Four touchdowns, 289 yards, and a passer rating that would make Tom Brady proud. That’s not a season stat line—that’s Baker Mayfield‘s Week 1 performance for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. As the dust settles on the NFL’s opening salvo, Mayfield’s cannon of an arm is still smoking, and he’s got his sights set on a familiar foe.

JennaLaineESPN reported on X on September 11, 2024, revealing that Mayfield’s stellar showing earned him the coveted FedEx Air Player of the Week award. But for Baker, individual accolades are just appetizers. The main course? A Week 2 showdown with the Detroit Lions—the very team that ended Tampa’s Super Bowl dreams last season.

In a press conference clip shared by JennaLaineESPN, Mayfield didn’t mince words about the upcoming clash. “You can definitely sense it already within our building,” he said, his voice tinged with a mix of excitement and determination. “When you put up the personnel, the game records, the scouting report, all that, and you talk about the atmosphere, the memories instantly pop up and our guys are ready.”

This isn’t just another game on the NFL calendar. It’s a grudge match, a chance for redemption. The Lions may have outclassed the Bucs in last year’s NFC Divisional Round, but Mayfield and company are itching to flip the script. As reported by NFL.com on January 21, 2024, that 31-23 loss was a bitter pill to swallow, especially given Mayfield’s late-game interception that sealed Tampa’s fate.

But oh, how the tables have turned. While Mayfield’s star is on the rise, his former team, the Cleveland Browns, are left wondering if they bet on the wrong horse. The contrast couldn’t be more stark—or more painful for Cleveland fans. As Mayfield prepares to face his playoff nemesis, his success serves as both a rallying cry for Tampa Bay and a haunting reminder for the Browns of what could have been.

Baker’s revenge tour makes Browns’ $230M gamble look foolish

While Mayfield gears up for a showdown with the Lions, the Cleveland Browns are left to ponder the wisdom of their $230 million gamble on Deshaun Watson. The opening week of the 2024 NFL season painted two very different pictures: Mayfield lighting up the scoreboard, and Watson stumbling out of the gate.

Watson’s performance in the Cleveland Browns’ 33-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys was a total nightmare. The original $230 million man went just 6 of 13 for 33 yards and at one interception in that first half alone. Meanwhile, Mayfield was surgical, completing 24 of 30 passes for 289 yards and four touchdowns as the Browns scored a decisive 37-20 victory over Washington’s Commanders.

The irony isn’t lost on NFL insiders. CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala dropped a bombshell on June 25, 2024, revealing that Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski “had no issues moving forward with Baker Mayfield, had no doubts.” It was the “franchise as a whole” that decided to move in a different direction—a direction that’s looking increasingly misguided with each passing week.

Mayfield’s return to prominence isn’t just a heartwarming tale; it provides proof of his toughness and excellence. In 2023, he took Tampa Bay to its first playoff win since 2000 in the absence of Tom Brady at quarterback. His Tampa Bay’s 2023 stats—4,044 yards, 28 touchdowns, and a nod from Pro Bowl for Mayfield—speak volumes about his growth as a player and leader.

As Mayfield prepares to face the Lions, his success is a constant reminder of Cleveland’s misstep. He’s not just winning games; he’s winning hearts. His blue-collar attitude and fighting spirit—the very qualities that once endeared him to Cleveland—are now fueling Tampa Bay’s resurgence.