After six games, the 5-1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the best record in the NFC after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 30-19 at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday.
The biggest reason for Tampa’s success is the play of quarterback Baker Mayfield. In the win over the 49ers, Mayfield completed 17-of-23 for 256 yards and two touchdown passes and no interceptions. He became just the ninth quarterback in NFL history to complete at least 82% of his passes while averaging at least 11 yards per attempt across multiple games within a single season.
This season, Mayfield has thrown 12 touchdown passes with only one interception.
Mayfield is playing at an elite level, and you could hear the MVP chants cascading down from the fans in Tampa. He reacted to this after the win, expressing his gratitude for the support.
“It’s week six,” he said. “So, got a big one next week. It’s awesome to have the support, don’t get me wrong, but we’re just getting started.”
After the 49ers cut the lead to 20-19 in the third quarter, the Buccaneers were facing a 3rd and long situation, and Mayfield would break a few tackles and get the improbable first down. Mayfield would punctuate the drive with a 45-yard touchdown pass to Tez Johnson.
“That was unreal,” Bucs WR Sterling Shepard said about the scramble. “And you know what? I caught myself watching a little bit too much. I should have [gone] to go block somebody, but I saw him see that first down. And when he sees that first down, he goes to go get it. [I’m] so proud of him in the way that he’s been playing. We’re going to need him doing that type of stuff, so that was big.”
Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles was shocked by what he saw.
“I mean, I was in disbelief just like everybody else,” Bowles said. “It happens every other week or so, and he makes those type of plays and you pray he does not get hurt or anything happens to him. He has a knack, he has a knack that you can’t teach or coach, and it was an unbelievable play.”
Some compared his scrambling to Mike Vick, but Mayfield wanted no part of that.
“No, that’s the first time I’ve ever heard that, and hopefully it’s the last,” Mayfield said. “I can’t do what Mike Vick ever did.”
If Mayfield keeps playing at this level, he will be compared to the top quarterbacks in the NFL.
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