Is Marcus Mariota the Next Baker Mayfield?

Last week, Marcus Mariota quietly led the Washington Commanders to a 40-7 victory over the Carolina Panthers after Jayden Daniels left the game one series in with a rib injury.

Maybe it went under the radar because they beat a Panthers team that struggles to field 53 NFL-caliber players but in a season defined by former draft busts turning into MVP candidates, why not Mariota too?

Marcus Mariota showed up and showed out when the @Commanders called on him yesterday 🔥 pic.twitter.com/DDSsS0QAwO

— NFL (@NFL) October 21, 2024

Here’s what Mariota did against the Panthers D:

18-for-23 (78%)
205 yards
2 touchdowns
0 interceptions
132.8 passer rating
11 carries for 34 yards

It’s not like he just kept the ship afloat. My man was making plays.

He came into the game and was immediately sacked. Followed by a false state penalty and a dead deep ball before jogging off for the punt team. A first drive like that would kill most backup QBs but he came back out and led a touchdown drive (thanks to defensive pass interference but still).

What if Marcus Mariota is just good now?

I genuinely believe all of these QBs just need a change of scenery where their talents match the personnel around them and they are surrounded by coaches who want to fix whatever flaws they arrive with.

The outside pressure from fans, paired with the organizational malpractice that typically lives within teams that are picking at the top of the draft—can melt a young QB’s brain.

Until they link up with a guy who ran away to Thailand and returned with the ancient secrets of the Khmer Empire, channeling his new powers into creating an unstoppable offense that even Marcus Mariota can steer toward 40 points.

Obviously, Washington belongs to Jayden Daniels. He’s winning the Rookie of the Year and is objectively the best QB in his division—and will be for the foreseeable future.

That’s the problem. Unless Matty Stafford retires and Mariota can play for Sean McVay, there isn’t a home that could maximize his potential. He can’t go back to the Raiders or Titans. The vibes would be disgusting.

When the musical chairs end this offseason, I don’t see a landing spot that matches this situation he has with Kliff Kingsbury. Maybe if the Giants move on from Brian Daboll and don’t draft a QB but I’m starting to think Brian Daboll might not be the QB whisperer that every NFL broadcast wants you to believe.

Maybe the Browns with Kevin Stefanski? But let’s see what Jameis Winston looks like. The Browns could be on fire. Actually, no. I don’t wish the Cleveland Browns on anyone.

The Saints will bring back Derek Carr and Spencer Rattler in a competition to win 7 games in 2025 but their offensive coordinator, Klint Kubiak, may get a job elsewhere and maybe Mariota can follow him there but I get the feeling Trevor Lawrence or Kyler Murray will be very much occupying those jobs.

Great game by Marcus Mariota. But there is no country for old men. Let’s get into a few more storylines going into Week 8.

1. Baker Mayfield all by himself.

Speaking of Baker, he is about to have his toughest challenge yet. Both All-Star receivers, Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, are watching the rest of this season in casts at home.

The Buccaneers offense ranks 5th in yards and 4th in scoring. And sure, Godwin and Evans are a large part of that success but Baker Mayfield with a functional offensive line, confidence and a fresh Zyn pack can beat the Atlanta Falcons this Sunday.

Baker Mayfield popping a ZYN on the sideline mid game 😂 pic.twitter.com/IELMpm7wdd

— GhettoGronk (@TheGhettoGronk) October 22, 2024

This man was created to run the city of Tampa Bay, Florida.

2. How do you teach toughness?

The Patriots won one game.

Week 1.

Almost 50 days ago.

They’ve lost 5 straight, including a 32-16 loss in London to the Jaguars last Sunday. They lost by double digits to a team coached by a guy who was updating his resume on the plane ride over.

Here’s what Jerrod Mayo said after the loss:

“Look, we are a soft football team across the board. We talk about what makes a tough football team, that’s being able to run the football, that’s being able to stop the run, and that’s being able to cover kicks. We did none of those today.”

Jerrod Mayo called out his boys for being soft in a move that will decide whether or not he can succeed as an NFL head coach.

By calling them soft, he either motivates them to bust their asses on Sunday—regardless of whether they genuinely want to impress their coach or they’re doing it out of spite—OR—the team quits on him while Drake Maye throws 3 touchdowns in a loss again.

3. Patrick Mahomes to DeAndre Hopkins.

DeAndre Hopkins hasn’t mattered since the world shut down.

I hardly even remember the pre-pandemic days. The before times. The DeAndre Hopkins star wide receiver days.

Rashee Rice. Skyy Moore. JuJu Smith-Schuster. Isiah Pacheco. Hollywood Brown.

Everyone is on the bench wearing slings with thermometers in their mouth and those big old-school ice bags sitting on their heads. Noses red as hell.

I’d love to see DeAndre Hopkins come alive with Patrick Mahomes as both guys are future Hall of Famers currently playing like XFL tryouts.

The on-field stuff is cool or whatever but Hopkins is about to make himself a household name. All he needs is one touchdown reception and a camera cut to his wife celebrating with Taylor Swift in the suites while a Kelce feeds lettuce to Brittany Mahomes caged up in the corner.

4. Let’s try Bryce Young again.

Getting the alert that Andy Dalton and his family were in a car accident—trying to stop my mind from immediately imagining Bryce Young cutting his brakes while I sat on the Long Island Rail Road next to an old man with a mohawk, a razor scooter and the hottest tuna sandwich you’ll ever smell.

Anyway, yea, Andy Dalton is out with a thumb injury and Bryce Young is starting again.

His last start was week 2 against the Chargers. He threw for a crisp 84 yards with an interception. He shouldn’t be on the field again. Certainly not for the Panthers. But I reckon this season doesn’t matter so fuck it.

5. Lamar Jackson is the MVP.

I don’t have anything cute to say here. Just wanted to plant my flag.

This wide receiver is about to win his THIRD MVP trophy.

The Atlanta Falcons said they were fine with Desmond Ridder over Lamar. 3 MVPs.

I grew up with coaches and the media both believing black quarterbacks had trouble getting through their ABCs and now a black QB is about to win three of them things.

What a time to be alive.

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