The 2018 QB classmates return to the center of the NFL stage, but this Week 11 matchup carries a deeper meaning than a usual showdown between two 6-3 teams. It matches the title beautifully ‘cause Baker Mayfield arrives with a chip that shaped his entire journey, while Josh Allen enters with the pressure of holding a fading contender together.
One seeks redemption. The other needs clarity. Their careers now collide at a moment when both need this game for entirely different reasons.
Baker Mayfield’s Bucs Revival Sets Up Draft-Class Showdown
Baker Mayfield
Oct 12, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) stands on the field during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Mayfield joined the league as the top draft choice. After four years, Cleveland moved on from him. He fought through mockery and climbed out of rock bottom. After that, Tampa Bay offered an opportunity – he made it count. With 2,192 yards, 16 scores, and just two picks, he’s running things smoothly.
The Bucs’ elite WR Emeka Egbuka already owns 677 yards and six TDs. Moreover, the champ just posted his third 100-yard outing after torching New England for 115 and a score. He plays with confidence and embraces every matchup. So, it’s safe to say that Mayfield has found a rhythm with him that looks sharper each week.
Plus, there’s a chance Bucky Irving comes back following his five-game break – Tampa Bay’s actually rolling stronger than folks think heading into Buffalo. Yeah, they’ve dropped two of the past three, yet still hold things together pretty well. They play clean. They know their identity. That’s why this moment holds a sense of revenge for Mayfield. He can outplay the quarterback who became the face of his draft class.
Their friendship kept the week light. Mayfield joked about Allen being too “tall to talk” to. He joked about Allen’s hands needing gloves in the cold. PerBleacher Report, Allen countered by calling Mayfield a two-glove golfer. Once the ball kicks off, none of that matters.
Josh Allen Faces Reality as Bills Struggle Mayfield Eyes Redemption
Nov 2, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) is interviewed after the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
Nov 2, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) is interviewed after the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
Allen still produces at an elite level. He’s got 2,139 passing yards, 15 TDs, and five interceptions. He has seven rushing scores, the same number as James Cook. Cook ranks second in the league with 920 rushing yards. The Bills have star power. They have talent. They cannot find the rhythm that defined the last three seasons.
Buffalo was outplayed 30-13 by Miami. They’ve dropped three of their last five. The offense looks stuck. Monday brought questions about Joe Brady, and Sean McDermott had to defend him publicly. He insisted the staff would adjust and move forward. That’s precisely why this game feels like a reality check for Allen. It is not about proving himself as a player. It is about establishing that this Bill’s team still listens to him, follows him, and remains relevant.
Injuries make stuff more challenging. Dalton Kincaid and Phidarian Mathis missed time. The roster feels thinner every week. Buffalo needs a spark, and it needs to come fast.
For Baker Mayfield, Week 11 bestows an opportunity to rewrite his career’s narrative pretty much. For Josh Allen, Week 11 forces him to steady a team that looks uncertain. Revenge for one. Reality for the other. The field in Orchard Park will tell the truth.