There’s no other way to describe it: Thursday night was a significant setback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After dominating most of the game, the Bucs faltered in the final minutes of the fourth quarter and literally fumbled the game away. With under three minutes remaining, Bucky Irving was sprinting toward what could have been a game-winning first down when Jessie Bates knocked the ball loose and recovered it.
Although the Falcons didn’t score on their next drive, preventing the Bucs from scoring made the difference. Atlanta capitalized on this momentum to achieve a game-tying field goal and then never allowed Tampa Bay to regain possession.
This was a devastating loss, and its full impact is still unfolding. Unlike their defeat to Denver, the Bucs let victory slip from their hands, causing them to drop out of first place in the NFC South. They face a challenging matchup next week against a determined Saints team, but Baker Mayfield is making sure the team’s mindset remains focused.
Baker Mayfield took responsibility for the Buccaneers’ Week 5 loss to the Falcons. Although he wasn’t the reason they lost, he stood tall and accepted the blame, shielding his teammates from scrutiny.
When asked about his individual performance, Baker emphasized the importance of teamwork: “All I care about is wins, and that’s it. So we gotta find a way to finish that game out on offense,” he said. He regretted missing a potential touchdown to Sterling Shepard, which could have changed the game, leaving him replaying that moment in his mind.
We’ve often discussed Baker’s maturity and leadership, but it’s moments like these that justify his contract. He could have easily avoided blame, especially given how the defense allowed over 500 yards to Kirk Cousins and struggled late in the game.
Instead, Baker mirrored his response after the loss to Denver. By taking the blame, even when unwarranted, he signals to the team that they need to focus on a goal greater than just a single game. This loss cannot lead to a downward spiral of further defeats, as has happened to the Bucs before.
Last year, Tampa Bay faced a 1-6 midseason slump, but Baker played a crucial role in their recovery. He aims to foster a similar turnaround now, delivering a vital message to the team following their disappointing finish on Thursday.
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