Baker Mayfield's eagerness to prove himself played right into Bengals' paws

Heading into the season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, quarterback Baker Mayfield was ready to take out his contract demons on the Men in Stripes. 

However, ahead of the Buccaneers’ showdown with the Bengals, Tampa Bay switched course and gave Mayfield what he was looking for with a three-year, $55 million annual average extension, placing him on par with Joe Burrow.

Perhaps Cincinnati’s defense took an extension that pays Mayfield the same as Burrow as a personal affront. Perhaps not. Either way, Mayfield did not perform like his third-best QB in the league, as his salary would suggest, and Tampa Bay could have some in the building looking at him in a different light.

Bengals first to make Bucs think about Mayfield extension

The Bengals had the first crack at making Tampa Bay wonder if they made the correct decision in giving Mayfield the extension he was looking for. And thanks to Cincinnati’s defense, while the Buccaneers organization will put on a brave face, someone inside those walls is saying, “I told you so,” if only to themselves.

Mayfield had a good, efficient day, going 23 for 28 for 216 yards. However, it was his three fumbles that signaled his team’s demise. 

Boye Mafe, Myles Murphy, and Barrett Carter each forced Mayfield fumbles that the Bengals recovered. One of which was a scoop-and-score by linebacker Demetrius Knight. 

We will never know if Mayfield’s new contract played any part in him being so careless with the ball. However, playing against that version of Tampa Bay’s QB was preferable to the one who would have been determined to make his own team pay next offseason. 

Bengals showed a better hand the Bucs

In a victory that seemed more dominant than the final score suggests, Cincinnati’s new-look defense showed up and showed out, much to the dismay and disbelief of some Bucs and Ravens fans. 

The Bengals defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 33-27 in their season opener dubbed ‘Open in Orange’ after the front office went all-in on the defense this past offseason. 

That defensive bet immediately yielded high-end dividends as newcomers and last year’s carryovers all made plays to help the Bengals start the season 1-0.

Cincinnati's defense pushed all its chips to the center of the table this offseason, forcing three Mayfield fumbles and resulting in 17 points off his turnovers alone for the Bengals defense. The Cincinnati Kids had the better hand in this matchup. 

Perhaps we should feel guilty for unleashing a peeved Mayfield on his next opponent now that he is back to his feeling-disrespected era. 

It just so happens that Mayfield’s next opponent is the Cleveland Browns, so never mind. Go get ‘em, Shake-N-Bake.

Editor's Note: Regarding Baker Mayfield biting off more than he could chew in Week 1, I couldn't help but think of these words of wisdom from Obi-Wan Kenobi to Anakin Skywalker in the former's eponymous Disney+ series...

"Your need for victory, Anakin, it blinds you. You are a great warrior...but your need to prove yourself is your undoing. Until you overcome it, a padawan you will still be."

Meanwhile, Baker still be like...

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