Baker Mayfield’s ‘disappointed’ reaction to Buccaneers’ playoff exit

After that The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost 23-20 to the Washington Commanders in the wild card round on Sunday, quarterback Baker Mayfield was candid about the team’s struggles and expressed his disappointment in the abrupt end of the season.

“It’s disappointing because I really believed in this team. I still do,” Mayfield told reporters, as shared by Greg Auman on X, formerly Twitter. “Obviously every year is different. The list will look different. That’s the sad part of it. This group had to go all the way. Unfortunately, we didn’t bring our best stuff tonight, and Washington did.

The Buccaneers entered the game as NFC South champions, but self-inflicted mistakes cost them dearly. A key fumble in the fourth quarter on a botched exchange between Mayfield and rookie Jaylen McMillan gave the Commanders a short field, allowing the rookie quarterback Jaiden Daniels to capitalize on a fourth down touchdown pass to Terri McLaurin for a 20-17 lead.

Mayfield’s frustration was evident after the fumble, hitting the ground as Washington recovered. Despite the setback, the Buccaneers rallied to tie the game at 20-20 on a field goal, but another miscommunication — this time an early snap by rookie center Graham Burton — cost Tampa Bay a chance to keep the momentum going.

Baker Mayfield disappointed with Buccaneers’ season ending

Daniels, meanwhile, showed poise beyond his years. The rookie quarterback led the Commanders on a game-winning drive in the final minutes, completing critical passes to Diami Brown and Austin Ekeler, and even fumbled for a first down under heavy pressure. Zane Gonzalez sealed the win with a dramatic 33-yard field goal that bounced off the uprights and expired.

The Commanders’ win marked the first time since 2012 that a rookie quarterback has led his team to a playoff victory. Daniels’ composure under pressure was a stark contrast to Tampa Bay’s mistakes, which included penalties, defensive lapses and costly turnovers.

Tampa Bay’s defense, which has been a force for much of the season, struggled to contain Daniels and the Commanders on key downs. Washington converted on three of five fourth-down attempts, including a key touchdown pass to McClaurin.

For Mayfield, who led the Buccaneers to the NFC South title in his first year with the team, the loss was especially difficult. While he acknowledged the team’s resilience, the missed opportunities in Sunday’s game were rife.

As the Buccaneers enter the offseason, Mayfield’s future with the team remains uncertain, but his respect for his teammates and belief in their potential was clear.

“This group had to go all the way,” Mayfield said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t bring our best stuff tonight, and Washington did.” The Buccaneers now face a crucial offseason as the Commanders advance to face the Detroit Lions in the divisional round.