Baker Mayfield showed up to work on Wednesday wearing the kind of outfit that makes a locker room grin: a Michigan tank top.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback got roasted by his teammates after Michigan knocked off Oklahoma 17-10 on Saturday, and the whole scene played out in front of the media. Head coach Todd Bowles was singing the Michigan theme song as Mayfield walked into his press conference, where the former Sooners star opened with, “That hurts, that hurts feel bad,” Mayfield said when he got to the microphone. “It’s been a rough couple of days.”
Mayfield also said Bowles’ son, Troy, plays for Michigan, which is why he was stuck wearing the tank top after losing a bet.
Oklahoma had entered the matchup as a slight favorite, but the Sooners couldn’t finish the job. Quarterback John Mateer struggled throughout the game, completing just 189 passing yards with one touchdown and one interception. He missed plenty of throws and never looked settled against Michigan’s defense, leaving Oklahoma fans unhappy with what they saw.
For Mayfield, the joke landed because it tied directly to his alma mater taking the loss. The Buccaneers quarterback will carry that embarrassment into a Week 2 prep cycle that already has enough pressure attached to it. Tampa Bay is still looking for its first win after dropping a 33-27 decision to the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday.
The Bucs’ next shot comes Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, with kickoff set for 1 p.m. ET on CBS. Tom McCarthy and Robert Turbin will be on the call.
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Bucs Loss Took On New Meaning After What Happened To Joe Burrow
The Buccaneers walked off the field in Week 1 with a loss to Cincinnati, but the game took on a different tone once Joe Burrows postgame soreness became part of the conversation. Burrow guided the Bengals to a 33-27 win over Tampa Bay, throwing for 254 yards and a touchdown while also taking off for 20 yards, even as he absorbed two significant hits along the way.
For Tampa Bay, the result now sits beside the bigger question of Burrows condition after back tightness and shoulder discomfort showed up in practice later in the week. Burrow has said he expects to play against Houston in Week 2, which only sharpens the sense that the Bucs were part of a hard-fought opener that may have left a lasting mark beyond the final score. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Evans Already Got What He Was Missing In Tampa
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Baker Mayfield Just Gave The Bucs An Early Problem They Feared
The Buccaneers left Week 1 with a familiar kind of frustration: a competitive offense, a chance to win, and too many giveaways to survive. Tampa Bay fell 33-27 to the Bengals, undone by four fumbles in all, three of them coming from Baker Mayfield in a game where the Bucs still managed to move the ball without star wide receiver Mike Evans.
Todd Bowles didnt hide from the obvious issue afterward, making it clear the quarterback has to take better care of the football. Even so, the coach also pointed to the way the offense functioned and sounded encouraged by what it could become, which is why the turnovers sting so much more than a typical opener. The Bucs can live with a few early-season growing pains, but they know the margin for error gets thin fast when the ball keeps hitting the turf. [Read more 🡒]