Baker Mayfield leads a top 4 overall Buccaneers offense, but is prone to mistakes. Can Washington force bad decisions on Mayfield Sunday?
Washington is looking to win their first playoff game in 20 years this Sunday as they face off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It is a tall task for Washington; the Buccaneers have one of the more prolific, balanced offenses in the NFL this season. Baker Mayfield led the Buccaneers offense. Mayfield mostly runs hot and cold, but his hot streak is unmatched when he is hot. Liam Coen, Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator, has led Mayfield and the Buccaneers’ offense to be the number three passing offense in the NFL, fourth rushing offense, and fourth highest scoring offense in the NFL.
With all of the efficiency that comes with the Buccaneers’ offense, they are a bottom 12 team in turnovers. Baker Mayfield has 16 interceptions and 13 fumbles on the season, both of which are the most in the NFL. Jon Ledyard of the Audibles & Analytics podcast covers the Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Ledyard acknowledges that Mayfield tends to get in his head. “Baker has kind of gone in his own head, tried to play hero ball way too much at times, and sacks himself,” Ledyard said on the Trap or Dive game preview episode. “He gets sacked, turns his back to the line of scrimmage, he’ll just panic, get jittery, and you really never know when that’s coming.”
Ledyard appeared unsure of the root cause behind Mayfield’s sporadic play, but if Washington can trigger Mayfield Sunday night into having those moments for an extended period, the Commanders must capitalize on the mistakes Mayfield tends to commit.
You can listen to the full Trap or Dive game preview below. We discussed:
- Commanders must protect the football (13 turnovers in seven of final eight games)
- Under the radar keys to a Commanders win
- Will Washington be able to establish a ground game
- Tampa Bay running back Bucky Irving cannot break the game open
- Full Buccaneers preview with Jon Ledyard
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