Buccaneers’ Todd Bowles Shares Strong Reaction to Baker Mayfield’s Big Run
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Todd Bowles was in disbelief over Baker Mayfield's huge run in the Buccaneers win over the 49ers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers managed to grind out another win in Week 6, this time picking up a 30-19 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. In a battle of successful, yet very injury-plagued teams, the Bucs prevailed, and once again, it was star quarterback Baker Mayfield who delivered the goods for his team.
Even without his top four wide receivers on offense, Mayfield kept Tampa Bay’s offense humming throughout the day against a strong San Fran defense. It was another clutch scramble for a big third-down conversion that garnered Mayfield attention from fans, and after the game, even head coach Todd Bowles revealed he was in “disbelief” over the talented passer’s latest clutch heroics.
Todd Bowles Gushes Over Baker Mayfield
Entering this game, the Buccaneers‘ offense was already pretty shorthanded. Wide receivers Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Jalen McMillan were all already out, as was starting running back Bucky Irving. Things got even more challenging for Mayfield when he lost his top target so far this season, rookie Emeka Egbuka, early in the game to a hamstring injury.
That didn’t stop Mayfield from turning in another strong outing, though, as he completed 17 of his 23 pass attempts for 256 yards and two touchdowns. Working primarily with Kameron Johnson, Sterling Shepard, and Tez Johnson as his top wide receivers, Mayfield continually found ways to make big plays, despite being without several of the offense’s best players.
Mayfield’s best play of the game came late in the third quarter, as he ripped off a 15-yard run on 3rd & 14 after somehow avoiding a sack to give Tampa Bay a new set of downs. The Bucs would eventually go on to score a touchdown, and considering how San Francisco was within one point of them at the time, it’s clear this was the biggest play of the game. This isn’t the first time Mayfield has made a play like this, but it still stuns Bowles when he does something like this.
“I was in disbelief just like everybody else,” Bowles said of Mayfield’s run after the game. “It happens every other week or so, when he makes those types of plays, and you pray he doesn’t get hurt or anything happens to him, but he has a knack that you can’t teach or coach, and it was an unbelievable play.”
Buccaneers Looking to Continue Winning Ways in Week 7
Despite all the adversity the team has faced early in the 2025 campaign, the Buccaneers have somehow managed to win five of their first six games. A big reason for that is the continued strong play of Mayfield, as he just keeps on finding a way to move Tampa Bay’s offense up and down the field, no matter who is on the field alongside him.
The Bucs will be hoping to get several players back from injury heading into Week 7, because they will need all the help they can get, as they have a tough matchup against the Detroit Lions on their schedule. With this contest set to take place on Monday Night Football, Tampa Bay has a little extra time to get healthy, but as long as Mayfield is on the field, they should have a great opportunity to earn their sixth win of the season.
BREAKING: Colts Set Sights on Trade Block as Playoff Push Heats Up
The Indianapolis Colts are built to win now — and GM Chris Ballard could look to add veteran help before the deadline.
After a gritty win against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 6, the Indianapolis Colts showed they can win in every fashion. As this team continues to run through the NFL, a deep run in the playoffs is very much on the table.
With Chris Ballard staring down a Lombardi, he might be looking to attack the trade block in an attempt to patch up this squad, add depth, and get this team ready for January. Ballard has always valued development and draft capital, but this team is too good not to take a swing at a legit game-changer.
Let’s take a look at a few trade candidates that could give this team the depth they need. Pro Football Focus’ Bradley Locker listed several NFL players who could be on the trade block and suggested the Colts as a possible fit for five of them.
Starting with my favorite, veteran linebacker Jordyn Brooks is sitting on a 1–5 Miami Dolphins team. Even with an unimpressive defense, Brooks still leads the league in tackles through Week 6.
Brooks has only missed two tackle attempts this season. He’s second in sacks among linebackers, and 13th in pass-rush grade among linebackers with a 76.2.
With Brooks in the final year of his two-year deal and Indianapolis’ 35.1 overall PFF grade at linebacker being the lowest in the league, a trade for a solid backer makes perfect sense.
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Locker also floated a few other veteran linebackers as potential fits for Indianapolis, including 36-year-old Demario Davis and the resurging Jamal Adams — both proven leaders who could add stability to the middle of the defense.
Next, Locker suggests possible trades for veteran tight ends Mark Andrews and David Njoku. But with this current Colts offensive firepower and their more pressing defensive needs, it’s hard to see Ballard targeting a skill position.
There are also a couple of players I like that Locker listed on the trade block but didn’t necessarily connect to Indianapolis. One of those players comes from the same struggling Dolphins team that’s likely to be listening to offers.
I like the idea of Ballard going after cornerback Rasul Douglas, who’s currently averaging his best career PFF grade with an 82.2 on the 2025 season.
Douglas holds a 77.9 PFF coverage grade with three pass breakups across 161 coverage snaps, making him a prime candidate for a Colts secondary that ranks 17th in coverage grade through six weeks.
As the trade deadline approaches, the Colts find themselves in a rare position — built to win now, but still improving every week. Ballard has never been one to make splashy trades, but this roster might be good enough to warrant one.
The window is open — and the AFC is there for the taking. If Indianapolis wants to make a serious playoff push, the time to add talent is now.
