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Don't forget Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers, who continue to beat the odds

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TAMPA, Fla. – From the very first day Todd Bowles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took the field for training camp, few outside the organization gave them much of a chance this season.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield was on his fourth team in 19 months, trying to fill the huge shoes of the recently retired Tom Brady. The roster lacked household names from the Bucs' 2020 Super Bowl season and instead featured unproven youngsters in some of those key spots. Oddsmakers predicted that Bowles could be one of the first NFL head coaches fired this season. The Bucs never had that championship feel, at least not to outsiders.

So it came as no surprise early last week when Tampa Bay, despite defying expectations by winning the NFC South, was tabbed as a home underdog by Las Vegas for its NFC wild-card matchup with a sagging Philadelphia Eagles -team.

The Buccaneers simply shrugged off the disrespect and attacked the Eagles with a vengeance on Monday night at Raymond James Stadium.

With an aggressive defensive performance and a gutsy performance from Mayfield, the Buccaneers defeated Philadelphia 32-9 to advance to the divisional round of the playoffs. Tampa Bay travels to Detroit for a Sunday afternoon game against the Lions, who are riding high after beating the LA Rams for their first playoff victory in 32 years.

“The underdog role doesn't bother us,” linebacker Shaquil Barrett said. “We know our capabilities in the locker room, regardless of what is projected or what people think is going to happen in the game. We always come in thinking we have a great chance of winning the game. So people saw us as the underdog tonight, and we know they'll see us as the underdog going into Detroit, but we know we have to keep doing the same.

GO DEEPER

Buccaneers finish sweeping Eagles in NFC wild-card matchup

It's often said that teams take on the personalities of their strongest leaders, and the Buccaneers are no different. Players will readily admit that they are a mix of Bowles and Mayfield.

Bowles, the second-year head coach, is stoic and fearless, but also intensely competitive. The former defensive back is calculated yet very aggressive. Mayfield, meanwhile, is so unapologetically himself. He is sometimes brash, always fierce as a competitor and plays with the toughness of a middle linebacker.

Inspired by their coach and quarterback, the Buccaneers steeled themselves against outside noise all season, especially during a four-game losing streak that stretched from October to November and turned into a 1-6 skid.

“We just stayed the course,” Barrett said. “We always knew we were a better team than during the losing streak we had. … Now everything is starting to click and that's why we're going to stick with the program and trust the process and just keep doing what you have to do. We knew it was going to work.”

Confidence grew during a four-game win streak and a 5-1 win over the Bucs to end the regular season while clinching the division. And the resolve remained just as strong this week as the Buccaneers prepared to avenge a 25-11 loss to the Eagles in Week 3.

The Buccaneers looked to turn the tables after giving up 472 total yards, including 201 on the ground, to the Eagles in that first meeting. Mission accomplished. On Monday night, it was the Buccaneers who racked up 426 total yards and 23 first downs, converting 6 of 14 third down attempts. They held the Eagles to 276 yards (just 42 yards rushing) and 0-for-9 on third down.

Bowles and his defense put on a signature performance as they eliminated the threat of the Eagles' rushing attack. They forced quarterback Jalen Hurts to beat them with an undermanned wide receiving unit, while also nursing a painful and slow-healing dislocated middle finger on his throwing hand.

By making the Eagles one-dimensional, Bowles was able to call up one blitz-heavy package after another. Hurts (sacked three times, including a safety) and his teammates and coaches never knew how to adjust.

Linebacker Devin White said the Bucs defense entered the game “with a dominant mentality. We wanted to jump on it early and just beat them. I think it was the preparation. That played a big role and I came here with a winning mentality.”

Offensive players draw fuel from these defensive exploits, but also inspiration from Mayfield. The quarterback was so battered and bruised by rib and ankle injuries that he called in his personal physical therapist twice during the week, hoping the extra treatment would give him a chance to play.

It worked. Mayfield passed for 337 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, while also scrambling for 16 yards on two carries. Mayfield became only the second Buccaneers quarterback (Brady is the other) to pass for 300 yards or more in a playoff game.

“He pulled it out,” Bowles said. “I mean, if you looked at him during the week, he was limping around, he didn't want to practice and he was getting a little better every day. … He never flinched (Monday). He made play after play after play.”

Tight end Cade Oton, who had a team-high eight catches for 89 yards, said the Bucs as a team adopted Mayfield's character.

“It's just watching his actions. The way he plays, the way he practices, the way he leads, it's very genuine and he's always just competing,” Oton said. “He wants to win, but he also wants camaraderie with us. He's just a great person to have leading our team.”

“He's a dog,” left tackle Tristan Wirfs said. “He's a super tough guy and an incredible competitor. He did everything he could to be with us. It's just great to see.”

The Buccaneers listed Mayfield as questionable during the game, but the quarterback said there was never a chance in his mind he wouldn't play Monday night.

“We worked extremely hard to get a chance to get into the playoffs and we just wanted a chance and our guys came out and played really, really well,” said Mayfield, whose three touchdown passes were 44, 56 and were 23 yards. “Special teams, defense – again… we're happy, but we still have more to go.”

The redemption tour continues Sunday in Detroit, where the Bucs will try to avenge a 20-6 Week 6 loss to the Lions. Detroit is an early 6 1/2-point favorite, but no one in Tampa cares about that. Why would they do that, given the odds they've defied so far?

(Photo: Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

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