Being a fan of Buccaneers’ Quarterback Baker Mayfield can sometimes feel like riding an emotional roller coaster.
The former No. 1 overall pick plays with undeniable toughness and refuses to shy away from contact. He will absorb a massive hit to give a receiver another second or fight for an extra yard.
Baker Mayfield Brings Plenty of Highs and Lows
However, Mayfield can also make decisions that leave everyone scratching their heads. He can deliver spectacular performances one week, then make costly mistakes that prevent an otherwise winnable game.
That entire experience resurfaced during Tampa Bay’s season-opening loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Mayfield’s Mistakes Became the Difference
Mayfield mixed impressive plays with costly mistakes throughout Sunday’s game. His performance eventually caught the attention of The Ringer’s Bill Simmons.
Simmons credited Mayfield’s overall numbers while still taking issue with several critical decisions. His criticism centered on the mistakes that ultimately changed the game.
“Baker, actually, if you look at his stats, he had a good game,” Simmons said on his podcast. “But he did like 4 egregiously dumb things, and that’s what ended up getting them.”
That assessment may have been harsher than necessary, but the underlying criticism is difficult to dismiss.
Turnovers Continue to Define the Conversation
Mayfield generally kept Tampa Bay’s offense moving and avoided putting the Buccaneers behind the chains. The problem came when Tampa Bay reached the most important part of the field.
Mayfield completed 23 of 28 passes for 216 yards without a touchdown or interception. However, he also lost three fumbles that ultimately contributed to 17 Cincinnati points.
Three lost fumbles are difficult for any team to overcome. That becomes even more damaging when the final margin is only six points.
Buccaneers Still Showed They Could Win
There was at least one encouraging takeaway from Tampa Bay’s performance.
The Buccaneers demonstrated they could compete with Cincinnati’s revamped defense and explosive offense. Despite the turnovers, Tampa Bay remained within striking distance and had a legitimate opportunity to steal a difficult road victory.
That makes the mistakes even more frustrating. The Buccaneers did not appear overmatched, but they repeatedly gave Cincinnati opportunities.
This Is the Baker Mayfield Experience
Ultimately, Sunday’s performance represented another chapter in the complicated Baker Mayfield story.
The Buccaneers know exactly what they are getting from their quarterback. Mayfield brings toughness, playmaking ability and the potential for spectacular performances.
He also brings the possibility of costly decisions that can swing games in the wrong direction. After committing significant money to Mayfield again, Tampa Bay will have to live with both sides of that equation.
Anybody else have flashbacks to the Jameis Winston era?
For better or worse, the Buccaneers’ fortunes will continue to rise and fall with their polarizing quarterback.
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