Baker Mayfield: Bears barked out the Buccaneers' cadence, causing a false start

On Sunday night, the Buccaneers were penalized five times for false starts, with quarterback Baker Mayfield suggesting that at least one of these infarctions was the result of an unsportsmanlike maneuver by the Bears. According to Mayfield, left tackle Tristan Wirfs jumped when the Bears players shouted Mayfield's cadence, an action that constitutes a penalty should it be observed by officials.

However, Mayfield noted that determining such behavior can be challenging for officials, as they are not directly at the line of scrimmage.

The final false start was attributed to the Bears' incessant chanting of the Buccaneers' cadence, which is strictly prohibited. Mayfield acknowledged the difficulty in calling this infarction, as the referees are not stationed at the line of scrimmage. He emphasized that it is difficult for the officials to discern such behavior, leading to the call on Wirfs.

This particular false start occurred during a tumultuous period for the Buccaneers' offensive performance. Immediately following this penalty, Mayfield was hit while attempting to throw an incomplete pass. The following three plays saw Mayfield sacked, although one of the sacks was later overturned by a penalty. The offensive line appeared to be struggling, and Mayfield believes that the Bears may have been utilizing illegal tactics, which contributed to their difficulties.