The Baker Stiffarm
September 10th, 2023
Great off-your-couch moments today in Minnesota: Antoine Winfied’s trifecta, the rare sack/fumble/recovery, was a big one in the first quarter.
Christian Izien’s goal-line interception was huge, too. Joe has a sweet spot for Calijah Kancey’s first quarterback hit and Devin White’s body slam of Kirk Cousins.
There were more.
Mike Evans’ game-changing, momentum-shifting touchdown. Chris Godwin’s seal-the-game catch and Baker Mayfield sneaking to daylight behind left guard Matt Feiler on 4th-and-1 in Bucs territory when the game was tied in the fourth quarter.
But Joe really loved the Mayfield stiffarm on the play after the sneak.
It looked like a designed run for Mayfield, who took off to the right and he was ready for Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy.
Mayfield had his left hand prepped to meet Murphy’s face and he strong-armed him backwards. Five-yard gain for Mayfield and the Buccaneers’ sideline erupted.
Joe is confident that play will make the “angry runs” feature on NFL Network tomorrow morning.
CBS game analyst Tiki Barber, the retired running back, talked on air about how hard it is to execute a stiff-arm successfully. Sidekick former QB Matt Ryan talked about how jacked-up strong Mayfield looked in their production meeting and that stiffarm looked like a quarterback who knows he’s playing for his career.
Joe just liked the attitude — and the execution.
September 10th, 2023 at 6:07 pm
He won the hearts of Buccaneer fans with that play.
September 10th, 2023 at 6:09 pm
Not mine quite yet modhairken
September 10th, 2023 at 6:09 pm
Also Izi with that great break and tackle on third down was a great play to force the punt in a tight game
September 10th, 2023 at 6:11 pm
Let’s Bake!
September 10th, 2023 at 6:15 pm
Bake smoked Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow and Deshawn Watson today. Lots of offenses struggle the first couple games, but Baker did better than many. It’s also just fun watching him play with all that hustle and attitude. Dude has that fire.
September 10th, 2023 at 6:15 pm
Baker may end up being our Franchise QB if he continues this inspired play for the entire season and for the rest of his career…
September 10th, 2023 at 6:18 pm
Trask would have stiff armed him harder! JK I thought I would put that out there first before all the Trask fans reply. BAKER has always been the best QB for this offense and today confirmed it!
September 10th, 2023 at 6:21 pm
Solid game all around. The scary thing is we can get way better on offense…
I guess Chase McLaughlin was an excellent choice at kicker.
That 57 yarder won the game.
Congrats to our GM for finding another solid kicker.
September 10th, 2023 at 6:22 pm
Mayfield has never been a franchise QB ever with any of the teams he’s been with. Think about it.
September 10th, 2023 at 6:23 pm
That stiff-arm is the kind of play that cause teammates to rally around the guy.
Fun stuff.
September 10th, 2023 at 6:24 pm
I could certainly be wrong, and provide details if I am, but I do not recall TB12 delivering that kind of finish to a run while wearing our colors.
September 10th, 2023 at 6:24 pm
We will be favored v the Bears and looks like we beat them next week. Eagles always play bad in Tampa if we beat em we go to Nola 3-0. After this it looks possible.
September 10th, 2023 at 6:29 pm
HC, one game at a time. Remember FitzMagic.
September 10th, 2023 at 6:32 pm
Looks like all the Joe’s are writing today. Love this story though, you can tell it’s not written by the “I love Trask and take shots at Baker when I can” Joe, because it’s written from an objective point of view and it’s not using a bad picture of Bake. I hope this Joe is right and his stiff arm makes the Network’s highlight reel. It’s just more to rub in the face of The Bucs hating, talking heads.
September 10th, 2023 at 6:38 pm
The defense balled out, I don’t care how many yards Kirk ended up with, that was all Justin Jefferson, whenever they played a zone, and Davis was not on him.
The defense made those turnovers happen, they got a lot of hits on cousins, couple sacks, LVD and White looked awesome in the middle , and the Vikings had absolutely no run game.
