The Tampa Bay Buccaneers saw their season end at the hands of the Washington Commanders 23-20 in the Wild Card round, but Todd Bowles' team more than played a role in their downfall.
With the game hanging in the balance in the fourth quarter, the Buccaneers and Baker Mayfield made two mistakes that would cost them dearly.
In both instances, the Commanders took advantage, scoring a touchdown a few plays after one and then driving down the field, needing only a field goal to win instead of a touchdown. Jayden Daniels got his team into position to win, and they did.
For Mayfield, while he was high in praise for how his team overcame adversity this season, he was less positive about himself when reflecting on the game.
“Just some dumb stuff that cost the team,” Mayfield said. “So yeah, that's going to wear on me for a while.”
A fumbled exchange with rookie Jalen McMillan put the ball on the ground, and the Commanders recovered. Just five plays later, Daniels found Terry McLaurin for a touchdown.
Then, on a third-and-inches, miscommunication between Graham Barton and Baker, meant that the Buccaneers, who were on the Washington 12-yard line, were forced back multiple yards and had to settle for a field goal. Daniels then got the ball with a little under five minutes left, and Tampa Bay never got the ball back.
Both mistakes can't happen.
Mayfield knows that and it is clear they are eating away at him, and perhaps the worst part is that he has all offseason to stew on those "dumb" mistakes.
