Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Sam Darnold and Tampa Bay Buccaneers Quarterback Baker Mayfield have made history with their performances this season. They are the first pair of ex-teammates in NFL history to have 35+ pass touchdowns for new teams in the same year. Darnold is fifth in the league with 35 passing touchdowns while Mayfield is tied for second with 39 passing touchdowns.
Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield were both members of the Carolina Panthers in 2022. Neither Darnold nor Mayfield fared well with the Panthers during their tenure. Mayfield ended up beating out Darnold for the starting job, but neither QB benefitted from the arrangement. Both quarterbacks, following their time in Carolina, did not come out looking good and another starting job was far from a guarantee. After a solid regular season, will Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield be able to keep it going in the NFL Playoffs?
Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield Look To Keep It Up
Historic: #Vikings QB Sam Darnold and #Bucs QB Baker Mayfield are the 1st pair of ex-teammates in NFL history with 35+ pass TD for new teams in the same year.
(h/t @Sportradar) pic.twitter.com/BiGVj1Oo4q
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) January 3, 2025
Darnold’s Minnesota Vikings enter a critical game on Sunday night against the Detroit Lions. The winner takes the NFC North and clinches a first-round bye while the loser falls to the No. 5 seed. Darnold has led a Vikings offense that is one of the league’s best. They are 12th in yards per game and 9th in points scored.
Mayfield has also led a Buccaneers offense that is very potent. They are third in yards per game and fourth in points per game. Tampa Bay has a simple route to the NFL Playoffs. They must defeat the New Orleans Saints at home on Sunday. A victory would be Baker Mayfield’s second straight playoff appearance with the Buccaneers and Tampa’s fifth straight playoff appearance dating back to Tom Brady’s tenure with the team.
Final Thoughts
The stakes for Mayfield and Darnold heading into Sunday cannot be any bigger. Mayfield is looking to clinch a playoff spot while Darnold is seeking a first-round bye. Following an MVP-caliber season, Darnold has qualified for the NFL Playoffs for the first time in his career while Mayfield is seeking his third career playoff appearance. Both Darnold and Mayfield do not want their storybook season to end as they look to keep it going in the NFL Playoffs.
