Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield continues to earn high praise for his performances, but one sequence on Sunday had people talking about him as a potential Most Valuable Player.
Mayfield and the Buccaneers were holding a 20-19 lead over the San Francisco 49ers during the third quarter of Sunday’s game at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. On a 3rd and 14, Mayfield escaped two tackles and scrambled to pick up the first in a play more reminiscent of what one might see from Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson.
Two plays later, Mayfield found wide receiver Tez Johnson with a 45-yard touchdown dart.
That two-play sequence had many on social media arguing that Mayfield should be the frontrunner for MVP.
Baker Mayfield should be a LEGITIMATE candidate for MVP.
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulliNFL) October 12, 2025
Lock him into the race. It’s been pure entertainment watching him play this season: pic.twitter.com/spgzTIUku2
Just give Baker Mayfield the MVP right now
— Drake 10 (@HoodiDrake) October 12, 2025
pic.twitter.com/NleYYBs36X
Where are we on Baker Mayfield MVP? pic.twitter.com/FgGSL3bej1 https://t.co/yIWF31tYAO
— Bengal (@BengalYouTube) October 12, 2025
MVP type of sequence for Baker Mayfield.
— Marcus Whitman (@TFG_Football) October 12, 2025
Was 3rd and 15+ but four broken tackles and 2 plays later, the Bucs get a clutch TD against a top NFC opponent.
Mayfield’s MVP candidacy is certainly based on more than just these two plays. He entered Week 6 with 1,283 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, and one interception. His team sits at 4-1, and he is quite clearly the engine driving them forward. He has also led four game-winning drives in the fourth quarter already.
Some people may have problems with some of Mayfield’s antics, but it has only endeared him to many. Considering his career looked dead after the Cleveland Browns dumped him, he has definitely earned some of the cockiness.
