The Tampa Bay Buccaneers haven’t looked like a 5-2 team through the first half of their game against the struggling New Orleans Saints. They are only up by four points, leading 7-3. Their offense has had an uncharacteristically slow start, and that begins with their quarterback, Baker Mayfield.
Baker Mayfield’s Slow Start
Mayfield has had a tough start to Week 8. He has been nursing an injury and has been toughing through it.
Mayfield doesn’t quite look like himself as he isn’t scrambling as much and isn’t extending plays like usual. He’s still playing through it, but hasn’t had that same flair and energy that he usually plays with.
At halftime, Mayfield completed only six of his nine pass attempts for 50 yards. He’s taken three sacks as well. While the Buccaneers QB has started slow and is banged up, he isn’t being helped by the other offensive injuries for Tampa Bay.
Rookie Emeka Egbuka is playing through injury, while Mike Evans, Bucky Irving, Jalen McMillan, and Chris Godwin are all out with injuries. The offense needs to get back on track to put the Saints away. The Buccaneers can take a step toward the division crown with a win over the Saints after the Panthers were blown out by the Bills in Week 8.
The offense didn’t score in the first half and can thank the Tampa Bay defense for giving them a lead at the break. A Spencer Rattler pick-six was responsible for the only touchdown of the first half. But the Buccaneers’ offense felt the pressure and started off ready to kick it up a notch.
A-NELLY PICK 6️⃣
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Mayfield came out of the half firing, completing four of six passes on the opening drive for 66 yards. He outperformed his entire first half on just the opening drive. It looked like he was going to put a touchdown on the stat sheet for himself, but Cade Otton fell short at the one-yard line before Sean Tucker punched it in for the score.
Mayfield had his name in MVP conversations in the early stages of the season, but his slow start today and disappointing Week 7 have weakened those chances. He is the 18th-ranked quarterback in PFSN’s Quarterback Impact score with a grade of 76.4. Mayfield won’t be too preoccupied with being in the MVP race, as winning games and continuing to distance themselves in the division will be the priority.
It hasn’t been pretty, but the Buccaneers look in control of the game and ready to move to 6-2. Up two possessions against a struggling Saints offense is a good place to be in and if Mayfield can get going, the game could get out of hand in a hurry.
The game, in fact, did get out of reach. The Saints called upon backup Tyler Shough to change their fortunes and saw no luck. Then, the Buccaneers decided to it was time to pull their starters, including Mayfield late in the game. Mayfield will catch a little breather as Tampa Bay tries to keep him healthy. Teddy Bridgewater is in to close this one out.
