One of the top highlights of Week 6 of the 2025 NFL season involved Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield. In the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers, he extended a third-and-14 play with his legs before lowering his shoulder to ensure his 15-yard carry would secure a first down in a 30-19 victory.
For an article published on Thursday, Buccaneers insider Ira Kaufman of the JoeBucsFan website spoke with multiple Tampa Bay players about how Mayfield's drive and refuse-to-lose mentality has led the club to five wins in six games to start the season.
"It’s unbelievable," Buccaneers right tackle Charlie Heck said about Mayfield's heroics. "It seems like every week he’s making a huge play like that. It fires everybody up. We’re ready to go down and score when we see that. It’s an awesome feeling."
Buccaneers offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard noted in the spring that he and other members of the Tampa Bay coaching staff didn't want Mayfield playing "like a UFC fighter...all the time." To the surprise of nobody who has followed Mayfield's career, he has often ignored such pleas.
According to StatMuse, Mayfield began Thursday ranked ninth in the NFL among quarterbacks with 158 total rushing yards on the campaign.
"OH THAT IS PURE BAKER MAYFIELD." - Jim Nantz pic.twitter.com/xptwIoDGAX
— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) October 12, 2025
"I had a front-row seat for that crazy run," Buccaneers center Graham Barton said about Mayfield's carry versus the 49ers. "I was screaming, 'Go, Baker, go,' and he just kept going. First down, Bucs. Biggest play of the game? 100 percent. It gets the crowd into it and gets the momentum going. He’s made plays like that all year."
Head coach Todd Bowles had somewhat of a different reaction to the play:
Todd Bowles is all of us watching this play pic.twitter.com/Vcwwx7LWnI
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 14, 2025
ESPN stats show that Mayfield ended Week 6 of the season ranked sixth in the league among qualified players with a 108.5 passer rating, eighth with a 71.1 adjusted QBR, fourth with 1,539 passing yards and tied for third with 12 passing touchdowns. As of Thursday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook had him tied for second among the betting favorites at +300 odds to claim the Most Valuable Player Award for the 2025 regular season.
"I remember turning and seeing Baker and going 'd---,' Buccaneers star tackle Tristan Wirfs added about Mayfield's run against San Francisco. "He ducks, he gets out of it, and he just keeps going. Honestly, it fires everyone up. You see your quarterback make a play like that, giving his body up, putting his body on the line. We know how sore he is, we know what he’s going through, but he’s still fighting, and we want to fight for him."
On Thursday, ESPN BET had the 5-1 Buccaneers as 5.5-point underdogs for the "Monday Night Football" game against the Detroit Lions (4-2). History suggests Mayfield will use that line as bulletin-board material.
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