Baker Mayfield reflects on highlight-reel run in Buccaneers' comeback win over Texans

For the second time in two contests, quarterback Baker Mayfield engineered a late game-winning drive as he guided his Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a thrilling 20-19 win over the Houston Texans (0-2) on Monday night. 

Arguably, the top highlight from Tampa Bay's victory involved Mayfield taking off for a 15-yard run on a 4th-and-10 situation with roughly 1:20 remaining in regulation. Following the win, Mayfield addressed his sprint that ended with his back bouncing off the NRG Stadium turf.

What Baker Mayfield saw before his first-down run

"It wasn't like an all-out, zero blitz, but when the back blocks, the 'backer in man coverage adds on," Mayfield said about the situation, per Grant Gordon of the NFL's website. "Fortunately, was able to get out of that one and get through. Just seeing green grass and fourth down, two-minute drive, trying to do anything it takes to get a win."

Back in the spring, first-year Buccaneers offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard acknowledged that Mayfield "plays the game like a UFC fighter" and that Tampa Bay wanted "to take a couple of the hits off him and [have him not play] like that all the time." Mayfield welcomed contact on multiple occasions during Monday's win, and he seemed to suffer a leg/ankle injury earlier in the fourth quarter before he kept the game alive when his team was trailing by five points. 

Todd Bowles praises Baker Mayfield for game-extending play

"That was a heck of a job of situational football," Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles said about Mayfield's 15-yard run. "Really, Bake on the fourth-and-10, using his legs to get the first down. That kind of catapulted everything from there. Everything we practiced, everything we've talked about and everything we've done about finishing a ball game, they did a heck of a job finishing."

Mayfield completed his final five passes of the contest before Rachaad White scored a two-yard rushing touchdown with six seconds remaining. In total, Mayfield went 7-of-9 for 63 yards on Tampa's final possession. 

"We do two-minute all the time," Mayfield added during his postgame comments. "Being able to know that you have all those reps in the bank and relying on that and all the looks, taking the checkdowns, the easy throws, and obviously guys making plays, being able to get out of bounds and extend the drive."

As of Tuesday morning, ESPN BET had the Buccaneers as 6.5-point home favorites for this coming Sunday's game against an 0-2 New York Jets team that may be without starting quarterback Justin Fields (concussion). If nothing else, the Jets would do well to keep the ball out of Mayfield's hands if Tampa Bay is trailing with under three minutes left on the clock.