Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield went viral when he raced downfield to serve as a temporary lead blocker on a 56-yard carry by running back Bucky Irving in the fourth quarter of this past Sunday's 30-7 win at the New York Giants that improved Tampa Bay to 5-6 on the season.
During a Tuesday appearance on the Buccaneers Radio Network, Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles spoke about what Mayfield's dedication to the cause means to his teammates.
"The blocking play he made on Bucky’s run was probably the best play I’ve seen him do this year, regardless of anything else," Bowles said, the JoeBucsFan website shared. "That’s impressive for a quarterback to run the down the field that far and say, 'Follow me,' and still get a chip block off that way. That means he’s all-in. The team’s all-in. Everybody sees he’s out there doing everything else. It just hypes the team up more."
Such traits helped Mayfield become the perfect replacement for living legend Tom Brady and the team's emotional leader. Mayfield helped a Buccaneers side that went from 3-1 to 4-7 last season clinch the division title and earn a playoff win, and the 29-year-old later received a new contract from the club this past March.
History nearly repeated this fall, as the banged-up Buccaneers fell from 3-1 to 4-6 before the Giants game. For a piece published Wednesday, ESPN's Jenna Laine noted how Tampa Bay cornerback Zyon McCollum said Mayfield "just invigorates the entire team" with his willingness to put his body in harm's way each game.
"I love Baker, man. He's a guy that wants to win football games," Irving added. "He's competitive. Them the type of guys you want around you."
As of Wednesday morning, the NFL website gave the Buccaneers a 50% chance to make the playoffs. Those odds could go up to 58% if Tampa Bay wins against the 3-8 Carolina Panthers this coming Sunday.
On Wednesday, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Buccaneers as six-point favorites over the Panthers. History suggests Mayfield won't let his teammates take Carolina or any other opponent lightly as Tampa Bay attempts to return to the postseason for a fifth straight year.
