Even though they finished first in the NFC South last season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers weren’t expected by many to win the division again this season, especially after they headed into their bye week with a 4-6 record and lost wide receiver Chris Godwin for the season.
But they have now won four games in a row and are in first place with an 8-6 record.
Unfortunately for them, quarterback Baker Mayfield is dealing with a knee injury that forced him to sit out practice on Wednesday.
Baker Mayfield listed as DNP on Buccaneers practice report with knee injury https://t.co/1V1xNwC3CG pic.twitter.com/uG6l08dEq6
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) December 18, 2024
Mayfield was a big storyline last year in his first go-around with Tampa Bay following five star-crossed seasons to start his career.
When the Cleveland Browns took him No. 1 overall in the 2018 draft, he was expected to be their long-awaited franchise savior, but he couldn’t put it all together, and he was traded to the Carolina Panthers prior to the 2022 season.
But last year, he became his best self by throwing for 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns and earning his first trip to the Pro Bowl.
In 14 games this year, he’s at 3,617 passing yards, 32 passing touchdowns and a 70.8 percent pass completion rate, and he ranks fourth, third and third, respectively, in the NFL in those categories.
Tampa Bay will visit a Dallas Cowboys team that has perked up lately by winning three of its last four games, and thus it will not be an easy game for Tampa Bay.
But Mayfield and crew will play the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints afterward to close the regular season, and if they win out, they will win the division and make the playoffs again.
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