Rams vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Watch, start time and prediction
The first time quarterback Baker Mayfield played at SoFi Stadium, he started for the Rams with just two days of practice.
On December 6, 2022, the Rams claimed Mayfield off waivers from the Carolina Panthers to replace the injured Matthew Stafford. A few days later, he led the Rams to victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on “Thursday Night Football.”
That performance, one of five games Mayfield started to end this historic Super Bowl hangover season for the Rams, revived Mayfield’s then-stalled career.
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Gary Klein previews Sunday’s game between the Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at SoFi Stadium.
In 2023, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed him to a one-year contract and he led them to the divisional round of the NFC playoffs. In 2024, he signed a three-year contract that included $55 million in guarantees and could reach up to $100 million, according to Overthecap.com.
And on Sunday, he returns to SoFi Stadium to face a Rams team that is 8-2 and looks very much like a Super Bowl contender.
“There’s no way I can sugarcoat it. … It’s been pivotal in my career and my journey,” Mayfield, speaking about his time with the Rams, said to Tampa Bay reporters this week, adding, “It’s helped me get back to enjoying football. … It’s been instrumental in my career, something I’ll be forever grateful for, and it’ll be fun to go back and see familiar faces again.”
During his short time with the Rams, Mayfield brought “a spark” and showed “pretty impressive mental toughness” to process and implement so much information, Rams coach Sean McVay said.
“It’s one thing to absorb it, it’s a totally different thing to be able to bring it to life when the enemy has a say,” McVay said. “It was impressive. I think when you look at what he’s done and who he is, I think it’s probably more on par with what we expect from Baker than the outlier when you look at the totality of everything he’s done.”
Mayfield, 30, has thrown 17 touchdowns with three interceptions this season for the Buccaneers (6-4), who lead the NFC South.
The matchup pits Mayfield, the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft, against Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, the No. 1 pick in 2009.
“His ability to come in and play really well in a shortened time frame was really impressive,” Stafford said, adding, “He went through a lot and came out the other side playing as well as anyone.”
The Rams are coming off a 21-19 victory over the Seattle Seahawks, a win that extended their winning streak to five games and gave them sole possession of first place in the NFC West.
Stafford has thrown for a league-leading 27 touchdowns, with just two interceptions. Davante Adams had a league-best 10 touchdowns.
The Rams will be without three veteran starters – tight end Tyler Higbee, right tackle Rob Havenstein and safety Quentin Lake – who were placed on injured reserve this week.
