Baker Mayfield and the Bucs are within the playoffs. It took one other gritty sport by the quarterback to safe a victory and a playoff spot, however Tampa Bay did so by beating the Saints 27-19, securing the NFC’s No. 3 seed within the course of.
Bucs WR Mike Historical past – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
It was a gradual begin for the offense as they headed into halftime down 16-6 in entrance of their dwelling crowd. After a disappointing begin, the workforce responded with an electrical end, actually beginning when large receiver Jalen McMillan transformed a vital fourth down with a giant catch then adopted by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
McMillan went on to cap the drive with a 32-yard landing that noticed the Bucs take a 20-19 lead. Mayfield then directed the offense on a 12-play, 94-yard drive the place he confirmed off his wheels with a 28-yard scramble. Working again Bucky Irving punched it in to seal the deal, however there was nonetheless one downside.
Huge receiver Mike Evans wanted his 1,000 yards.
To shut the sport off correctly, Mayfield discovered Evans for 9 yards to make sure everybody left the stadium completely satisfied.
Here’s what Mayfield needed to say following the Bucs’ regular-season finale:
Baker Mayfield’s Full Put up-Sport Transcript
Baker Mayfield On The Sideline Temper Main Up To The Final Throw To Huge Receiver Mike Evans:
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: USA At present
“The dialog was like ‘alright, effectively, clearly we will’t flip the ball over, can’t give them one other probability, however how will we wish to [format] this play to get Mike [Evans] the ball to the place he can’t get double coated?’.
“That was what we got here up with and Mike [Evans] did the remainder. And he deserves that as a result of this man means a lot to the group, this workforce, this group, for years. For him to have the ability to attain that feat 11 years in a row and tie Jerry Rice is – it’s unbelievable.”
Baker Mayfield On The Fourth Down Conversion In The Fourth Quarter To Huge Receiver Jalen McMillan:
“They had been operating considered one of their third down coverages, bringing a security down. They had been operating man. They had been exhibiting two-high, carry a security in to type of rob some crossing routes over the center. I knew I used to be going to have a one-on-one with Jalen [McMillan] operating a nook route and simply shopping for time attempting to carry the protection within the center and he made an awesome play.”
Baker Mayfield On The Landing Throw To Huge Receiver Jalen McMillan In The Fourth Quarter:
Bucs WR Jalen McMillan – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
“Total in the present day we, offensively, simply too many penalties. Too many lengthy distances. Second-and-longs, third-and-longs, so we had been in a scenario proper there the place scramble drill took over. They had been dropping out of their protection and Jalen [McMillan] acknowledged it shortly and simply turned out proper and basically sound, toe-tapping on the sideline within the endzone and making an awesome play.”
Baker Mayfield On Wanting To Get Mike Evans Over 1,000 Yards:
“He at all times has [put the team first]. That’s why you like him. That’s why we recognize having him. We’re fortunate to have him and he’s underappreciated all through the media, the league and he’s considered one of one. He deserves that. Clearly, you noticed the stadium erupt, the sideline erupt. You may inform how a lot individuals care about him and what which means for everyone round him.”
Baker Mayfield On His Ideas When Working Again Bucky Irving Scored Late In The Fourth Quarter:
“Shit. We received the sport, nice. However now I’m going to be the man that didn’t get the 1,000 yards so now [Mike Evans] goes to have play 11 extra years after that if we’re going to get him that. No, however clearly the vital factor is profitable. All jokes apart an important factor is profitable. However you could have a bit of second on the sideline there to appreciate you’re that near it and God is nice, bought us the ball again, protection bought us a cease and so we had been capable of get yet one more play to him.”
Baker Mayfield On The Motivation At present:
“It’s a win or – win otherwise you’re happening trip and no person on this locker room desires to go on trip but so it is a robust group. We knew it was going to be a scrappy ball sport. It’s a division rival and the Saints got here right here final 12 months after we had an opportunity to clinch in Week 17 as effectively and so they beat the brakes off us so we needed to understand what kind of sport it’s going to be – bodily sport, win at any price and never matter what it seems to be like.”
Baker Mayfield On How He Feels Clinching A Playoff Start in his second 12 months with the Bucs:
“It feels good, however our aim wasn’t simply entering into the playoffs. We wish to go all the way in which. Like I stated, it is a robust, resilient group that’s been examined all year long and so we’re constructed for the playoffs.”
Baker Mayfield On S Jordan Whitehead’s Accident On Saturday Being One other Battle The Staff Had To Face And What They Can Say About Their Resiliency:
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: USA At present
“In the beginning, you need the well being and security of everyone concerned, particularly when it’s considered one of your teammates. Someone else was concerned in it too and so they’re within the hospital so [my] ideas and prayers are with everyone concerned in that. It’s simply persevering with to should face no matter adversity or check, no matter comes up and guys dealing with it and discovering a approach. That’s what it’s all about.”
Baker Mayfield On Having A Profession-Excessive 68 Speeding Yards In Sunday’s Sport:
“68 [yards]? Wow. They had been dropping it in protection. Like I stated, we had been in lots of these longer yardage conditions in order that they had been dropping eight, dropping out in protection, sinking beneath that, not attempting to allow us to convert it by means of the air so [I was] attempting to reap the benefits of that with my legs and simply profit from the chance.”
Baker Mayfield On If He Knew This Was The Buccaneers’ First Win This Season After Being Down By 10 Factors In A Sport:
“No, I didn’t know that.”
Baker Mayfield On If He Plans To Have a good time Tonight By Watching Some Soccer With His Teammates:
“Yeah, we’ll watch and see who we’re going to play. Was the Rams-Seahawks sport on the identical time? Oh yeah, afternoon sport, West Coast. I assume we’ll watch and see who we’re going to play.”
Baker Mayfield On His Response To Lacking WR Mike Evans On The Go Route Earlier In The Sport:
“Like I stated earlier, shit.”
