Baker Mayfield gives hilarious answer about rooting for Saints in Week 18

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers escaped with a 16-14 nail biter victory over the Carolina Panthers in Week 18 to keep their playoff hopes alive. 

Unfortunately, beating the Panthers didn’t clinch them the NFC South outright, and they’ll still need some help from an unlikely source if they want to reach the playoffs. 

The NFC South title between the Bucs and Panthers will be decided by the winner of — the Falcons and Saints? That’s right, a Falcons win on Sunday would send the Panthers to the playoffs while a Saints win or tie would clinch the division for the Buccaneers.

Baker Mayfield will (reluctantly) be a Saints fan in Week 18

When asked on the field postgame by ESPN’s Peter Schrager if he’ll be a Saints fan on Sunday, Mayfield didn’t hesitate to throw his support behind the Bucs’ rivals. 

“I am [a Saints fan] tomorrow,” Mayfield told Schrager.

Mayfield was later asked by ESPN’s Jenna Laine whether it will be agonizing to root for the Saints — a team he hasn’t been shy about his disdain for.

“Yeah, I mean, a tie still gets us in, so they could still tie,” Mayfield said.

It’s a far cry from last offseason, when Mayfield appeared on Pardon My Take and declared that he “hates the Saints.” He reiterated that sentiment earlier this season, telling reporters he doesn’t like New Orleans and implying the team plays dirty.

Now relying on the Saints to help the Buccaneers retain the NFC South crown and clinch a playoff berth, Mayfield appears willing to let bygones be bygones — a wise choice given what’s at stake.

Mayfield isn’t the only Buccaneer willing to put the rivalry aside. Cade Otton echoed the sentiment, telling reporters, via BucsGameDay’s Logan Robinson, “Obviously, cheering on the Saints. I hate to say it, but who dat?”

The Buccaneers have done all they can. Now they wait, as the Saints-Falcons game determines their playoff fate.