Baker Mayfield’s football career has been anything but smooth. From his time as a walk-on at Texas Tech to being the first overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, despite the achievements, it hasn’t been easy for the quarterback.
Mayfield has struggled to find his footing and is on his fourth NFL team in his six-year career. The talent is evident with Mayfield. He’s been able to prove people wrong at every turn of his career. A Heisman Trophy winner, an early-round draft pick, all from an undersized former college walk-on — it just hasn’t come all together thus far in the NFL.
However, that isn’t the whole story when it comes to prime time for Mayfield and Thursday Night Football, specifically. When the lights are the brightest and the world is watching, Mayfield finds a way to get the job done.
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Baker Mayfield’s TNF Record
If you have a quick turnaround and you have to play on Thursday Night Football on a short week, there seems to be no better QB to have than Mayfield. Throughout his career, he has an unblemished 4-0 record in Thursday night games.
During that time, he has not only won but has played well while doing so too. Mayfield has completed 63.7% of his passes for 843 yards, five touchdowns, and just one interception in those matchups — good for a quality passer rating of 97.3.
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There is such a thing as a gamer, and in Mayfield’s case, he sure looks to fit the mold. While some may shy away from the light, he seems to embrace the moment and finds a way to thrive in these prime-time moments.
How Baker Mayfield Got to 4-0
2018: Week 3
In Mayfield’s rookie season, he came in with the Cleveland Browns already down 14-0 after starting QB Tyron Taylor went out of the game with a concussion.
Mayfield orchestrated scoring drives on four of his six opportunities on the night en route to a surprising 21-17 win over the New York Jets.
2019: Week 11
In what is more famously known for the fight between Myles Garrett and Mason Rudolph, Mayfield recorded his second TNF win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. He finished the night 17 of 32 for 193 passing yards and two touchdowns as he willed his team to victory in what ended up being a hostile night for the NFL.
2020: Week 2
Mayfield’s third TNF victory once again came under weird conditions. This time, during the COVID-19 season when there were no fans in the stands to see the victory.
In an empty stadium, Mayfield out-dueled Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals en route to a 35-30 divisional win. Mayfield threw the ball 61 times that night, good for 316 passing yards and three touchdowns.
2022: Week 14
Mayfield’s latest TNF showing was probably his most impressive. He had just joined the Los Angeles Rams 48 hours prior and was in the huddle leading the team to victory after just two days on the team.
Mayfield logged one practice all week with the team before jumping on the field and willed the Rams to a 17-16 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Baker Mayfield Has the Bucs’ in the Hunt
While it’s only Week 8 of the NFL season, teams across the league are starting to establish an order of legitimacy. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have not been overly impressive yet this season but are squarely in the mix not only for the playoffs but for a division title as well.
Heading into tonight’s matchup with the Buffalo Bills, the Bucs find themselves 3-3 and a half-game back of the division-leading Atlanta Falcons in the NFC South race.
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It seems that the rubber will meet the road here in the next week or two with whether Tampa Bay should be laser-focused on this season or have eyes more toward the future. With a win against a good Bills team, the Buccaneers could go a long way in answering that question.
And with an undefeated Mayfield under center looking for his fifth straight win on Thursday Night Football, Buccaneers fans should like their odds tonight.
