As Monday Night Football draws near, Baker Mayfield and Jared Goff are once again preparing to square off — the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions meeting for the third consecutive year in what’s quickly becoming one of the NFC’s most intriguing modern rivalries.
For Mayfield, the matchup carries a personal edge. His Buccaneers’ impressive 2023 playoff run ended at the hands of the Lions, followed by another defeat in Week 2 of the 2024 season. Now, the fiery quarterback has revenge squarely in his sights.
Both Mayfield and Goff share eerily similar career arcs — former No. 1 overall picks who were written off by their original franchises before rejuvenating their careers elsewhere. Goff, whose wife recently made headlines for a personal sacrifice in support of him, has flourished in Detroit, while Mayfield has been playing some of the best football of his life in Tampa Bay.
Despite a recent controversy involving a Fox Sports interview that led to an apology from Erin Andrews, Mayfield’s focus has been unwavering. His motivation? To finally beat Goff — something he hasn’t done in their last three meetings, including that playoff loss where he threw two costly interceptions.
Through the first six weeks of this season, Mayfield has emerged as one of the frontrunners in the MVP race, leading the Buccaneers’ offense with grit and confidence — even while missing star receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Rookie standout Emeka Egbuka has filled the void impressively, ranking fourth in the NFL in receiving yards behind fellow Ohio State product Jaxon Smith-Njigba. However, Egbuka’s recent hamstring injury will sideline him for this critical primetime battle.
When reflecting on his previous matchups with Detroit, Mayfield acknowledged the respect he has for Dan Campbell’s Lions, calling them a true test of a team’s caliber.
“This is definitely one of those games,” Mayfield said when asked if the Lions serve as a measuring stick. “Every week in this league, you’ve got to bring your best. If you don’t show up, anyone can beat you. Facing a team that made it to the NFC Championship — that’s where we want to be. Games like this show what kind of group we really have.”
Despite being short-handed, Tampa Bay heads into Ford Field with something to prove. A statement win under the lights wouldn’t just avenge past losses — it could solidify Mayfield and the Buccaneers as legitimate NFC contenders.
