This December has looked a lot different for Baker Mayfield than it did last December.
Mayfield was released by the Panthers in early December 2022 and his prospects were uncertain after playing the final weeks of the regular season with a Rams team that went nowhere. Mayfield signed with the Buccaneers following Tom Brady's retirement and it looked like things might go a similar way when the Bucs entered the final month of 2023 with a 4-7 record, but the past four weeks have changed everything in Tampa.
Mayfield has thrown nine touchdowns during a four-game winning streak, including two in Sunday's 30-12 win over the Jaguars that put the team on the doorstep of a division title. They will be NFC South champions with one win in the last two weeks and coach Todd Bowles credited the quarterback with putting them in that position.
“It was great,” Bulls said in his post-game press conference. “He was great in December. That's what you want from a quarterback in December. Everyone knows each other's plays right now. But when you're trying to make a push and your quarterback is making a great play, it gives you a chance.”
Mayfield's play has opened the door to a longer stay in Tampa, but talks on that front are unlikely to happen until the Bucs are done playing. The past month has given reason to believe that the end of their run may not come until January.
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