TAMPA, Fla. — Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield did not maintain again when requested concerning the significance of a 29-27 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday.
Mayfield particularly pointed to Steve Wilks, the Jets’ defensive coordinator who lower the QB when he was coach of the Carolina Panthers, as to why it was so particular.
“I cherished it,” Mayfield stated. “And in addition their D-coordinator was the one which lower me in Carolina.
“Lot of stuff was private right now. Haason Reddick, former Jet … lot of individuals.”
Reddick signed with the Bucs in March after a holdout-marred 2024 season with the Jets.
Sunday’s sport additionally noticed the Bucs’ Todd Bowles dealing with the Jets, which fired him in 2018, for the primary time as a head coach.
As for Mayfield, he continued to provide wins for Tampa Bay, one thing he didn’t do whereas nonetheless recovering from a shoulder harm in Carolina in 2022. After the Panthers received off to a 1-5 begin, Wilks deliberate to make him the third quarterback behind P.J. Walker and Sam Darnold. When the Panthers instructed Mayfield he was going to be the No. 3, they supplied to waive him if he so selected and he accepted.
On Sunday, Mayfield grew to become the fourth quarterback over the previous 30 years to provide a successful drive in every of his workforce’s first three video games of a season, becoming a member of Nick Foles (2014, Eagles), Matt Ryan (2015, Falcons) and Ryan Tannehill (2020, Titans), per ESPN Analysis.
And the Bucs grew to become the fourth workforce because the 1970 merger to win three straight video games with a rating within the ultimate minute of the fourth quarter, becoming a member of the 1994 Giants, 1998-99 Cardinals and the 2017 Steelers, in response to Elias Sports activities Bureau.
“He is a pure born chief,” stated rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka, who caught a 28-yard Mayfield go within the fourth quarter that helped arrange Chase McLaughlin’s 36-yard successful subject objective. “Somebody who’s keen to die on the sphere earlier than giving up or shutting down. I believe it is fairly particular to have somebody like that on the helm of your offense and on the helm of your workforce, so we’re in good fingers.”
Added middle/left guard Ben Bredeson: “There’s no person I might reasonably have than Baker proper within the two-minute drill on the finish.”
The Bucs received with simply two of their beginning offensive linemen, as All-Professional left sort out Tristan Wirfs continues to be working his manner again from knee surgical procedure and proper sort out Luke Goedeke and proper guard Cody Mauch had been positioned on injured reserve final week. And the receiving group stays with out Professional Bowler Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan, and noticed Mike Evans depart within the fourth quarter Sunday with a hamstring harm.
Cornerback Zyon McCollum stated there’s by no means any panic with Mayfield in troublesome moments, though many have characterised him as “taking part in with a chip on his shoulder.”
“Understanding him, he does it each single day, each single week,” McCollum stated. “As a protection, seeing a man like Baker go on the market … among the scrambles that he does, among the runs that he has, the grit that he exhibits — I’ve 100% full religion in him and the offense to go on the market and get it accomplished in these essential moments.”