Buccaneers 'playing free' with Baker Mayfield instead of Tom Brady

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin named one difference between the version of the Bucs that lost 31-14 to the Dallas Cowboys in the wild-card round of the playoffs last January and the Tampa Bay squad that defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 32-9 in Monday's wild-card game. 

"Last year, we were playing really tight," Godwin told Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. "I think that this year, guys are playing free. Especially the last month, guys have been playing much more freely and just trying to have a good time. This game is such a special game. You don’t really know how much time you have in it. Go out there and let’s enjoy this s---." 

It may never fully be known if at least some Tampa Bay players truly felt "relieved" that quarterback Tom Brady retired "for good" in February 2023 after stories related to his divorce hung over the franchise throughout the 2022 season. Now that the Buccaneers have won six of seven games, including Monday's blowout, it appears that current starting signal-caller Baker Mayfield proved to be an ideal replacement for Brady. 

"He’s fit right in," Godwin said about Mayfield. "The good thing about Baker is he didn’t come in trying to be Tom’s replacement. He came in just trying to be Baker Mayfield. That’s exactly who we needed him to be. We want him to be the best version of himself. His personality, the way he works, the way he interacts with guys, the guys can feel how genuine he is. He goes out there and he fights." 

Mayfield hurt his ribs late in Week 17 and then suffered an ankle injury in the regular-season finale on Jan. 7. While there were moments during Monday's contest when he seemed to be playing through discomfort, he nevertheless completed 22-of-36 passes for 337 yards and three touchdowns to guide the Buccaneers to a divisional playoff matchup at the Detroit Lions. 

Following Monday's win, players such as linebacker Devin White mentioned the Buccaneers were on a "revenge tour" because many believed this past summer the team would essentially tank the 2023 season without Brady. Godwin echoed his teammates while speaking with Breer. 

"People wrote us off in the beginning," Godwin remarked. "We were like, 'That’s all right.' We know the games are played on the field." 

As of Tuesday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Buccaneers as six-point underdogs for this coming Sunday's game at the Lions. Godwin told Breer the Bucs are "having fun playing football" at the moment, and that could make them quite the dangerous road opponent for a Detroit side some have already penciled into the upcoming conference title contest.