Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield is tripped up by Saints linebacker Nephi Sewell during the final game of the 2024 regular season.
Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield is tripped up by Saints linebacker Nephi Sewell during the final game of the 2024 regular season. [ JEFFEREE WOO | Times, 2024 ]
TAMPA — Baker Mayfield hasn’t just kept receipts. He waved them in the Saints’ faces Wednesday.
You may recall on the final play of the regular season last year, Mayfield completed a pass to Mike Evans that allowed him to tie Jerry Rice with his 11th consecutive 1,000-yard receiving season, the most in NFL history.
The Bucs could’ve just taken a knee to run out the clock, but they wanted to get Evans a share of the record.
Appearing on the “Pardon My Take” podcast this summer, Mayfield was asked if he regretted anything about the play.
Baker Mayfield said he hated the Saints. He didn’t back off. He said today they play was “not clean.” pic.twitter.com/H2c4zozTIs
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) October 22, 2025
“I hate the Saints. Absolutely not, no,” Mayfield said. “We were making the playoffs. It’s a situation where you take a knee, go to the playoffs. But we decided to throw it on first and 10 just to get Mike the 1,000 yards.”
On Wednesday, Mayfield was asked about those comments and appeared to double down.
This time, he accused New Orleans defenders of less than “clean play.”
“It hasn’t exactly been clean play from their part when we play them,” Mayfield said. “It’s a physical game, it is what it is. You expect it, division rival. Not much else to say besides the fact that I don’t like them.”
If you need a history lesson, remember that Mayfield was hurt twice in games against the Saints in 2023.
Both were late hits, could be considered cheap shots, and the players involved were penalized for roughing the passer.
The first came in New Orleans, where Mayfield threw a touchdown pass to tight end Cade Otton. While being wrapped up around the legs by Cam Jordan, Mayfield was bent backwards by a late hit from defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd.
Then in a game at Raymond James Stadium, Mayfield rolled right and fired an apparent two-point conversion pass to Chris Godwin. Mayfield was hit hard in the ribs by safety Tyrann Mathieu as he released the football. The play was nullified because officials ruled Godwin had stepped out of bounds.
Of course, the Bucs have a long and sordid history with the Saints. Mike Evans has been ejected from games twice at the Superdome.
But Mayfield is 3-1 against the Saints, while completing 69% of his passes for 1,101 yards, 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He’s off to the best start of his career, throwing 13 TD passes and only two picks.
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