Baker Mayfield — Week 3: Six Sacks, a Pick, Then the Thumb
2026 NFL Season · Half-PPR Scoring · Monday, Sep 28
Mayfield completed 17 of 34 throws for 217 yards, a 40-yard touchdown to Ted Hurst and an interception, and was sacked six times for 31 yards. The interception came on fourth and 13 with 1:54 left, down 20–16, and he was hurt on the play: a dislocated right thumb on his throwing hand, per NFL.com, in a 23–16 loss to the Vikings.
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20 to 16, Vikings, a minute 54 left in the fourth quarter, fourth and 13 at the Tampa Bay 39. Baker Mayfield threw short right for Kenneth Gainwell, and Andrew Van Ginkel intercepted it at the 41. −2.1 expected points added — expected points added is what a play was worth given down, distance and field position — and −13.2 points of win probability, the chance of winning the game after the play against before it. The play-by-play notes Mayfield was injured on it: a dislocated right thumb on his throwing hand, per NFL.com. Jalon Daniels took Tampa Bay's last possession after Minnesota's field goal, and it ended in another interception.
The line: 17 of 34 for 217 yards, one touchdown, one interception, six sacks for 31 yards, −10.9 expected points on 40 pass plays; two scrambles for six yards and a first down. The touchdown was first and 10 at the Minnesota 40 with six 50 left in the first quarter, down 10 to nothing after a Vikings field goal and a punt-return touchdown: deep middle to Ted Hurst for 40, +3.4. His other big throw was 37 yards to Cade Otton on third and two at the Minnesota 44 in the second quarter, to the seven, and after two holding calls that drive ended in a field goal. Before halftime he was nine of 19 for a hundred 47 yards on 21 pass plays; after it, eight of 15 for 70 on 19. On third down he had 14 pass plays, five completions and one conversion, the Otton throw; his other conversion was a two-yard scramble on third and two. Two sacks came before halftime and four after, the longest 10 yards on second and 19 in the fourth, the snap after a holding call wiped out his 14-yard scramble. An 85-yard touchdown to Chris Godwin on third and 29 in the third quarter came back on holding too.
His 34 throws went nine to Emeka Egbuka and six to Otton at the top, then four each to Bucky Irving, Chris Godwin and Gainwell. Jalen McMillan's one target, on the opening drive, ended with McMillan hurt.
Back in June the preview made no call on Mayfield: availability the dependable part — he had not missed a game in three Tampa seasons — and, with a new play-caller for the fourth year in a row, sacks and turnovers as the place to look in September. Week 1: four sacks and three lost fumbles. Week 2: three sacks and an interception. Sunday: six sacks and an interception. Three games, 13 sacks, five turnovers, three losses by a combined 17 points. The preview pointed at the right column. And the part it called dependable is now the open question: the thumb, and whether he plays when Tampa Bay is home to the Packers on Sunday the fourth.
_Data via nflverse._
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