TAMPA, Fla. – Baker Mayfield led the Buccaneers with two passing touchdowns and no interceptions, including a highlight reel scramble for a first down, in a 30-19 win over the 49ers. The Bucs faithful chanted “MVP, MVP” at Raymond James Stadium.
“It’s Week 6,” Mayfield said. “So we got a big one next week. It’s awesome to have the support, don’t get me wrong, we are just getting started.”
Mayfield completed 17 of 23 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns. One of those was a big 45-yard touchdown to rookie Tez Johnson. This came just a few plays after Mayfield converted on a spectacular third-and-14 scramble for a first down.
Nothing Mayfield does surprises Bucs head coach Todd Bowles, although even he admitted that Mayfield’s run was “pretty spectacular.”
“I was in disbelief just like everybody else,” Bowles said. “It happens every week or so. He makes those types of plays, and you pray that he doesn’t get hurt or anything happens to him.”
After the Mayfield-to-Johnson touchdown, Mayfield didn’t even notice or hear the MVP chants. Johnson heard them, and was initially confused, thinking the chants were for him.
“When I scored and I heard the MVP chants, I thought they were talking about me,” Johnson said. “So I asked Shep (Sterling Shepard) if they were talking about me as MVP? I’m thinking I haven’t done anything this year. He was like, ‘They’re talking about Baker.’ I was like, well, that explains it.”
Tampa Bay earned the win without wide receivers Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Jalen McMillan, not to mention running back Bucky Irving.
“I truly and genuinely trust the guys that are in there,” Mayfield said. “The guys are on the same page. I trust these guys, even though some of them haven’t played a whole lot of ball.”
Now, the Bucs’ star rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka is down with a hamstring injury, and the “next man up” mentality continues. Bucs left tackle Tristan Wirfs says the Bucs are used to this, and it doesn’t change their mindset.
“Emeka, being a rookie, has stepped up big time. He went down,” Wirfs said. “Tez Johnson, Kam Johnson—it is awesome to watch. Those guys have some big shoes to fill with Mike [Evans] and Chris [Godwin] out right now, but they are coming in and making plays, and that is all we can ask of them.”
Tampa Bay improves to 5-1, tying the best six-game start in Buccaneers history, and more importantly, stands atop the NFC South going into next Monday Night’s showdown in Detroit, despite all the injuries.
“It validates that we are 5-1,” Bowles said. “It’s week to week in this league. You can go from the penthouse to the outhouse, and we have to understand that.”
READ: Mayfield Weaves Through Injuries And 49ers Defense To Launch Bucs To 5-1
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