Nothing went right for the Bucs on Sunday as they failed in their first of two tries to clinch the NFC South, losing 23-13 at Raymond James Stadium. To make matters worse, quarterback Baker Mayfield took a late hit from Tyrann Mathieu on a two-point conversion attempt with less than two minutes left in the game. Mathieu was called for roughing the passer, and Mayfield was visibly shaken up as he tried to exit the field.

Chris Godwin being called for illegal touching on that play meant there were offsetting penalties, which meant the down was to be replayed. Mayfield was able to hang in there for that replayed down, though he tried to force a throw and was intercepted for what was ultimately the final nail in Tampa Bay’s 23-13 loss.

Baker Mayfield Updates His Status After The Bucs’ 23-13 Loss

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

After the game, Baker Mayfield was delayed in speaking with the media as he was with the Bucs’ trainers and physicians. Once he took the podium for his postgame press conference, Mayfield said while he’s feeling sore after the hit by Mathieu, the X-rays on his ribs were negative.

“Yeah, ribs don’t feel too great right now,” Mayfield said. “X-rays as of right now were negative, so that’s good. But we’ll do some more exams to see what’s really bugging me. But don’t have anything right now besides just [being] sore.”

After taking a shot in the fourth quarter from #Saints S Tyrann Mathieu, #Bucs QB Baker Mayfield’s ribs “don’t feel too great right now.” pic.twitter.com/I9ZPqYIGPG

— PewterReport 🏴‍☠️ (@PewterReport) December 31, 2023

This was the second nasty hit that Baker Mayfield has taken in two games against the Saints this year. The first came in Week 4 during Tampa Bay’s win at New Orleans, with Mayfield being taken out low by Cameron Jordan while Nathan Shepherd came in and hit him high and late. It bent Mayfield backward, but the result of the play was still a touchdown. This time, Mathieu delivered the late hit on Mayfield after he unleashed a throw to Godwin.

While Mayfield would be well within his rights to be bothered by taking yet another hit that resulted in a defensive penalty, he didn’t have much to say on the play after the game. He instead pointed to the Saints being the more physical team on Sunday, which resulted in the Bucs’ hopes of clinching the division title being pushed to next week.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

“It was one of those late scramble plays. Last second, throwing the ball to Chris obviously. Yeah, they’re going to take hits,” Mayfield said. “They’re a physical team. They played that way today. They hit us right in the mouth from the get-go. So, not exactly the mentality that we wanted to come out with. [We] needed to be the more physical team, and we weren’t today.

While the soreness will be something Baker Mayfield and the Bucs will have to manage throughout the week, signs do appear positive for his chances of suiting up next week when Tampa Bay takes on Carolina in a win-and-in game. It would have to be quite the injury for a competitor like Mayfield to be unavailable for a game of that magnitude, as the Bucs will win the NFC South and host a home playoff game as long as they beat the 2-14 Panthers.

“It’ll get easier throughout the week,” Mayfield said. “The first few das are always the worst. I’ve had a few broken ribs here and there and obviously, like I said, nothing showed to that extent as of right now. So yeah, I’ll be able to deal with it and go from there.”