Baker Mayfield’s debut earned him NFC Offensive Player of the Week

Some have been very celebratory of the LA Rams’ performance of newly acquired quarterback Baker Mayfield. Other? Not so much. I’m not sure why many feel the need to open any discussions about the incredible performance fresh off the plan by the new addition to the Rams roster, but that “It was only one game,” is getting very cliche.

It was no more one game than the Mona Lisa was ‘just another painting,’ or the first man to walk on the moon was just ‘someone stepping out to take a walk,’ or even Roger Bannister breaking the four-minute mile run was just ‘someone taking a run.’  The historic significance to the NFL of someone arriving, onboarding, learning an offense, a quick walkthrough with teammates, and then going onto the football field to lead the team to a two-touchdown comeback victory is something you will likely never see again in the history of the NFL in your lifetime.

So go ahead and keep on celebrating. It was that good of a performance.

How about NFC Offensive Player of the Week?

If you need even more proof? Check out the NFL Players of the Week for Week 14. The NFC Offensive Player of the Week is none other than QB Baker Mayfield.

Did other NFC players have a good week? Of course. Philadelphia Eagles RB Miles Sanders rushed for 144 yards and two TDs and caught one pass for 11 yards as a receiver. San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey rushed for 119 yards and one touchdown and caught two passes for 34 yards and another touchdown. Finally, Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts threw 21 of 31 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns, as well as running seven times for another 77 yards and a touchdown.

But those are likely the type of performances that show up each and every week.  While Baker Mayfield’s 22 of 35 passes for 230 yards and one touchdown combined with four rushes for 10 yards may not jump off the page, he accomplished all of this while in the LA Rams organization for less than 48 hours.

Some want to anoint Mayfield as the Rams’ starting quarterback for 2023. That won’t happen. But this team does need a viable backup QB option next season. It’s not too soon to toss Baker Mayfield’s name into that discussion, presuming that the dollars make sense (pun intended).

In a season where few events warrant celebration, what’s the harm in acknowledging this performance? Don’t embrace the anger and disappointment of this season. If you do, you’ll miss the miracles as they happen right under your nose.