Once again, Baker Mayfield is proving his doubters wrong.
The Buccaneers quarterback was under immense pressure last night from a ferocious Houston Texans pass rush. He didn't let it get to him, leading his team down the field for a game-winning touchdown drive to seal the Buccaneers' second-straight narrow victory.
It was the 14th game-winning-drive of Mayfield's career, and his second in 2025. Last year, Mayfield led two game winning drives all season. He's already matched that in Week 2.
"This is not the same Baker Mayfield we saw with the Browns," said NFL talking head Colin Cowherd on his morning show, The Herd.
Cowherd was one of Mayfield's biggest critics when he was in Cleveland. He was open about his belief that Baker did too many commercials and was not good enough to win big games.
This morning, his tone has changed on Mayfield, and the rest of the media is coming around as well. Even last year, Mayfield felt underrated. He led Tampa Bay to a division title and was third in the league in total touchdowns, yet he finished 11th in MVP voting.
This year, it finally feels like Mayfield is getting the praise he deserves. Last week, First Things First's Nick Wright ranked Mayfield as the fourth-best quarterback in the league, behind only Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Lamar Jackson.
Three years ago, it would have been absurd to think Mayfield would be in the same conversation with the trio of MVP-winning passers. Now, it feels like he has earned his place among the league's top quarterbacks.
Once again, he's tied for third in touchdown passes, and is ninth in passer rating among starters. More importantly, he continues to prove he will do whatever it takes to will his team to victory. His fourth-down scramble against the Texans last night might have been his most heroic moment as a Buccaneers to date.
If you're still doubting that Mayfield can get the job done in Tampa Bay, it might be time to think again.