{"id":18340,"date":"2025-01-13T15:20:18","date_gmt":"2025-01-13T15:20:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/?p=18340"},"modified":"2025-01-13T15:20:18","modified_gmt":"2025-01-13T15:20:18","slug":"baker-mayfields-disastrous-fumble-changed-everything-for-buccaneers-in-crushing-loss-to-commanders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/?p=18340","title":{"rendered":"Baker Mayfield\u2019s disastrous fumble changed everything for Buccaneers in crushing loss to Commanders"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield left the field at Raymond James Stadium dejected after Tampa fell to the Commanders 23-20 to end their playoff run as quickly as it started.<\/p>\n

The agony of defeat for Mayfield<\/a>\u00a0likely felt a bit harsher after his fourth-quarter fumble changed the course of the NFC wild-card round game for the Buccaneers, setting up a go-ahead touchdown for the Commanders and helping to set the stage for the game-winning field goal that would come later in the quarter on Sunday night.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt comes back to me,\u201d\u00a0Mayfield told reporters<\/a>\u00a0after the game about the fumble. \u201cJust timing it out correctly. First one all year that happened on. Obviously timing on it not great. Being back up. Defense did just a hell of a job just getting us the ball. Another fourth down stop and unfortunate, but that [fumble] falls on me.\u201d<\/p>\n

The fumble came four plays after Tampa Bay stopped Washington on fourth and goal from the 3-yard line.<\/p>\n

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\"Washington3<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>
Washington Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner, left, recovers a fumble by Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, right, during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025AP<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>On a first-and-10 on their own 15-yard-line, Mayfield went for what appeared to be a play-action but instead fumbled the ball as Jalen McMillan came across for the fake handoff.<\/p>\n