s No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, he spent seven games with the Carolina Panthers and five with the Los Angeles Rams in 2022.

It appears a fresh start with a full offseason under his belt in a spot where he went out and won the starting job over Kyle Trask was just what Mayfield needed, as fans are seeing glimpses of the player who threw for 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2020.

He’s done more than fine filling those big shoes of Brady so far, and if his confidence remains at a high level, the Buccaneers may have a bigger upside this season than initially believed.

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