The NFL playoffs are shaping up as a redemption tour of sorts for Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The NFC South champions pummeled Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles 32-9 in a wild-card matchup, advancing to next weekend’s divisional round against the Detroit Lions, another team that beat the Bucs handily during the regular season. Coach Todd Bowles reiterated Monday that the Bucs, who have gone from having one of the oldest rosters in the league to one of the youngest following the retirement of Tom Brady, have embraced the role of being underdogs all season long.
All Baker Mayfield and the resurgent Tampa Bay Buccaneers wanted was an opportunity to make some noise in the playoffs. A strong finish to the regular season provided one. Mayfield threw for 337 yards and three touchdowns, and Tampa Bay's defense never allowed Hurts and Philadelphia's sputtering offense to get into a rhythm before a crowd of 63,397 at Raymond James Stadium.
Tampa Bay did more than win the NFC South and clinch a playoff berth in its regular-season finale. The Buccaneers, who rebounded from a stretch in which they lost six of seven games to win five of six down the stretch, also may well have saved the job of coach Todd Bowles and increased the chances of retaining Baker Mayfield at quarterback. The Bucs (9-8) have won three straight division titles.
BUCCANEERS DEFENSE: OVERALL (25), RUSH (6), PASS (32), SCORING (T9) PANTHERS OFFENSE: OVERALL (32), RUSH (20), PASS (31), SCORING (31). PANTHERS DEFENSE: OVERALL (3), RUSH (13), PASS (3), SCORING (30). TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Buccaneers plus-6, Panthers minus-7 BUCCANEERS PLAYER TO WATCH: QB Baker Mayfield, who's with his fourth team in six seasons, is trying to lead a club to the playoffs for the second time.