Buccaneers 38, Seahawks 35
Q. I don't know how you put this game in perspective, but it looked like you and Sam were in the backyard. What did you make of both of your performances and being able to have that turnover that made it possible?
BAKER MAYFIELD: Yeah, first of all, that's a really good football team that we just played. Our defense had a couple opportunities for turnovers there early on. Didn't capitalize, but obviously Lavonte in the end making sure he seals the game for us.
But yeah, just obviously the games we've had so far this year, as long as we have time on the clock, we've got a chance, and our guys truly, truly believe that from the bottom of their hearts. It's a good feeling to have, and just guys executing, doing all the little things right, Shep on a scramble drill to score the touchdown to tie it, and then after Te's interception, just guys having the wherewithal, Shad in the critical moments, staying inbounds, making them burn time-outs to where we can have the last kick, and then obviously Chase, perfect day. It's great to have him.
Yeah, just a -- I know it was high scoring, but in the end it was complementary football that won us the game.
Q. You came into this game with more deep attempts than any other quarterback. In the first half it was more shorter and intermediate. Was that a plan or is it what you were seeing?
BAKER MAYFIELD: Yeah, they did a good job of not allowing any shots over the top. Trying to make me take the easy completions down low. Obviously who knows; they had a lot of guys banged up in the secondary, so it could have been with that. Just a different mindset defensively.
But guys making plays with the ball in their hands, and yeah, executing.
Q. Talk about the play of Emeka and what his game is like.
BAKER MAYFIELD: Yeah, something we talked about pregame in the locker room, on these 3rd and little bit extra long looks, we have a certain coverage of hey, if they run it, take the top off, because the corner is expecting help, and he did just that. Obviously protection was unbelievable on that. I'm able to probably triple hitch it. I don't know what it was. Got to get in the weight room, though, so he can run under it under the end zone, but yeah, just Mek being a smart football player, taking things we talked about in the locker room before and take it to the game field and being able to react and do it well.
Q. Did you see that stutter he put on Josh, too?
BAKER MAYFIELD: It was pretty nice. It was pretty nice.
Q. Tez Johnson stepped up for you today. What does it say about him?
BAKER MAYFIELD: He's playing really well right now. He's playing fast. Fast players need to play fast. That means he's confident, and he did that today. Made a couple great catches and then obviously after the catch he had some guys on skates. He's fun to watch. Obviously I love it when he gets down and doesn't get smoked. He did a good job of that.
Q. When you were game planning for the Seahawks this week, how aware were you of how banged up the secondary was?
BAKER MAYFIELD: Yeah, we were kind of -- obviously you always track the injury reports. Tracking No. 3, I don't want to -- Nick Emmanwori I think is how you say it, just tracking his health status, but obviously with Witherspoon and Love out, it's just a little different. Guys moving parts. You look at it as, okay, we might have some advantages somewhere, but obviously it still comes down to us just executing. We don't know what kind of strategy they might have, and our guys did that, did the little things right today.
Q. With Egbuka, you've played with a lot of receivers. Somebody who comes into the NFL this practiced this early, have you seen this before?
BAKER MAYFIELD: Never. Never. He's kind of one of one.
Q. What is it about him that he's so developed?
BAKER MAYFIELD: He's well-rounded and not just in football, in life. I think he's grounded, and I think he's just genuine in everything he does. He's intentional. You just don't see that often, and especially as a rookie with the talent that he has, you really don't see it often.
Q. You talked about Rashad's smartness to get down in that situation --
BAKER MAYFIELD: I mean, it's a very heads-up play by him. Something that we're trying to get the ball to the right hash, so Chase likes it over there, trying to do that, and then Shad just being able to do that and execute it is huge.
He had some unbelievable blitz pickups and protection today that doesn't get enough credit, but he did a hell of a job today.
Q. Chase McLaughlin, a little under the weather --
BAKER MAYFIELD: Flu game.
Q. Is this his flu game?
BAKER MAYFIELD: Yeah, it's his flu game. He's not exactly Michael Jordan in stature, but we'll take it.
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FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports