Baker Mayfield: You Fight To The End
October 22nd, 2024
Fighter.
Joe is seeing a whole bunch of people both on social media and on this here website killing Todd Bowles for leaving Chris Godwin in the game when the Bucs should have otherwise raised a white flag, run a couple of dive plays and got the hell in the locker room.
Baker Mayfield wasn’t on board with that.
Mayfield said the Bucs (he didn’t specify who) discussed doing just that, giving up. Instead, Mayfield said the Bucs wanted to go down fighting.
So Mayfield noted he (and teammates … coaches … both?) decided, “Eff that!” and chose to try to pull out a win down 10 with no timeouts deep in Bucs territory with under two minutes to play.
“You know, we talked about it on the sideline thinking if we get a quick touchdown – obviously already got an onside kick during the game – get a quick touchdown an onside kick, have a possibility for a Hail Mary,” Mayfield said, “We have a group of fighters. We all wanted a chance to try and win that thing any way, some way, somehow.”
Joe admires this attitude. Guys who make it to the NFL and later exceed aren’t prone to quitting. Especially a guy like Godwin who has a ring. He ain’t no DeSean Jackson.
While using rearview mirror logic, Joe gets it. Godwin was injured on a 3rd-and-17 play with 1 minute remaining from the Bucs’ 18 yard line. The Bucs should have thrown in the towel. But if they did somehow pull out a win, how hungover would we all be this morning?
Joe just wishes the Bucs carried this same never-say-die mentality with them to Detroit last year in the playoffs — and Joe could pick other moments, too.
October 22nd, 2024 at 7:08 am
Idiotic. They don’t understand risk / reward. The reward should be losing your job.
October 22nd, 2024 at 7:15 am
People don’t understand pro sports mentality. It’s extremely detrimental to team moral to just keel over and admit defeat when you’ve still got a shot of winning, sure it wasn’t a great shot of winning but people have pulled off bigger upsets.
I’ve noticed so many people on this website whos opinions are solely based on outcomes, a call to go for it on 4th down and get the conversion is hailed as “Good aggressive playcalling!” but when the 4th down isn’t converted the screams of “JUST TAKE THE 3 POINTS!” start to fly from those very same people.
Had Godwin not got hurt im sure nobody would be kicking up a stink, but i know for a fact that had we given up and pulled starters the comments of this website and twitter would be filled with people crying about Bowles being too conservative and giving up on a winnable game.
October 22nd, 2024 at 7:18 am
Same mindset that led to his game killing interceptions. Not a pro. These are emotions determining his decisions. Hope everyone’s having fun now. At least Brady took the team all the way.
October 22nd, 2024 at 7:19 am
This calls for another dated music reference from the 80’s.
Human League’s “I’m only human”. The Bucs clearly showed their “human frailty” last night. But I have a different perspective than most having accepted reality after that 11 point swing with two TD’s negated and Bakers end zone int.
I get up at 5AM and so normally go to bed early. Last night 3 plays made that easy!!!
I’m the optimist here but I also recognize REALITY! An 11 point waste against the best team in the league is almost always gonna result in defeat. I knew the game was over. So I went to bed expecting Lamar and Derrick to gash the Bucs and maybe even hang a half hundred on them. I wake up and find the Bucs lose by TEN after wasting/getting hosed? for 11 points. Was the game that close. Of course not!! But it did show heart and thankfully the players are not JBF participants! IF they give up on Bowles THEN I’ll join the rest of the negative nellies here. The Bucs were never supposed to be a SB team this year!
Reality check – Lamar Jackson is not only the best QB in the league right now he’s doing things I’ve never seen before. He’s like Michael Vick on steroids!!
Derrick Henry is currently the best RB in the entire league at the moment and a certain HOF.
John Harbaugh is one of the very best coaches in the NFL, good enough to beat his brother Jim, another great coach in the SB.
The Bucs needed a PERFECT GAME last night to even compete. They did not get it! IF the D stays healthy, a major question given Kanceys history, Vita’s hammy, and Deans perpetually fragile body, this team can still compete.
