Quarterback Baker Mayfield resurrected his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023, in the process earning a long-term deal to remain the team's starter. In 2024, he's proving quite clearly his first season in Tampa was no fluke.
Mayfield, the first-overall selection in the 2018 draft by the Cleveland Browns, is off to the best five-game start of his career so far. After completing 19 of 24 passes for 180 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in last Thursday's overtime loss in Atlanta, Mayfield now has a completion rate of 71.9%, a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 11-2 and a passer rating of 112.2 through the first five games of the 2024 season. That's the best passer rating he has ever compiled over the first five games of a season.
Baker Mayfield, Best Passer Rating Through First Five Games of a Season
- Tampa Bay, 2024: 112.2
- Cleveland, 2021: 96.9
- Tampa Bay, 2023: 91.3
With one game still to play on Monday night between New Orleans and Kansas City, Mayfield currently ranks second in the NFL in passer rating among quarterbacks with more than one start. He is also tied for second in touchdown passes.
Highest Passer Rating, NFL, 2024 (minimum two starts)
1. Joe Burrow, Bengals: 113.6
2. Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers: 112.2
3. Lamar Jackson, Ravens: 107.3
4. Jayden Daniels, Commanders: 106.3
5. Derek Carr, Saints: 103.9
Most Touchdown Passes, NFL, 2024
1. Joe Burrow, Bengals: 12
2t. Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers: 11
2t. Sam Darnold, Vikings: 11
4. Lamar Jackson, Ravens: 9
5. four tied with:8
Mayfield threw all three of his touchdown passes in the first half on Thursday night, the first time he has had three TD tosses before halftime since Dec. 6, 2020, when he was leading the Browns against the Tennessee Titans. That marked the 12th time in his career that he has thrown three or more touchdown passes in a game and his fourth such outing as a Buccaneer.
Two of Mayfield's scoring passes ended up in the sure hands of wide receiver Mike Evans. Evans now has five touchdown receptions in 2024 and is tied for the NFL lead in that category. He also tied for the league lead in touchdown grabs in 2023, with 13.
Most Touchdown Receptions, 2024
1t. Mike Evans, Buccaneers: 5
1t. Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals: 5
3t. Justin Jefferson, Vikings: 4
3t. Allen Lazard, Jets: 4
3t. Marvin Harrison, Cardinals: 4
Those two trips to the end zone pushed Evans' career totals to 99 touchdown receptions and 100 total touchdowns scored (he scored once on a fumble recovery in 2019). Evans is tied for 11th in NFL history in touchdown receptions and is tied for 23rd in total touchdowns scored. Evans needs one more touchdown reception to become the 11th player in league history to reach 100. Of the 10 already in that group, eight are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, one (Antonio Gates) was a finalist in his first year on the ballot last year and one (Larry Fitzgerald) is not yet eligible.
Most Career Touchdown Receptions, NFL History
| Player | Team(s) | Seasons | TD Recs. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jerry Rice+ | SF, LV & SEA | 1985-2004 | 197 |
| Randy Moss+ | MIN, LV, NE, TEN & SF | 1998-2012 | 156 |
| Terrell Owens+ | SF, PHI, DAL, BUF & CIN | 1996-2010 | 153 |
| Cris Carter+ | PHI, MIN & MIA | 1987-2002 | 130 |
| Marvin Harrison+ | IND | 1996-2008 | 128 |
| Larry Fitzgerald | ARI | 2004-20 | 121 |
| Antonio Gates | LAC | 2003-18 | 116 |
| Tony Gonzalez+ | KC & ATL | 1997-2013 | 111 |
| Tim Brown+ | LV & TB | 1988-2004 | 100 |
| Steve Largent+ | SEA | 1976-89 | 100 |
| Mike Evans | TB | 2014-24 | 99 |
| Don Hutson+ | GB | 1935-45 | 99 |
(+ Member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame)
Evans' two touchdown receptions in Atlanta marked the 22nd time he has scored multiple touchdowns in a game in his career. That's the seventh most in NFL history.
