We’re diving into an NFC South showdown that’s bringing fireworks to Week 18. New Orleans came out strong, snagging a 16-6 lead by halftime over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But it was the third quarter where things really started to heat up, with Baker Mayfield and his Bucs making a push to shake off a rocky start.
Right out of the gate in the second half, Mayfield was looking to change the team’s fortunes. On a gutsy scramble, he went down for a late slide and found himself on the business end of a stern tackle from Saints cornerback Will Harris. The timing of Harris’ hit would make any defender proud—bang on the money and clean as a whistle, with no flags in sight.
However, it was the aftershock of that play that sparked some real drama. Feeling the impact of Harris’ authoritative tackle, Mayfield tried to channel his inner Allen Iverson, attempting to step over Harris in a move reminiscent of Iverson’s infamous walk over Tyronn Lue.
This move didn’t sit well with the Saints, triggering an immediate response from Mayfield’s opponents, and before long, tensions were running high on the field. The Saints weren’t having any of that swagger, and what followed was as much a battle of pride as it was skill—a classic case of boiling emotions in a key division matchup.
