This was a far cry from last week for Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield. After playing perhaps his best game as a Buccaneer in Week 12 against the Giants, Mayfield was hurt and ineffective for much of this week’s game against the Panthers, which the Bucs won, 26-23 in overtime.

And it showed.

Entering the fourth quarter, Mayfield, playing through a significant ankle injury, was 10-of-21 for 121 yards and a touchdown to go with two bad interceptions and three sacks that were largely of his own doing.

Mayfield had tried to create out of structure. It is something he has done a lot in his short time in Tampa Bay. And to very Dr. Jekyl/Mr. Hyde-type results. This week it led to his first interception as Mr. Hyde was back. And by virtue of being positioned at the most critical spot on the field, the team had gone as Mayfield had, down 16-10 as the final quarter opened.

But all of that washed away when the chips were down.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

Mayfield wasn’t transcendent in the fourth quarter. The team didn’t need him to be.

Yet he was highly efficient.

Mayfield made good decisions. He put the ball where it needed to be. And for one play, when he did need to create a second reaction, out-of-structure play, he made the right call on a scramble out of bounds for a first down while stopping the clock.

Baker Mayfield was the tough-as-nails leader who seemingly willed the team to victory. And sometimes that’s just enough.

In the fourth quarter and overtime Mayfield was 11-of-12 for 114 yards.

Baker Mayfield finished 11 of 12 for 114 yards (+17.4% CPOE) in the fourth quarter and overtime in the @Buccaneers‘ comeback win over the Panthers after starting 10 of 21 for 121 yards with 1 TD and 2 INTs (-17.6% CPOE) through the first three quarters.#TBvsCAR | #WeAreTheKrewe pic.twitter.com/xsZs9wLXEC

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) December 2, 2024

Mayfield added eight critical yards on the ground. He ran the offense and found the right check downs. He was accurate on critical third downs like the third-and-3 on the penultimate drive of regulation when he found Mike Evans on a slant for nine yards and a new set of downs.

Mayfield was gutsy with some of the throws on the game-tying drive at the end of regulation like the 16-yarder to Evans between three defenders and then a few plays later getting the ball to where only Sterling Sheperd could catch it on back-to-back plays to set up the game-tying field goal.

Baker Mayfield In Overtime

Panthers QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

Baker Mayfield’s first throw of overtime was a dart to rookie receiver Jalen McMillan, who was working down the seam against a linebacker for 22 yards to put the Bucs on the plus side of the 50-yard line. He took a bad sack two plays later, but it didn’t deter him from coming back on third down and finding tight end Cade Otton to put the Bucs in position to go ahead with a field goal.

And on the game’s final drive, Mayfield was money once more, hitting Mike Evans for the eighth time on the night for 21 yards into Carolina territory. Running back Rachaad White, the Bucs’ talented offensive line, and Chase “Money” McLaughlin would finish the game.

But make no mistake. Despite his struggles, along with those of the rest of the offense, through the first three quarters, Mayfield led the charge in a come-from-behind victory that thrusts the Bucs firmly back into the playoff race.

It’s not always perfect. But Mayfield is a gamer.

And he embodies the “never-say-quit” spirit that simply makes him Baker Mayfield. On Sunday in Carolina with the chance to gain ground on the fading Falcons it was more than enough to allow the Bucs to win just their second one-score – and first overtime – game of the season. It was a gutsy and inspiring late game performance from Mayfield and Tampa Bay’s offense. One for the ages.