NFL analyst disregards notion that Baker Mayfield’s Tom Brady comments came back to bite him in lopsided loss to Broncos
Baker Mayfield had perhaps the best first two weeks of a season in his career this season. However, Week 3 might have been his worst game since joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Quarterback Bo Nix dismantled the Buccaneers' secondary and Mayfield had no answers as they lost 26-7.
As spotlighted by analyst Chris Simms on Monday's episode of Pro Football Talk, some fans had joked that Baker Mayfield's Brady comments created some bad karma. However, the NFL analyst disregarded those claims and said that the Broncos defense was the true story of the day. Here's how he put it:
"The real story was Vance Joseph and the defense and that the Buccaneers offense could not do anything at all. ... The day was full of Baker Mayfield double clutching the ball, patting the ball, three or four times. Looked like he couldn't find the Buccaneers like to throw the ball down the field."
According to Pro Football Talk, via CBS Sports, earlier in the week, Baker Mayfield said on the "Casa De Klub" podcast that he believed Tom Brady had left behind a stressed-out locker room:
"The building was a little bit different with Tom in there. Obviously, playing-wise, Tom is different. He had everybody dialed in, high-strung environment, so I think everybody was pretty stressed out. They wanted me to come in, be myself, bring the joy back to football for guys who weren't having as much fun."
Mayfield had a tough loss on Sunday but remains 2-1 and top three in the league in touchdown passes.
Baker Mayfield's suddenly struggling offense dealt potentially difficult follow-up game in Week 4
After losing a seemingly easy game against the Denver Broncos, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense will look to rebound next week. However, they won't find it easy vs. the Eagles.
Derek Carr — who led the league in touchdown passes tied with Mayfield ahead of Week 3 — managed to help his team earn just 12 points against Philly on Sunday. Mayfield will hope that the Eagles, whose defense had been in the crosshairs early in the year, will come into the game a bit more relaxed.
After losing to the Denver Broncos, Mayfield's focus might be locked at a different level. Of course, as Week 3 proved across the NFL, every Sunday is a new day, especially this early in the season.
If any of the above quotes are used, credit "Pro Football Talk," "Casa De Klub," and H/T Sportskeeda.