Baker Mayfield was under the impression that the Rams would seek his services after Carolina released him earlier this week. Mayfield was so sure Los Angeles would sign him that he actually booked a flight to Los Angeles before he had officially cleared waivers.
In a performance worthy of a Hollywood script, Mayfield led the Rams to an epic 17-16 victory Thursday night after throwing a touchdown pass to Van Jefferson with 10 seconds left. The score was capped off by a 98-yard drive that saw Mayfield complete several big passes while helping the Rams snap their six-game losing streak.
“That’s right up there,” Mayfield told the Amazon crew after the game when asked to compare Thursday night’s win to other career highlights. “Originally, I was mad about having to go through so many coaching changes and learn so many new things, but it sure helped right there. … They made some good plays and put me in a good position to win.”
Sean McVay needed three running plays and one possession to make the switch from John Wolford to Mayfield. Mayfield entered the game with 2:21 left in the first quarter and the Rams trailing 10-0.
“I knew I wasn’t going to start,” Mayfield. “Honestly, we were just seeing how John was going to feel, how this was going to go and he was just going to play it. He was going to be ready no matter what.”
Mayfield went 22 of 35 for 230 yards in his debut with the Rams. Trailing 16-3, Mayfield engineered a 17-play drive that ended with Cam Akers’ 1-yard touchdown run. After the Rams’ defense forced a punt, Mayfield’s 32-yard completion to Ben Skowronek on Los Angeles’ final drive helped set up his game-winning pass to Jefferson.
“To be honest with you, I was completely surprised that they lined up in the press conference with 15 seconds left,” Mayfield said of his game-winning touchdown pass. “I really thought they were going to try to come out and play in the zone, but they hung in there. Their weakside safety stayed down. Van is a great ball runner. He won off the line and made a good job”.
On his first play as a Ram, the former Browns and Panthers quarterback completed a 21-yarder to Jefferson. Mayfield had a 6-yard run that helped set up Matt Gay’s 55-yard field goal.
“For him to get here and just do that, it just shows how determined and what kind of guy he is. I’m glad he’s here,” Jefferson told Amazon’s Kaylee Hartung. “He just came in and worked out. He’s only been here a day. … When he came in we knew he was going to execute.”
Mayfield and the Rams offense didn’t do much in the second or third quarter, but they turned it on in the fourth quarter. He had considerable success throwing the ball to Skowronek and Tutu Atwell. Skowronek caught seven passes for 89 yards. Atwell caught five passes for 50 yards after catching just six passes through the first three months of the season.
Mayfield signed with the Rams one day after being released by the Panthers. Mayfield, who signed with Carolina last offseason, lost his starting spot after suffering an injury in Week 5. His last start in Carolina came in the Week 11 loss to the Browns in team with which he spent the first four years of his career.
“I think the biggest thing I’ve learned is don’t let the game on the field affect who you are on a day-to-day basis,” Mayfield said when asked about the biggest thing he’s learned so far in his career. “Be the same for your teammates, and that’s been the biggest thing this year that I think I’ve tried to manage in general. Just try to help where I can, not let all the other things get to me affect and roll with the Be who I am and be that leader.
“I love football. I love playing this game and I love playing and competing. You just go and enjoy it.”
Mayfield did that and then another on Thursday night, resulting in a memorable finish that helped his new team avoid playoff elimination.
“It speaks to the locker room culture,” Mayfield said of the Rams’ overall performance Thursday night. “They come here and they keep trying to compete, even though the record speaks for itself. They just welcome me, compete and fight until the end. That says everything you need to know about this place.”