Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield loves a good comeback story

TAMPA — Comebacks are nothing new to Baker Mayfield. Not only was he able to resurrect his career with the Bucs, he was perhaps at his best when his team was trailing or tied in the fourth quarter.

The more chaos, the calmer Mayfield appears to operate.

Last year, he orchestrated late wins at Minnesota in the season opener and Dec. 10 at Atlanta.

He also led a 10-play, 61-yard drive Nov. 5 at Houston to give the Bucs a 37-33 lead with 46 seconds remaining.

But the Bucs defense couldn’t close it out, allowing Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud to toss the game-winning TD pass to Tank Dell with 6 seconds left in a 39-37 loss.

For his career, Mayfield has eight fourth-quarter comebacks and 10 game-winning drives, according to Pro Football Reference.

“I’d say when everybody else is feeling the chaos, the more you can just home in on and focus on the task at hand, the better,” Mayfield said. “I’ve made this throw a thousand times. I’ve done this read a ton of times. How can I go back to that instead of overthinking it and overdo it in those moments?

“That’s why in clutch moments some people make incredible plays. But most of the time, it’s very routine stuff. It’s just fundamental quarterback play, getting the ball out of your hands, making the right reads. Give it to your guys, get it in their hands in space and let them make plays.”

The Bucs were notoriously slow starters on offense last season, failing to score on their first offensive possession in 19 straight games, including the playoffs.

But when Mayfield was backed into a corner, he came out firing. Part of it is, depending on the situation you know what kind of defense you’re going to see in those situations. But it’s also a testament to experienced players such as receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin understanding the urgency while not pressing to execute.

“That’s what you saw a lot last year when we got into two-minute mode,” Mayfield said. “We were so bad at starting fast, and then we get into two-minute mode and it’s like, ‘OK, just get the ball out, get it in their hands and then get going.’ I think we were so good at that early on, (and) when it comes down to the final minutes of the game, it’s no different. Yeah, the scenario is different, the stakes are a lot higher, but it just goes back to the basics.”

Catching Rice

Not many receivers track the football better than Evans. But with every pass thrown, he will be chasing down history this season.

Evans could tie Jerry Rice with 11 consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons if he is able to extend his streak in 2024. He needs six touchdowns to become the 11th player in NFL history reach 100 for his career.

“I definitely want to be at 100 touchdowns,” Evans said. “Only a certain amount of guys have that ... so that would be elite, elite company to do that. And then, obviously, Jerry is one of the best, arguably the best to ever do it. So, to have one of his records, or tie it, would be an amazing accomplishment for me. So, I’m definitely gunning for all of those.”

It’s hard for Evans to believe he is entering his 11th NFL season or that he is on his third contract with the Bucs, one that will pay him $41 million over the next two seasons. His career earnings are $110.362 million.

“I appreciate it more and more,” Evans said. “The game of football has done things for me that I never thought imaginable. Obviously, you dream about it, but when you really get here and you’re able to do all of these things … When I look back on my career when it’s over, I’ll really appreciate it even more.”

He has poured much of what football has given him into helping others through his Mike Evans Family Foundation.

“I love watching high school kids and helping those kids out,” he said. “I train with a lot of high school kids — receivers, specifically — in the offseason. Some DBs, but specifically receivers, and it’s cool to watch them and their seasons now. I’m following them, following the guys I trained with in college. I just love the game. I love what it can do for people, and I love it overall. Even with the fans. It just brings people together.”

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