It’s clear they’re not in the class of about a half dozen teams. But given the size of their hearts, their youth, and Baker’s leadership along with the players trust in Bowles I’m still looking forward to an entertaining season!
Just use your mouthwash this morning, get rid of the bad taste, and move on to the game that really counts…ATLANTA!
October 22nd, 2024 at 7:21 am
Head coach should know you’ve got a must win next week and an AFC North game isn’t near as important. Real players want to play all the time hurt but you make the decision on what’s best for the team. Depending on what comes from this, this could have just changed the Bucs being in the playoffs.
October 22nd, 2024 at 7:23 am
Baker has the heart of a lion and he is accountable. He owes up to the mistakes which he makes both in victories and in losses. He is accountable though I am sure we all wish he could quit throwing interceptions in the 2nd quarter.
However, the same cannot be said for Todd Bowles, he never takes the blame and while the Bucs’ O went sideways after ME pulled his hamstring, Bowles’ defense got boat raced. The guy will not admit that his schemes are not working and certain players are getting exposed, time and time again. So is it the schemes, lack of adjustments or simply lack of talent???? The first 2 fall on Bowles while the third might bring Jason Licht into a conversation about accountability along with the coach and his defensive roster….
October 22nd, 2024 at 7:30 am
Agree with farmer
October 22nd, 2024 at 7:30 am
I would not have pulled my guys, I know Chris getting injured was a big blow to us, with that said I’m trying to score on that drive. Let’s not all turn on our coach and let’s beat Atlanta this week. show some fight guys
October 22nd, 2024 at 7:31 am
Guys get paid to play. I get that. And, the game ain’t over till the whistle blows. However, when a miracle is needed to pull out a win, it’s time to give some of the backups an opportunity to shine. Particularly with Evans already out, you might think about sitting your only other top tier receiver. Just saying!
October 22nd, 2024 at 7:33 am
Bowles should be fired. The season’s over because of his stupidity. He lacks the judgement of a quality HC.
October 22nd, 2024 at 7:38 am
Chance of getting an onside kick is 5 in 100. To get 3 in the same game in a row is 125 in 1,100,000.
Aikem mentioned long before the injury that now is the time to start thinking about getting out as healthy as possible. One dumb Texan got it and another had no clue it was over. Same reasoning that had the Bucs one play from a NC Championship game last season.
The one dumb Texan that did not get it is probably the last guy I want throwing the ball in a last ditch situation juiced up on whatever make him think that he can do the impossible.
Throws going wildly and dangerously high and Bucs are fortunate to still have Otton and McMillian.
When a team runs the ball three times into the line late in the game and the BEATEN team keeps it to the floor they will extend a little grace. Push it and it becomes annoying and the hitting gets elevated thru the roof. Hardest hits in the game were on the last possession.
It really makes me wonder whether one of the guys on the sideline pushing to keep going hard was because he was just too stupid to realize it was over or looked at it as an opportunity to tack on another 150 in Passing and a couple more TD’s.
Down two TD’s and 2 conversions with over 11 minutes left I can see the hope especially when there are Joe’s that think each can be accomplished in on play.
Down 23 with 6:32 left against a team that just stuffed the ball down your throat on a 6 minute drive? Anyone thinking that could be overcome even with 6 timeouts plus the two minute warning is retarded.
Ravens were supposed to get Bucked and Tucked. Now by their own doing the Bucs are F’d.
October 22nd, 2024 at 7:46 am
You
NEVER
Quit
October 22nd, 2024 at 7:49 am
“Todd Bowles, he never takes the blame”
True dat! But he never takes credit either. He’s simply not about wasting time on credit or blame. He’ll come to work this morning the same Todd as ever. And perhaps that is why the players trust him. So much that last year he righted the sinking ship and went on to win a first round playoff game.
Let’s see if Todd’s even keel can continue to inspire a team with far too many 1-2 year players this season.
October 22nd, 2024 at 7:53 am
It totally sucks that Chris got injured!! But that is football!
I think that coach and Baker were absolutely correct….you keep fighting. This season is not over yet and the Bucs still have a long way to go until the playoffs!
Everyone gets healthy, next man up, and let’s go and win this division!
October 22nd, 2024 at 8:05 am
I’m a former Browns fan.
There was a game in 2001 where the Browns were beating the Bears 21-7 with under a minute left in the game.
Guess who won. Hint: it wasn’t the Browns.
You play till the end.
October 22nd, 2024 at 8:19 am
If in fact Bucs were trying to “Win” the game, then there is no reason in the world you do not attempt a field goal with 23 seconds left and then attempt your onside kick and if recovered you then maybe have a hail mary shot to tie. Game management , situational awareness, and clock usage have been a constant problem under Bowles. Wasting all the time trying to score a TD is self defeating in that situation.
October 22nd, 2024 at 8:23 am
You idiots who say to “play until the end of the game” are the same ones that don’t believe in analytics. You’re down 41-18 you have a 0.1% chance to win the game per ESPN.
October 22nd, 2024 at 8:28 am
There is also a saying that makes sense……Live to fight another day. Now we have even more injuries to deal with. Whoever said we need to put up 50 points a game to win is pretty much right on with that prediction.
October 22nd, 2024 at 8:41 am
All the quitters never played the game. Armchair coaches and quarterbacks the lot of you.
October 22nd, 2024 at 8:50 am
Quitting is contageous. You dont just flip the switch. You fight to the end all the time
October 22nd, 2024 at 8:50 am
Oh, come on!! That was a 21 yrd completion on 3rd and 17. If Chris had jumped up and run back to the huddle, y’all would’ve been cheering until the last second.
If “ifs and buts” were candy and nuts, we’d all have a merry Christmas.
October 22nd, 2024 at 9:03 am
Baker Mayfield is the toughest SOB on the planet. Keeping it real in Ireland.
October 22nd, 2024 at 9:09 am
It’s where do we go from here? Call any of the 2 win teams and try to get a wr for a pick,, Maybe Kirk or Williams ,,, then the D really needs help,,, at least the O is running the ball ,, and Otten seemed to emerge
October 22nd, 2024 at 9:26 am
If it was a game for all the marbles , yes, keep playing til the bitter end, if it is a non conference game when you are just getting into the toughest part of your schedule and You’ve already lost one HOF-er, maybe discretion is the better part of valor, in the overall scheme of things a tactical retreat to live to fight another day would have been better than losing another HOF-er senselessly, that you would really need for more critical games, but, it’s too late to worry about that now, It hurts , but We still have very good players that can step up and fill the breach, We just have to be smarter .
October 22nd, 2024 at 9:30 am
Unless you’re a quitter, never quit.
Nobody knows when an ugly injury will happen.
October 22nd, 2024 at 9:43 am
Obviously the players want to play.
But if we truly cannot kick an onside (admittedly I’m not sure of the rule) then our chance of winning was literally 0.00%. If that’s the case then get backups some time. Its effectively a scrimmage at that point
If we could kick an onside then I think it’s more justified. It’s still low probability but it’s not hopeless.
October 22nd, 2024 at 9:43 am
Players should feel that way. Coaches should know better.
October 22nd, 2024 at 9:44 am
And obviously players want to stay in. It’s stat padding time. Thats why you have a head coach
October 22nd, 2024 at 9:50 am
I get it. I understand where he’s coming from… That being said, this game wouldn’t have counted (most likely) as a tie breaker for playoffs. We focus on beating Atlanta and chalk this up as an a whipping. Simple as that. Would have been bad, of course, losing Mike, but now we lost Chris too.
October 22nd, 2024 at 10:23 am
The injury is a complete fluke – I personally would have sat key players early in the 4th Q…while keep trying to win…its a long 18week 17 game season…Atlanta is a way more important game…I appreciate the team’s don’t stop fighting attitude. (You get the feeling some things were said to Bowles about the Lions playoff game in the offseason)
I have confidence that our Offensive coordinator can help manufacture 21 to 24 points a game…its our D, we routinely give up 500yrds to any one not starting a rookie QB. I have zero idea how Bowles can fix this D in flight…Britt is slow and stiff…David will be fine but he’s not looking like David right now…we need to blitz to get pressure but our DBs play way off of the receivers…only time will tell…
October 22nd, 2024 at 10:43 am
Last paragraph says it all:
Risking guys while down 10 in a single regular season game, but didn’t call a timeout while down 8 in a divisional playoff game with more time left.
These are the decisions Bowles makes that prevent him from ever being a great coach. And of course his defense is also hot garbage.
October 22nd, 2024 at 10:56 am
How about fighting when the outcome is still in doubt? Losing Cg14 by passing when you’re down two scores with under a minute to play is just DUMB.
October 22nd, 2024 at 11:06 am
Posters on this site, including myself, always call TB for “calling it a day” and bad clock management especially at the end of games!! This game is 60 minutes not 58 or 59! Things, strange things can happen! Sure, perhaps a win is un-likely, but strange things have happened and do happen every once in a while! Thats why every game should be playrd 60 minutes. Besides, no NFL player wants to play hard for a team that quits!
That said, football is the toughest sport and the players are getting bigger, stronger, and faster! Major injuries around the league occur on a regular basis! It’s very sad that CG13 got carted off the field yesterday!
October 22nd, 2024 at 11:23 am
Baker’s getting paid 100 MILLION DOLLARS to say that. He doesn’t believe a word of it. Remember when tom brady said that 95% of the stuff he says to the media is not true?
October 22nd, 2024 at 11:45 am
You Fight To The End. end of conversation.
October 22nd, 2024 at 11:46 am
How do you play until the end when you’ve used your only two onside kicks and Ravens can just take a knee after the kickoff even if we did score another TD?
October 22nd, 2024 at 11:46 am
The Bucs have deliberately tried to build a “blue collar mentality” rather than a “I’m here for a paycheck” mentality.
Paycheck guys are all too happy to take a knee and hit the showers. Guys with the grit the Bucs have been trying to build their team around need to go down fight it out on every play.
The injury sucks. The spirit and grit are what you want if you are serious about winning championships.
The Bucs were rolling, and ME was a crucial part of that as he was hauling in his second TD of the first quarter. The guy swatting at ME’s heels did just enough to break his stride and cause his right leg to land “locked straight” which sends a searing jolt from heel to hip right up the backside of the leg. When I did that, for a moment, all I saw was a white flash and it was like a switch momentarily disconnected my control of my body. I can’t imagine anyone completing that catch. But, it was oh so close. And, it is the way championship teams play. They don’t always catch the breaks. They don’t always win. But, that is how they always compete.
October 22nd, 2024 at 12:12 pm
@Trask To The Future
There is no rule about 2 onside kicks, there was a proposal to add that as a rule but it did not get accepted.
There is no limit to onside kicks so long as its the 4th quarter and you are trailing.
October 22nd, 2024 at 12:14 pm
Last year it was “Bowles should have called a timeout….even with a slim chance of winning you have to play to the end and give your team the chance!!! Bowles quit on his team!!! That was inexcusable!!!”
This year it’s “Bowles knew there was no chance to win that game…he should have pulled the starters and given up on his team no matter how slim the chance to win was!!! This is inexcusable!!!”
Funny how the pendulum swings……
October 22nd, 2024 at 12:15 pm
This isn’t war! They have given up plenty times in their careers, just dumb to pretend otherwise. This is stat padding and ego. Of course the offense still wanted to go out there, before and after Brady they have done this most seasons, they make the game closer at the end so that the defense takes all the blame.
October 22nd, 2024 at 12:24 pm
Gotti, there are winnable moments that make sense then there was last night. Call a timeout to get one last shot into the endzone vs. less than a minute left to get a FG/TD, onside recovery (after getting 1 already), and another score with NO TIMEOUTS!! The second Scot’ score would have had to be a TD because anyone with sense would have to take the FG from the farthest out possible. Let’s be reality based instead of comparing apples to oranges!
October 22nd, 2024 at 12:34 pm
Lot of quitters committing today.
October 22nd, 2024 at 1:13 pm
If your players are healthy and want to keep fighting, you give them the chance. It’s not like Bowels had Godwin playing with a concussion or aggravating an injury. He played a tough, amazing sport at the highest level, and unfortunately he got hurt.