The Bucs have it all figured out with Baker Mayfield under center. But what if he wasn’t there? We are asking this question because of the hit he took against the Giants. It left the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stunned as the updates were coming in.

ESPN’s Jenna Laine reported: Bucs injury update: Quarterback Baker Mayfield has a stinger and his return is questionable. That’s not the kind of update Bucs fans want when their team is cruising with a 30-7 lead. Mayfield collided headfirst with Luke Goedeke while recovering the botched snap, immediately grabbing his head in pain. You could almost hear the gasps echoing across MetLife.

Mayfield’s trip to the blue tent had everyone fearing the worst. A concussion? A longer-term neck injury? Nope, none of that. After a quick check, the medical team cleared him, and Baker came back without missing a single snap. Not just your typical next-play mentality—this was next-level toughness.

Before the scare, Mayfield was torching the Giants’ defense like it was practice. His stat line said it all: 24-of-30 for 294 yards, plus a rushing touchdown complete with a Tommy DeVito-inspired celebration. We wouldn’t say inspired, it was a troll mid-game. If the swagger earned points, Tampa would’ve been up by 50 (courtesy of Baker, again!).

But here’s the thing: the Bucs dodged a bullet this time. What if that stinger had sidelined Mayfield? The offense runs through him.

Baker Mayfield: Tampa’s underrated hero under center

The Big Blue? More like Big Blown Away. The Bucs cruised past the Giants 30-7, and while Baker Mayfield didn’t light up the stat sheet—going 24-of-30 for 294 yards with no touchdowns or picks—he still commanded the game. But hey, even Tampa fans had a brief scare when Mayfield took a fourth-quarter stinger. For a moment, it looked like a heartbreak city, but Baker stayed in. Tampa stayed dominant. Crisis averted.

And let’s talk about that end-zone moment. After rushing for a touchdown to extend the Bucs’ lead to 23-0, Mayfield turned up the petty levels with a little nod to Tommy DeVito. You know, the “Italian gesture” DeVito made famous during his short-lived fan-favorite run in New York? Baker’s version? Chef’s kiss. DeVito, meanwhile, was stuck digging the Giants into a 23-0 hole, throwing for just 45 yards in the first half. Rough day at the office for him, but Mayfield’s trolling was peak entertainment.

Sure, Baker wasn’t his usual storm-stealing self this time around, but sometimes a win isn’t about fireworks—it’s about consistency. With a 104.1 passer rating, 2,799 yards, and 24 touchdowns this season, Mayfield’s proving he’s more than just the comeback kid. He’s the steady hand Tampa’s been waiting for.