Buccaneers Let One Slip Away in Atlanta, and Baker Mayfield Isn’t Hiding From It
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a golden opportunity to take control of their playoff destiny on Thursday night. Instead, they let a 14-point fourth-quarter lead vanish in stunning fashion, falling 29-28 to the Atlanta Falcons in a game that left quarterback Baker Mayfield visibly frustrated - and fully accountable.
“We’re pissed off,” Mayfield said bluntly after the loss. “We expected to win that game.
We want to win that game. Should be pissed off.”
And he didn’t sugarcoat where the blame should fall.
“When you’re up two scores and your offense has a chance to put the game away, and you don’t - obviously, people are gonna blame the defense, but it’s not the defense’s fault,” he said. “It’s our fault.
It’s my fault. And that’s how I view it, and that’s how I’m gonna handle it.”
That’s a quarterback owning the moment - and the mistake that helped swing the game.
Mayfield finished the night 19-of-34 for 277 yards, tossing two touchdowns and one costly interception. That pick came at a critical juncture in the fourth quarter, right after the Falcons had cut the Bucs’ lead to eight. Tampa Bay had a chance to close the door, but the turnover gave Atlanta life - and they took full advantage.
Let’s rewind for a second. The Bucs were up 28-14 early in the fourth after punching in a touchdown that looked like a potential dagger.
But the Falcons responded quickly, scoring a touchdown of their own. A failed two-point conversion kept Tampa Bay ahead by eight, but momentum had clearly shifted.
Then came Mayfield’s interception - a throw he’d no doubt want back - and suddenly the game was slipping away.
Atlanta seized the moment, completing the comeback and snatching a win that could have major implications in the NFC South race.
For the Buccaneers, the loss drops them to 7-7 and puts their playoff hopes in a precarious position. The margin for error is razor thin now, and every snap from here on out matters.
Next up? A divisional clash with the Carolina Panthers in Week 16 - a game that could define the Bucs’ season.
Carolina, currently leading the NFC South at 7-6, will face the Saints on Sunday before hosting Tampa Bay on Dec. 21 at Bank of America Stadium. That matchup is shaping up to be a must-win for Mayfield and company.
The Bucs are still alive in the playoff hunt, but they may need to run the table to get in. And if they do, they’ll have to clean up the kind of late-game mistakes that cost them in Atlanta.
Mayfield’s leadership, accountability, and competitive fire were on full display after the loss. Now, it’s about channeling that into execution - because at this point in the season, there’s no room left for missed opportunities.