Some performances deserve an in-depth breakdown.

After Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield’s impressive Week 15 showing against the Chargers in Los Angeles, that is exactly what former NFL quarterback JT O’Sullivan of “The QB School” did.

If you are not familiar with O’Sullivan’s channel, you should be. Every week, he does great in-depth breakdowns of some of the best quarterback performances, breaking them down for fans of the game to understand as a former quarterback. With Mayfield completing 22-of-27 passes for 288 passing yards and four touchdowns, O’Sullivan made a 39-minute video detailing the job he did under center from start to finish.

What Stands Out The Most About Baker Mayfield’s Week 15 Performance?

JT O’Sullivan of The QB School – Photo courtesy of The QB School

Pewter Report predicted Baker Mayfield would take home NFC Offensive Player Of The Week after his dominant showing against the Chargers’ No. 1 scoring defense, but how did he do it?

As JT O’Sullivan shared, it was a product of efficiency and staying in command from the start. On Mayfield’s first touchdown pass, credit can be given to offensive coordinator Liam Coen for scheming rookie wide receiver Jalen McMillan open on a rub route. The backfield motion forced the safeties over to the right and middle of the field, while the two players to McMillan’s left set up a pick play that covered his defender and led to a wide-open score to begin the game.

Then, it became “The Mike Evans Show.”

It started with a post over the middle of the field, and he continued to win his matchups against Los Angeles’ secondary. Coen found ways to get his veteran wide receiver leverage and let him do the rest at the top of his routes. The savvy route-runner had a big game with nine catches for 159 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Bucs WRs Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan – Photo by: USA Today

The first touchdown of Evans’ day came in the third quarter on his big 57-yard play, his longest reception of the year. Mayfield was able to extend the play, and rolling to his left and throwing on the run, he kept his eyes down the field and connected with him on the explosive play. Sullivan noted that Mayfield did not have an intention to run and did not force the ball. He simply trusted his big wide receiver to make a big play, which he did.

Evans’ second touchdown of the game came later in the third quarter. Mayfield hit him on a big 35-yard post route and at this point of the game Mayfield was “balling.” He threw it over the back of the coverage and found an in-stride “M1K3” for the score on a questionable three-safety look from defensive coordinator Jessie Minter’s defense. While he connected with his No. 1 guy, it was a play where he had multiple options to throw for his third touchdown of the game.

In the fourth quarter, Evans ran something along the lines of an angled Texas route and while he could have broken it for a big gain, the defender caught him by his shirt and was able to bring him down.

As head coach Todd Bowles joked after the game, “[Evans] ran for a touchdown and almost ran for another one if his t-shirt wasn’t so thick. I told him he’s got to get a shorter t-shirt.”

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

Putting the finishing touches on his performance, Mayfield found running back Rachaad White for a fourth-quarter score to make it 37-17. Under center Graham Barton, he alerted White and pointed to what was going on pre-snap.

Then, the pass-catching back faked blocking a defender, and with the rest of the offense picking up their assignments – especially right guard Cody Mauch – it was a foot race he won to the end zone to give his quarterback four touchdown passes on the day and put a bow on a statement win over an 8-5 Chargers squad.

Speaking to Pewter Report about Mayfield’s performance, right tackle Luke Goedeke discussed how his quarterback fared at SoFi Stadium.

“Baker does a phenomenal job back there at quarterback,” Goedeke said. “I don’t get to see him going through the reads or mostly making the passes unless they’re to my side, I’m just usually chasing the ball or blocking so he can make those passes. I always see – he’s got 300 or more passing yards just about every game. He’s been balling out this year.”

For more insight into Baker Mayfield’s performance and more of a visual Xs and Os breakdown, check out JT O’Sullivan’s video featuring a bonus look into the offense running counter run plays with success.