Baker Mayfield takes the blame for a 4th quarter loss against the Commanders

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers they finished the 2024 season in front of their home crowd. Tampa Bay suffered a brutal Wild Card loss on Sundayfell 23-20 against Washington in a back-and-forth thriller. Buccaneers fans and players are probably still thinking about what could have been in this close game. If not for one or two key mistakes, the Buccaneers could have won.

Buccaneers KB Baker Mayfield made a key mistake during the fourth quarter it ended up costing his team the game. Mayfield fumbled with Jaylen McMillan on what should have been a touchdown, leading to a turnover. That put the Commanders in great field position for the score that would ultimately be necessary to win the regular season.

Mayfield took full responsibility for his mistake after the game.

“Yeah, I think just timing it right is coming back to me,” Mayfield told reporters during his postgame press conference, via River Wells of BucsGameday . “The first one all year that’s happened so obviously the timing isn’t great.” Backed up defensively, just did a hell of a job getting us the ball. Another fourth stop. Yes, unfortunately, it made holes in me.”

It sounds like this game will stick to Mayfield’s ribs for a long time to come. This game will not be easily forgotten.

“It’s disappointing because I believe in this team because we have the talent and the coaching staff to go far,” Mayfield said, via the Associated Press. “I did some stupid things and that’s going to haunt me for a while.”

Baker Mayfield played down his “disappointed” reaction to the Buccaneers’ playoff exit

Baker Mayfield didn’t hold back when I talk to the press after this brutal loss.

Mayfield also made a sound where he expressed his disappointment in team fights. And an abrupt end to their 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.

Tampa Bay entered the game as NFC South champions for the fourth straight season. Their four-year division title streak is tied with the Saints (2017-20) for the longest streak in division history. NFC South was formed in 2002 for reference.

Unfortunately, mistakes like Mayfield’s errant handoff to McMillan cost Tampa Bay the game and the season.

It will be interesting to see how the Buccaneers approach the upcoming offseason.

Are they trying to make small adjustments to try and repeat their success this season? Or will Tampa make some major changes to try to shake things up?