Buccaneers’ Baker Mayfield eviscerates Panthers with response to Sam Darnold question
As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prepare for their Week 5 showdown against the Seattle Seahawks, quarterback Baker Mayfield made headlines Wednesday with a sharp response to a question about his time with the Carolina Panthers.
During his weekly press conference, Mayfield was asked about his relationship with Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, a former teammate during the 2022 season in Carolina. After acknowledging that he and Darnold remain close friends, Mayfield was asked if they ever reminisce about “the good old days in Carolina.”
“Uhhh. Reminisce about what days?” Mayfield replied. When the reporter repeated the phrase, Mayfield responded, “Oh, nope. No we don’t.”
The brief exchange, which quickly circulated online, was widely interpreted as a subtle but stinging jab at the Panthers. Mayfield and Darnold shared time under center in 2022 for a Carolina team that struggled to a 7-10 record and cycled through multiple coaching changes and quarterbacks. Mayfield was acquired by the Panthers via trade from the Cleveland Browns, while Darnold was already entering his second year with the franchise.
Since then, both quarterbacks have revived their careers elsewhere.
Mayfield joined the Buccaneers in 2023 and has since led the team to back-to-back postseason appearances. In 2024, he produced a career-best season, throwing for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns with a 71.4% completion rate and 106.8 passer rating. He added 378 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers set to face Sam Darnold and Seahawks in Week 5 clash
Through four games of the 2025 season, Mayfield has continued his strong form, throwing for 904 yards with eight touchdowns and just one interception. He has added 129 rushing yards on 14 carries. The Buccaneers are 3-1 entering Week 5, with their only loss coming in a 31-25 defeat to the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles.
Darnold, meanwhile, is in his first season with Seattle after playing for the 49ers in 2023 and enjoying a breakout year with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024. That season, Darnold threw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns while leading the Vikings to the playoffs.
So far in 2025, Darnold has thrown for 905 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions while completing 70% of his passes. His 106.5 passer rating has helped guide the Seahawks to a 3-1 start as well.
The two quarterbacks will meet for the first time since their time in Carolina when the Buccaneers face the Seahawks at Lumen Field on Sunday. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. ET on CBS.
While Mayfield’s on-field performance continues to speak for itself, his brief but pointed comments about the Panthers underscore just how far both he and Darnold have come since their shared 2022 campaign. For Tampa Bay, the focus remains on building momentum, with Mayfield firmly established as the team’s leader heading into the heart of the season.
Seahawks $42 Million Addition Sends 2-Word Message After Impressive Start
The Seattle Seahawks got their first win of the 2025 season in Week 2, as they cruised to a 31-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. After a slow start in Week 1, the Seahawks looked much more dangerous in their second game of the season, and one of their big-name offseason additions is already making a big impact for his new team.
That player would be veteran defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, who signed a three-year, $42 million contract with Seattle in free agency last offseason after spending the first 11 years of his career with the Dallas Cowboys. And while it would have been reasonable to expect him to need a few games to shake off the rust after he missed the majority of the 2024 campaign, Lawrence has been one of the most disruptive defenders in the league to begin the new season.
DeMarcus Lawrence Wreaking Havoc Already for the Seahawks
The Cowboys selected Lawrence with the second pick of the second round in the 2014 NFL Draft, and he quickly became a key piece of the team’s defensive line. Lawrence earned four Pro Bowl selections during his time with Dallas, while also being selected to the All-Pro Second Team in 2017, when he racked up a career-high 14.5 sacks.
In 2024, Lawrence missed all but four games due to a foot injury, and the Cowboys allowed him to hit the open market, where he decided to sign with the Seahawks. In two games, Lawrence has nine tackles, two of which went for a loss, and one quarterback hit. While it may not seem like much on the surface, a closer look shows how productive Lawrence has been.
While Lawrence is known for his pass-rushing abilities, he’s also a stout run defender. Case in point, he is first in the league in EDGE Run Stop Win Rate at 63%, showing that he’s frequently blowing up run plays. And when it comes to rushing the passer, Seattle as a whole is dominating opposing offensive lines, as they lead the league with a 49.4% pressure rate.
It’s only two games, but Lawrence appears to be a perfect fit along the Seahawks’ defensive line, which suddenly appears to be one of the best units in the league. After helping Seattle take down Pittsburgh, Lawrence sent a strong two-word message on social media that quickly caught the attention of fans.
“Business handled,” Lawrence simply said in a post on X.
DeMarcus Lawrence, Seahawks Looking to Keep Up Positive Momentum in Week 3
GettyDeMarcus Lawrence had two words to describe his hot start with the Seahawks in 2025
With several new faces on offense, it’s going to take some time for that unit to figure things out in 2025. If the defense can continue to shut down their opponents, though, that will make things much easier for the offense, and that was evident in the team’s win over the Steelers. They are only two games into the season, though, so there’s still a lot of work to do.
Seattle has drawn a bit of an easier matchup in Week 3, as they will be going up against the winless New Orleans Saints. No game in the NFL is ever easy, and while the Saints remained competitive in their first two games, they are widely regarded as the worst team in the league. The Seahawks will look to earn their second straight victory when they take on the Saints at 4:05 p.m. ET on Sunday.