As for the offense, they did what they had to do and it got a little better as the game went on, but there’s a lot of work to do there.
It all starts with the offensive line and they need to block better for the run game. Baker could have been sacked about 4 more times if he wasn’t elusive because the O line couldn’t pick up a blitz from an edge.
They did have some good plays and they won the game, so hopefully they build on it
September 10th, 2023 at 6:41 pm
“Baker’s Stiff Arm” would make an awesome handle for JBF…
September 10th, 2023 at 6:43 pm
Love the “rub in the face” comment above. So tired of Bucs haters especially before the first game! Ecstatic about our first win and looking forward to many more as the season kicks off! Go BUCS!!
September 10th, 2023 at 6:44 pm
That stiff arm is slowly making me a believer in baker. A few tipped balls and totally whiffed on a wide open for a touchdown pass to Kio had me ready to bench him lol. He came thru. Let’s go Bucs
September 10th, 2023 at 7:01 pm
Canales/Mayfield Peyton/Brees Think about it.
September 10th, 2023 at 7:05 pm
@joe Can we talk about the bad call on izen when we stopped them on 3rd down
September 10th, 2023 at 7:06 pm
I’m guilty of bashing Baker and all I can say is he proved me and others wrong. In Mayfield we trust
September 10th, 2023 at 7:06 pm
What’s the point? Bucs won.
September 10th, 2023 at 7:09 pm
Now we know why Mayfield is the starter. Bowles had the play of the game though. Going for it on 4th down deep in their own territory was amazing. People who have already judged Bowles as a bad head coach may have to reconsider
September 10th, 2023 at 7:22 pm
I’m biased. I live in Oklahoma, and I’ve watched Baker play for a long time. I’ve seen his passion, grit, and “moxie” for several years. As I’ve said on this forum numerous times, IF he can get protection, he WILL make believers out of you all. (Even the Trask “homers.”)
Go Bucs!!!
September 10th, 2023 at 7:27 pm
Good start. Long way to go. Good news is that the nfc south is weak.
September 10th, 2023 at 8:13 pm
Jason: What are you talking about!? Baker has already shown that he’s a franchise QB. So give that sorry song a rest already. But, I understand that he has to win over some stubborn Buc fans. I’ve seen him play many times while with Cleveland and, believe me, when he’s in a grove he’s as good as anyone in the league. I wonder why he didn’t hit more 20-30-yard passes, but the Vikes played tough defense under their new DC. But like most of you, I’ll take the win.
September 10th, 2023 at 9:14 pm
I tend to agree with the observer I read on X responding to Baker’s first down run but it applies just as well to the stiffarm.
The guy said the reason the sidelines got so jacked was they liked seeing their QB with the “dawg” in him, willing to fight and scrap.
Personally I like viewing him as a guy with the “dawg” in him as more important than having “moxie”. Moxie is for front office people…players need to have the “dawg” in them.
September 10th, 2023 at 9:24 pm
Baker was good today, got better as the day went on, and it makes sense to expect improvement during the season. Imbeciles who claim (after a Bucs win no less) that Trask would have been better are ignorant slurpers.
Let’s go Baker. Let’s go Todd. Let’s go Bucs.
September 10th, 2023 at 10:34 pm
Buccos Says: You are right. I have not felt confident in Mr. Coach Bowles. He has now earned my confidence but more importantly I believe he has earned the confidence of the team. I take back my statement that Coach Bowles doesn’t convey strength in command.
September 10th, 2023 at 11:48 pm
Baker stiff armed collapse for Caleb for a first down.
September 11th, 2023 at 12:17 am
Definitely won me over a bit with that.
I’m sure teammates LOVED it.
September 11th, 2023 at 3:50 am
I like Bakers post game attitude. He wasn’t quite satisfied with the offense despite the win and he also never took the BS bait from the Jenna Laine’s of the
world. If his mind is right I think we can get to 10 wins.
September 12th, 2023 at 3:30 am
Shades of Jim McMahon! Go Bears…err Bucs!
Go Bucs!