"Big Jayden Daniels fan tonight" - Baker Mayfield makes feelings known on Buccaneers' playoff chances after 48-14 win

Baker Mayfield led the Buccaneers to a 48-14 win over the Panthers today to take temporary leadership of the NFC North but they need help from Jayden Daniels and the Commanders to hold on to it. Tampa Bay is now 9-7 for the season with Atlanta having a chance to match their record if they win against Washington tonight. If they win that, the Falcons will retake the divisional lead.

Therefore, when Baker Mayfield was asked after this game what he was thinking, he said he would be rooting for the Commanders and their quarterback to win their Sunday Night Football matchup against the Falcons to help the Buccaneers. He said,

"Big Jayden Daniels fan tonight."

If that comes to pass, Tampa Bay will know that a victory against the New Orleans Saints in their final week would be enough for them to win the NFC South and make the playoffs. Their destiny would be in their own hands. If Atlanta defeats Washington tonight, they will have that advantage.

Baker Mayfield and Buccaneers need Jayden Daniels' help because of tiebreaker rules

If the Falcons win tonight, they will have a 9-7 record, which will be the same as the Buccaneers. However, Atlanta will take ownership of the top spot because they hold the tiebreaker. For any two teams with the same record, the first way to separate them is through their head-to-head record.

The Falcons have defeated the Buccaneers both times they have made this season. Both have been one-score games and one of them went into overtime. Luck has not been on Baker Mayfield's side in those matches but what this implies is that Atlanta is ahead of Tampa Bay if they have the same win-loss ratio. With the NFC South likely to send only one representative to the playoffs, whoever wins the division will be in the postseason.

Jayden Daniels will also have direct motivation to defeat the Falcons because he will be against another rookie, Michael Penix Jr. He would like to prove that he is still the best quarterback in the 2024 class. The Commanders are also not officially in the playoffs and would also like to win to confirm their place and improve their seeding, especially if the Vikings defeat the Packers before they kick off.

The penultimate week of the season is proving to be extremely intriguing. Baker Mayfield and his Tampa Bay teammates will be among the fans joining from all across the world to cheer on Washington on Sunday Night Football in Week 17.