Mayday Mayfield

Perhaps the only thing Hollywood loves more than a redemption story is a comeback story. Fortunately on Thursday night the latest result from SoFi Stadium featured both. The LA Rams beat the Las Vegas Raiders 17-16. The winning quarterback, Baker Mayfield, did not start. In fact he wasn’t even on the Rams until Tuesday (Dec. 6) and had one practice Wednesday.

Make no mistake, Mayfield was not exactly a hot commodity after being waived by the Carolina Panthers after seven games. The starting quarterback had a star-crossed run in Cleveland, taking the Browns to the playoffs in 2020 before being traded after the 2021 season in favor of a quarterback with… a plethora of legal baggage. 

Enter the Rams, who desperately needed a backup with Super Bowl winning quarterback Matthew Stafford likely lost for the season with a back injury. Backup John Wolford was also out of the lineup with a neck injury, clearing the stage for Mayfield’s heroics. 

Trailing 16-3 with 4:00 minutes left in the game, the former Heisman Trophy winner and overall No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft got to work. 

THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE! – Al Michaels, Thursday Night Football

Down six with 1:41 to go backed up your own two-yard line? @bakermayfield was feeling dangerous. 😤 pic.twitter.com/gDuUL1QsZH

— NFL (@NFL) December 9, 2022

Consider the following – All of these things happened except for one. See if you can spot it.

Mayfield…

• Was waived by the Carolina Panthers Monday, Dec. 5.
• Went just 1-5 in his lone season with the Panthers
• Was signed by the Los Angeles Rams Tuesday, Dec. 6
• Arrived at LAX Tuesday night
• Met his new head coach, Sean McVay on a Southwest Airlines flight
• Initially the two were not able to sit together because, you know, Southwest…
• McVay essentially bribed the person next to him – clearly a Chargers fan – to move so he could go over details with his new signal caller
• Has now led two teams to a fourth quarter comeback of 13 or more points in his debut game – the first time that’s happened in NFL history
• Is playing for his seventh head coach in his 5-year NFL career
• Has already booked a Progressive Insurance commercial
• Is currently staying in the same hotel he and his wife got married in back in 2016

Man of the hour. 🫡 @bakermayfield pic.twitter.com/KCZm2umNsy

— NFL (@NFL) December 9, 2022

Despite all the obstacles and available excuses, Mayfield played with poise and communicated with everybody within range. The only way Thursday’s miraculous finish could happen is with clear, concise communication in a pressure cooker environment. Mayfield was seen talking with his offensive line and receivers and running backs throughout the game, although it is possible he was meeting them for the first time.