Most Career Games with Two-Plus Touchdown Receptions, NFL History
1. Jerry Rice, 49ers/Raiders/Seahawks: 44
2. Randy Moss, Vikings/Raiders/Patriots/Titans/49ers: 36
3. Terrell Owens, 49ers/Eagles/Cowboys/Bills/Bengals: 32
4t. Cris Carter, Eagles/Vikings/Dolphins: 29
4t. Marvin Harrison, Colts: 29
6. Davante Adams, Packers/Raiders: 23
7. Mike Evans, Buccaneers: 22
8. Antonio Gates, Chargers: 21
9. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots/Buccaneers: 20
10. four tied with: 19
Evans now has 13 touchdown catches against the Falcons, his most against any opponent. That's also the second most scoring receptions for any player against the Falcons in that franchise's history, trailing only the 25 posted by Jerry Rice.
In addition to the contributions from Mayfield and Evans, the Buccaneers also racked up 160 rushing yards on Thursday night, a season high and the team's best total since Nov. 13, 2022 against Seattle. Running back Rachaad White led the way with 72 yards on 10 carries, which included a career-long 56-yard breakaway. Rookie Bucky Irving added 49 yards on 10 totes and the Bucs as a team averaged 6.2 yards per carry. That was the Bucs' best rushing averaged in a game (minimum 20 runs) since Dec. 29, 2019, also against the Falcons.
Wide receiver Chris Godwin contributed a team-leading 64 receiving yards on five grabs, extending his active streak of games with at least five catches and at least 50 yards to six, dating back to last season's finale. That's the longest active streak in the NFL. Godwin has 53 games with five-plus catches and 50-plus yards since 2019, only one shy of the NFL lead in that category.
Most Games With Five-Plus Receptions, 50-Plus Receiving Yards, NFL, 2019-24
1t. Davante Adams, Packers/Raiders: 54
1t. Stefon Diggs, Vikings/Bills/Texans: 54
3. Chris Godwin, Buccaneers: 53
4. Travis Kelce, Chiefs: 52
5. Tyreek Hill, Chiefs/Dolphins: 49
One week after forcing the 30th fumble of his career against Philadelphia, linebacker Lavonte David secured the 13th interception of his career against the Falcons and quarterback Kirk Cousins. David ranks 12th in Bucs history in interceptions and second among non-defensive backs behind Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks (25). David is tied for the NFL lead in career interceptions among active off-ball linebackers; his 67 career passes defensed is also second in that group.
Most Interceptions, Active Off-Ball Linebackers, NFL
1t. Lavonte David, Buccaneers: 13
1t. Jordan Hicks, Browns: 13
1t. Bobby Wagner, Commanders: 13
4. C.J. Mosley, Jets: 12
5. Logan Wilson, Bengals: 11
Most Passes Defensed, Active Off-Ball Linebackers, NFL
- Bobby Wagner, Commanders: 69
- Lavonte David, Buccaneers: 67
- Eric Kendricks, Cowboys: 59
- C.J. Mosley, Jets: 53
- Demario Davis, Saints: 52
Cornerback Zyon McCollum deflected a pair of Cousins passes on Thursday night, giving him eight on the season. That's the second-highest total in the NFL through five weeks, not including the Monday night game.
Most Passes Defensed, NFL, 2024
1. Denzel Ward, Browns: 9
2. Zyon McCollum, Buccaneers: 8
3t. Paulson Adebo, Saints: 7
3t. Brian Branch, Lions: 7
5. four tied with: 6
Kicker Chase McLaughlin made all three of his field goal attempts against the Falcons on Thursday, in the process setting a new team record for consecutive field goals made in the regular season.
Most Consecutive Field Goals Made, Regular Season, Buccaneers History
1t. Chase McLaughlin: 28, 10/26/23 – 10/3/24
1t. Connor Barth: 25, 10/16/11 – 9/30/12
3t. Martin Gramatica: 16, 10/9/00 – 12/3/00
3t. Michael Husted: 16, 11/19/95 – 9/22/96
Two of McLaughlin's three field goals were from 53 yards out, making him five for five on 50-plus-yard attempts this season and 12 of 13 since he joined the Buccaneers in 2023. He continues to rank as the most accurate kicker in NFL history from 50 yards and beyond.
Best Field Goal Percentage on Attempts of 50-Plus Yards, NFL History (minimum 20 attempts)
| Kicker | Team(s) | Made | Att. | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase McLaughlin | LAC, SF, IND, JAX, NYJ, CLE & TB | 29 | 34 | 85.3% |
| Chris Boswell | PIT | 35 | 43 | 81.4% |
| Daniel Carlson | MIN & LV | 28 | 36 | 77.8% |
| Younghoe Koo | ATL | 28 | 37 | 75.7% |
| Ka'imi Fairbairn | HOU | 37 | 49 | 75.5% |
