The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ shocking 26-24 upset loss to the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Sunday night marks the end of Baker Mayfield’s wildly remarkable unbeaten streak at the venue, a run that spanned his high school, college, and early NFL career.
Despite Mayfield’s impressive performance, Tampa Bay couldn’t capitalize on key opportunities, with a late turnover sealing their fate and dropping them to second place in the NFC South standings.
Mayfield’s history at AT&T Stadium is nothing short of storied. As a junior at Lake Travis High School, he led his team to a flawless 16-0 season and a state championship, amassing 3,788 passing yards and 45 touchdowns while adding 754 rushing yards and 10 scores. In college, Mayfield continued his success by securing a Big 12 title with Oklahoma in 2017 against TCU. His NFL legacy at the venue was cemented in 2020 when he led the Cleveland Browns to a 49-38 win over the Cowboys during the COVID pandemic.
Against Dallas, Mayfield completed 31-of-43 passes for 304 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception while adding 42 rushing yards. The Buccaneers generated 411 total yards of offense and 25 first downs, but costly mistakes, including a fourth-quarter fumble, proved insurmountable.
Now at 8-7, the Buccaneers remain tied with the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC South standings but trail due to the tiebreaker. They turn their focus to Week 17, where they host the Carolina Panthers in a crucial divisional game that could shape their playoff destiny. The Buccaneers must rely on the Falcons dropping a game while securing two crucial divisional victories in the final weeks of the season.
