The Arizona Cardinals roll into central Florida to play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Sunday in the 1:00 pm (Eastern) slot. Tampa is 6-5-0 and is currently on a three-game slide, but in first place in the NFC South standings. The Cards are 3-8-0 and want to gain some momentum going down the stretch to build on for next season. They sit in last place in the NFC West Division, the NFL’s most difficult division.
RELATED: WILL MAYFIELD PLAY AGAINST THE CARDINALS?
Buccaneers’ starting quarterback, Baker Mayfield, is currently injured, still nursing a left shoulder injury sustained in the 34-7 beatdown handed out by the Los Angeles Rams last weekend.
In a recent press conference, Mayfield answered questions from the media about how his non-throwing shoulder is doing and if he will play against Arizona on Sunday. The answer: will have to wait and see. That conclusion could very well be answered right before kickoff.
Mayfield’s backup is veteran journeyman Teddy Bridgewater. He was selected in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings after a sterling career at Louisville, where he was named the Big East Offensive Player of the Year. In his final college season, he threw 31 TDs against just four interceptions.
In training camp of 2016, he suffered a non-contact injury to his left leg for which an ambulance was summoned. He was the lead story on every sports show. After an MRI, it was confirmed that he tore his ACL and suffered other structural damage, including a dislocation of the knee joint. There was talk that he would lose that leg. Everything in that knee was blown up.
The following year, he signed a one-year deal with the New York Jets. From there, he has played for eight NFL clubs as a backup. This year with the Bucs, Bridgewater has only tossed 15 passes for 62 yards.
With Mayfield being up in the air this week, who does the Arizona coaching staff work out a game plan for?
The answer: Both quarterbacks.
Usually, teams will employ their QB room with athletes that are of a similar ability and stature as their starter. Makes no sense to have a mega-runner such as Lamar Jackson, and his backup a pure pocket passer like Tom Brady. The assignments all across the offense are different. Having similar styles of quarterbacks just works out better for everyone.
Nov 23, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) is sacked by Los Angeles Rams linebacker Byron Young (0) in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Nov 23, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) is sacked by Los Angeles Rams linebacker Byron Young (0) in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Well, Tampa Bay didn’t get that memo. Mayfield and Bridgewater are not the same style of signalcaller. Not at all. Mayfield can – and will – run, but only when flushed. There aren’t any planned running plays for Mayfield. He needs a clean pocket, but can improvise if needed.
Bridgewater has lost some of his speed since college due to his injury, but he still has a tendency to take off from the pocket.
Like Mayfield, Bridgewater is a calculated, football-smart rhythm passer. He likes to dink-and-dunk and operate in the short passing game while using play-action. He is an instinctive passer with laser-beam determination. Both are extremely competitive and meticulous in preparation. However, Bridgewater has only played on 35 snaps this year.
Mayfield is having a Pro Bowl season despite losing four out of their last five games. He is throwing at a 62.7% completion average with 18 TDs to just five picks. Tampa is a very good football team.
The Bucs are a defensive team, just like the Cardinals, with a defensive-minded head coach. They are one of six teams in the NFL that will blitz at a rate of 30% or higher.
Arizona is not sure if Mayfield or Bridgewater will start, so their game preparation has to be Plan “A” and Plan “B.”
With Mayfield under center, the Bucs are creative and rely on his ability to read the defense and exploit the safeties.
Bridgewater plays more hot and cold and will want to generate more runs in his game than Mayfield. His receivers have to know that he is likely to take off at any moment.
Tampa Bay doesn’t rely on keeping in extra blockers while on offense, with the exception of a running back doing a chip block before flaring out into the flats.
The Cardinals’ defense is currently ranked #8 against the run and #20 in pass defense. They have 22 sacks, which ranks #22, and nine interceptions, which ranks #9. The Bucs’ offensive attack versus the Arizona defense will become the storyline of the game.
If Calais Campbell and Josh Sweat can provide a good pass rush, it won’t matter who is under center for the Bucs.