Eventually, the Buccaneers Will Need Mayfield to Complete a Pass

Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans should be happy right about now.

Two weeks ago, it looked like the Bucs were dead in the water.

Tampa blew a double-digit home lead to the Pittsburgh Steelers and lost in overtime, dropping its record to 1-5.

Only four teams in league history have started 1-5 and made the playoffs.

Furthermore, only one team (the 1992 San Diego Chargers) has started 0-4 and made the playoffs, which is how the Bucs started this year.

After the Bucs lost to Pittsburgh, they knew they had to sweep their next two games, each divisional bouts against the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons. Tampa did just that, and its quarterback hardly had anything to do with it.

The Bucs were happy to get Baker Mayfield back for last Sunday's game in Carolina after he missed three weeks with a broken thumb.

Mayfield played against the Panthers and, although he didn't play poorly, he didn't have much to do. Mayfield only had to attempt 11 passes, completing seven for 64 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions.

Bucs fans were amazed that the team could win by 30 without their QB breaking 70 yards passing, but that was nothing compared to what would happen the next week.

Playing in the rain, Tampa shut out the Falcons, 16-0.

Mayfield didn't complete a single pass, only attempting three.

Tampa won by running the heck out of the ball. Bucky Irving picked up 170 yards on 27 carries with a touchdown.

Kenny Gainwell gained 140 on 25 carries, and the Bucs totaled 324 yards on the afternoon, averaging 5.8 yards per carry.

In a way, this is a sustainable formula for success. In the modern NFL, the best teams often have more than one capable tailback (think the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks with Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet last season), and the Bucs certainly have that.

However, in reality, the Bucs will need Mayfield to be at his best if they are to complete this turnaround, and truthfully, he hasn't been at his best in a while.

The Bucs started 0-3 before Mayfield went down this season, with Mayfield throwing for as many interceptions (two) as touchdowns,

In the last eight games of last year, Mayfield threw for barely more touchdowns (10) than picks (nine), and the Bucs ended up going from a 6-2 start to an 8-9 finish and missed the playoffs.

Mayfield shouldn't be faulted for his performance in either of the last two wins. At the same time, no NFL team can get hot long-term without the QB doing at least something.