Baker Mayfield of the Buccaneers is officially listed as questionable for the playoff game against the Eagles.
The NFL Playoffs are underway with a doubleheader during the Wildcard weekend. The Sunday matchup features the defending NFC Champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, against the NFC South Division winner Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, there is uncertainty for the Buccaneers as their starting quarterback Baker Mayfield might be unavailable due to an ankle and rib ailment, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Mayfield is currently listed as questionable for the game.
At the beginning of this season, hardly anyone, including Buccaneer fans, anticipated the team winning the division. They made a bold move by replacing the legendary quarterback Tom Brady with Baker Mayfield, all while having the eighth youngest roster in the entire NFL. Despite low expectations for a rebuilding season, the Buccaneers defied the odds and exceeded expectations, concluding with a winning record of 9-8. As a result, they secured a playoff spot as the fourth seed with the added benefit of home field advantage.
A significant factor contributing to their success was Mayfield establishing a strong connection with Pro Bowl wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, along with the emerging young running back Rachaad White. Despite a challenging four-game losing streak in October, Mayfield played a pivotal role in keeping the Buccaneers competitive by achieving career highs in passing yardage (4,044), touchdowns (28), and completion percentage (64.3%). The team rebounded strongly, concluding the final month with a 5-1 record, with their sole loss occurring against divisional rivals, the New Orleans Saints.
Earlier in the season, on September 25th, the two teams clashed, resulting in a decisive 25-11 victory for the Eagles. Philadelphia amassed a total of 472 yards in that game, with Pro Bowl wide receiver AJ Brown contributing 131 receiving yards. However, Brown will be absent in Sunday’s matchup due to a knee injury sustained in Week 17 against the New York Giants.
All eyes will be on quarterback Jalen Hurts as he seeks to recapture his earlier season form. Despite the absence of AJ Brown, the Eagles still boast offensive weapons in running back D’Andre Swift, wide receiver Devonta Smith, and tight end Dallas Goedert. The Buccaneers will be up against the 22nd-ranked defense, which is a far cry from the legendary 2002 Super Bowl-winning unit. To stand a chance in Sunday’s game, the Buccaneers will need Baker Mayfield to perform at his optimal strength.
