Sunday's game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Francisco 49ers was a rematch, just not the one that was obvious. While the Bucs and Niners met less than a calendar year ago, the matchup of Baker Mayfield and Nick Bosa was on the minds of more than a few football fans across the country.
The duo have history that dates back to their days in college. Bosa's Ohio State Buckeyes were upset by Baker's Oklahoma Sooners in a game that saw the quarterback infamously plant a flag at the Buckeyes midfield logo.
It's a moment that has followed each of them since. Bosa brought it up when the two met during Baker's rookie season, and his comments have been blown up each time the two meet up.
We heard some of the buildup in the lead up to Sunday's game, and it didn't take long for the two to clash on the field.
Baker Mayfield threw a block on Nick Bosa and Bucs fans loved it
To start the second quarter, the Bucs ran a reverse to Trey Palmer that featured Baker throwing a block on Bosa to create some space. It was the clash so many people were waiting for but not exactly the way it was supposed to go down.
Here you go…Baker’s block on Bosa https://t.co/Brf7IbT79q pic.twitter.com/qX8ZJaOMvM
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) November 19, 2023
Baker blocking Bosa on the outside 😳
— NFL (@NFL) November 19, 2023
📺: #TBvsSF on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/jckqnJwdb2 pic.twitter.com/Rb8qlySIlp
The play went for a medium gain, but Bucs fans were loving Baker's big block on Bosa.
BAKER MAYFIELD WITH A DEVASTATING BLOCK ON NICK BOSA!
— Steven Cheah (@StevenCheah) November 19, 2023
Baker Mayfield just celebrated a 6-yard gain on which he blocked Nick Bosa as if it were a touchdown.
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) November 19, 2023
The hatchet has been dug out of the ground
Palmer on the reverse for six yards. Baker on the block of Nick Bosa!!?!!
— JC Allen (@JCAllenNFL) November 19, 2023
As awesome as that play was, it ended up being all for nothing. A few plays later Bosa chased Baker into a strip sack that ended what looked to be a promising offensive drive for Tampa Bay. It's not the first time the Bucs have stunted their own momentum -- something they can't afford to do against a team like San Francisco -- but the extra texture of Bosa's involvement spiced things up.
Sleeper Picks is spicing things up too by giving you BIG prizes to pick how well certain players do! It's the best new way to back your favorite Bucs and new users today get a 100% deposit match up to $100. Sign up for Sleeper now!