Numbness in the knees moved Matt Stafford to the injured reserve. The Rams went into week 14 with one catastrophe battering them out of NFC Playoff contention during the season after their Super Bowl victory over the Bengals. 

This took place on the heels of Cooper Kupp hitting IR as well, following a high ankle sprain, and LA faced their fate. 

Enter Baker Mayfield. 

The quarterback taken first overall in 2018 spent his first four seasons in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns, bringing the Brownies to the playoffs in his third year. 

They wound up squandering a lead to the Chiefs in a thrilling Divisional Round game, but the Browns’ outlook was promising. 

Until it reached an icy point. The Browns went 8-9 the next season and they traded Mayfield to the Carolina Panthers for a 2024 conditional draft choice. 

Carolina hobbled to a 3-8 outset under Baker, and the Panthers showed Mayfield the exit gate on Monday of last week. 

The sliding and skidding Los Angeles Rams pounced to collect Baker off of waivers the day after. 

That was predictable enough. LA recognized their starting QB is on IR and they needed a new quarterback. 

What took place a mere two days later was something the football gods couldn’t predict. LA started John Wolford at QB against the Raiders on TNF. He opened the first drive of the contest, and suddenly Mayfield came in. 

The ship serving as the Rams’ playoff hopes plunged, but a force beyond words began to lift the ship back up to the surface. 

Lagging 16-3, Baker led the Rams down the field to close the gap to six on a touchdown run by Cam Akers. 

The defense for LA stuffed Raiders back Josh Jacobs on third and short, and so, the Rams had time to go secure a win. 

Opening the drive from the two-yard line with less than two minutes remaining, Mayfield found wide receiver Ben Skowronek for multiple 20+ yard gains as he was a facilitator of a comeback win. 

Skowronek offered immense praise for Mayfield post-game. 

“I’ve got nothing but respect for Baker,” Skowronek stated. “To have a guy come in like that, work his tail off for 48 hours during the game plan, learn our names… hats off to him.” 

Van Jefferson, who caught the game-winning touchdown from Mayfield, also offered props: 

“He came in and worked right away. He got out on the practice field and was just slinging it.” 

With this extraordinary victory, the Rams stay afloat in NFC Playoff contention with a trip to Lambeau Field to play the Packers on MNF coming soon. 

Whatever you may believe about Baker Mayfield’s football career up to this point, know that with the ideal coaching and athletes around him, as the Rams hope to provide: 

Baker will bake.