Trailing the Detroit Lions 31-23 with 1:59 remaining in the fourth quarter and a trip to the NFC Championship Game on the line, a career-defining moment was right in front of Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield.
He completed his first pass to Mike Evans for five yards, moving the Bucs a little further away from the shadow of their own goal line. But on his second pass of the drive, Mayfield was intercepted by Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes, essentially ending the game and Tampa’s improbable playoff run.
Mayfield threw for 349 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in the defeat.
The former Oklahoma gunslinger threw for over 300 yards with three touchdowns in both of his playoff appearances and his gutsy performance during Sunday’s divisional-round matchup caught the attention of more than a few people, including wrestling legend and WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair, who gave the former No. 1 overall pick a tip of the cap on X after the game.
