Baker Mayfield Proving To Be Extra Than Simply Tom Brady Substitute for Bucs

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield jogged off the sphere at Raymond James Stadium on Monday evening, turned towards the house locker room, and let loose an emphatic “Let’s go!” in related trend to Tom Brady, the legend he had the daunting activity of changing beneath middle.

However Mayfield’s first season in Tampa Bay has already outlasted Brady’s last one.

The 28-year-old former No. 1 decide threw for 337 yards and three touchdowns in a 32-9 Wild Card thumping of the defending NFC champions the Philadelphia Eagles. No QB in franchise historical past had ever earlier than thrown for 300+ yards and three scores in a single playoff recreation—not even Mayfield’s future-Corridor-of-Fame predecessor in three years with the Bucs.

Now, nearly precisely a 12 months after Brady retired (for good) following a season-ending Wild Card loss, Tampa Bay is onto the divisional spherical, the place a gathering with the No. 3 seed Detroit Lions awaits.

Surprising? Which may be underselling it. However for Mayfield, main the once-counted-out Bucs right into a playoff recreation as dwelling underdogs was a place he was greater than snug with.

“There’s one thing about, whether or not it is you are an underdog or [playing] a highway recreation, simply having your backs in opposition to the wall and understanding it is simply your group versus all people else once you’re counted out,” Mayfield stated postgame. “It is at all times enjoyable to be in that function. Clearly I am fairly snug in it, however our group has utterly embraced that all year long.”

The Buccaneers are Mayfield’s fourth group over the past 19 months for the reason that Cleveland Browns gave up on him. After stints with the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams in 2022, the previous Heisman Trophy winner signed a 1-year, $4-million prove-it deal in Tampa Bay final offseason.

And show it he has.

Mayfield set career-highs in passing yards, touchdowns, and completion proportion whereas main the Bucs to a 9-8 season, the NFC South title, plus the convention’s No. 4 seed. And reasonably than simply performing to the extent of stop-gap, transition QB within the fast aftermath of the prolific Brady period—the swagger-filled signal-caller has made his case to be the QB for years to come back in Tampa Bay. There could also be no higher instance of that than Mayfield’s play on Monday evening.

Regardless of battling each a rib harm he sustained two weeks in the past and an ankle ailment suffered in opposition to the Panthers final week, Mayfield had maybe his finest efficiency as a Buc. The QB flew out his private bodily therapist twice final week to rehab forward of the sport.

“I do not know the science,” Mayfield stated. “I simply let him do the work. I am a glutton for punishment. It isn’t enjoyable, however it’s value it.”

Added Bucs coach Todd Bowles: “He gutted it out. I imply, should you checked out him in the course of the week—he was limping round, he wasn’t training, he was getting a little bit higher every day[…]He stayed with the plan, he by no means flinched, and he made play after play after play, and that claims an entire lot about him.

“He did a hell of a job.”

The Bucs scored on every of their first three possessions in opposition to the Eagles to take a 13-0 lead early within the second quarter. Philly responded, and a Jalen Hurts-Dallas Goedert connection off of play-action for a five-yard rating made it a seven-point recreation proper earlier than halftime.

Six first-half drops from Tampa Bay, three from tight finish Cade Otton alone, saved the Bucs from blowing their lead open early. However Mayfield paced the sidelines, encouraging his teammates and assuring his pass-catchers of his perception in them.

The power stayed upbeat. And that is simply what the Bucs wanted.

“I really feel like we as a group simply tackle his character,” stated Otton, who completed with a team-high eight catches for 89 yards. “Simply at all times competing, at all times has that fireplace. We’re seeing it come collectively. We’re getting higher so far as executing. We’re by no means out of the battle. We’re at all times going to compete identical to he does.”

Then the Bucs delivered a one-two knockout blow.

Tampa Bay pummeled Hurts all through the evening, utilizing six-man defensive fronts orchestrated by the “evil genius” Bowles—as pass-rusher Anthony Nelson known as him—to stress and confuse the QB. However with only a four-man rush late within the third quarter, and the Bucs main 16-9, Nelson compelled Hurts into an intentional grounding penalty ultimately zone. Tack on two factors for Tampa Bay.

And on the second play of the following drive, the Bucs had been on the board once more in that very same finish zone.

Mayfield hit broad receiver Trey Palmer on a fast out to the fitting, then the rookie did the remainder, evading what appeared like the whole Eagles secondary—as Ray Lewis seemed on in disgust on the ManningCast—on a 56-yard scoring hike.

A nine-point swing in a matter of 57 seconds of recreation time nearly did it. Eagles followers in Kelly Inexperienced jerseys made their approach to the exits. A few of those that remained of their seats pulled out paper baggage to cowl their heads. The Metropolis of Brotherly Love wasn’t feeling any in Tampa.

Add in a 23-year lob pass to Chris Godwin to beat cowl zero—a play Mayfield audibled to and a throw he described as “[No. 14] is down there someplace”—and the Bucs’ beatdown was full. Celebratory cannons had been fired.

The Eagles went from an NFL-best 10-1 report, which included a 14-point win over the Bucs in Week 3, to dropping six of their last seven and being despatched dwelling on Wild Card Weekend. However Mayfield helped convey the Buccaneers again from a 4-7 report to turn into a playoff-winner.

“I like enjoying with Baker,” exterior linebacker Shaquil Barrett stated. “I knew Baker was going to be particular for us as soon as he gained the job. I noticed it from when he first bought into the league. He simply wanted to be wholesome and a very good alternative. And I feel he bought that with us, and he is displaying what he can do with it and I like what I am seeing from him.”

There’s mutual curiosity, in line with reviews, between the Bucs and Mayfield to increase their relationship previous this season. That would embody a franchise tag this offseason. Or, if the 2 sides desire a long-term dedication, offers akin to these just lately signed by Derek Carr (4 years, $150 million) or Geno Smith (three years, $75 million) could possibly be in play, as highlighted by Spotrac.

However there’s extra vital enterprise to take care of in the meanwhile.

Mayfield joins a choose listing—which additionally consists of Brady—of NFL quarterbacks to win playoff video games with two completely different franchises.

The previous walk-on Heisman Trophy winner gained the Browns their first postseason contest since Invoice Belichick’s tenure within the mid-Nineteen Nineties by beating the Pittsburgh Steelers in the course of the 2020 marketing campaign. Was this second playoff victory sweeter than the primary for Mayfield? After being traded by the Browns, reduce by the Panthers, and doubted by seemingly all groups not situated in Tampa?

He did not say no.

“I do not wish to immediately examine,” Mayfield, a slight grin on his face, stated after a shrug and transient pause. “However 12 months, clearly the ups and downs that I have been by means of the previous couple of years, this one’s nice[…]Our sights are set for larger targets, so [we’re] onto the subsequent one.”

That is available in a 3 p.m. divisional-round matchup with the NFC North Champion Lions on Sunday. Tampa Bay, who misplaced to Detroit 20-6 within the common season, enters the rematch as an early 6.5-point underdog. A efficiency out of Mayfield to the caliber of what was seen in opposition to the Eagles could also be wanted to advance to the NFC Championship Recreation.

However after overcoming the “GOAT’s” farewell, combating again right into a playoff spot, and upsetting the Eagles, what’s yet one more win to Mayfield and firm?

“I am trying ahead to it,” Barrett stated at his locker postgame. “I do know playoff soccer hasn’t been [in Detroit] for a very long time. It is lastly again, and so they beat us earlier within the 12 months, so that is one other step on our revenge tour.”