Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield are looking forward to their meeting on Thursday. Both players were first-round, standout selections in the 2018 NFL Draft. As they prepare for their historic clash, the two pals share a few chuckles. Along the way, they’ve been serviceably amusing, pretending to roast each other’s careers and kooky personalities.
Baker Mayfield was chosen as the first overall pick by the Cleveland Browns in the 2018 draft. Joe Burrow, picked first by Cincinnati, has fostered an even stronger bond with him since their days together at the Senior Bowl. As their friendship has developed over the years, fun years that have included golfing together in the offseason, stories like these have become more frequent. Mayfield is perhaps best known for his indelible falsetto. His peculiar style caught the attention of Allen’s friend, as he usually wears two gloves while golfing.
His eyes wide with disbelief at the rowdy jabs traded back and forth, Allen said, “That’s nuts. He also noted, “Baker wears two gloves golfing, so he’s that type of guy.”
The two QBs have had some playful exchanges about their physical contrasts too. Standing at an impressive 6-foot-10, Allen has even drawn tongue-in-cheek praise from Mayfield over his towering stature. “I have to walkie-talkie to him cause he’s so damn tall, so I can’t really have a face-to-face conversation with him,” Mayfield joked. He further teased Allen about his hand size, saying, “Even though he’s 6-foot-10, his hands are small, so he better wear his gloves.”
Their friendly rivalry extends beyond personal anecdotes. It is not the first time they have sparred on the pitch. Mayfield claimed victory in their initial meeting back in 2019, while Allen won the rematch between the two earlier this year in 2023. As they get ready for this heavyweight clash, neither of these two quarterbacks can be under any illusion about just what’s at stake.
Currently, the Buffalo Bills trail the New England Patriots by 1.5 games in the AFC standings, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lead the NFC South by a similar margin. Saturday’s match is one big chance for either team to add some crucial distance in the race for the playoffs.
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