2. Two QBs from the same draft class
Sunday's matchup features two quarterbacks from the same draft class in Josh Allen and Baker Mayfield. Mayfield was drafted first overall out of Oklahoma and went to the Browns. Allen went to the Bills six picks later at seventh overall out of Wyoming.
Mayfield started out his career hot with 3,725 passing yards and 27 passing touchdowns in his rookie season. He had at least 3,500 passing yards and 22 passing touchdowns in his first three seasons. The QB had six wins in each of his first two seasons and 11 in his third.
Allen didn't have a full rookie season due to an elbow injury that kept him out for four games. He finished his first year with 2,074 passing yards and 18 total touchdowns. Allen saw a big jump in production going from his second to third season – 3,089 passing yards to 4,544 and 29 total touchdowns to 46. The QB picked up 13 wins in his third year, tied for the most wins in his career.
After their first few seasons, the two quarterbacks went in different directions as one stayed put and the other bounced between a few teams.
Mayfield played four seasons for Cleveland before being traded to Carolina in July of 2022. His time with the Panthers was short lived because he was released in December and then was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Rams. After a down year in 2022, Mayfield found his fit. The QB was signed by the Buccaneers in 2023 and found success once again. His best season as a pro came in his seventh season where he completed 71% of his passes for 4,500 yards and scored 41 passing touchdowns.
After his third season, Allen's play stayed steady as the quarterback worked on different areas of his game during each offseason. The QB has led his team to five straight AFC East titles and at least 10 wins in the last six seasons. He's also produced at least 40 total touchdowns in five straight seasons, the first player to do so in NFL history. Allen's reached feats that are hard to accomplish, becoming the first player in their first seven seasons with at least 76 wins, 262 total touchdowns and 30,595 total yards.
Eight years in and Allen and Mayfield are not showing any signs of slowing down. The other quarterbacks drafted in the first round of the 2018 draft – Sam Darnold (Seahawks), Josh Rosen (no longer in the NFL) and Lamar Jackson (Ravens).
Allen and Mayfield will face each other for the third time in their careers as starters on Sunday. They each have one win against each other going into the matchup.