Broncos OL Ben Powers on ex-OU teammate Baker Mayfield: ‘We played a lot of good ball’
Denver travels to face resurgent Buccaneers QB in Week 3 at Tampa Bay
ENGLEWOOD — Broncos left guard Ben Powers has plenty of love for Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield ahead of their Sunday matchup in Tampa Bay.
Powers and Mayfield were college teammates for two seasons at the University of Oklahoma. His quarterback won the Heisman Trophy. But that isn’t Powers’ favorite memory of Mayfield at OU.
That happened on Sept. 9, 2017.
OU had just beaten Ohio State, 31-16, in Columbus. Mayfield celebrated by planting a Sooners flag on the midfield Buckeyes logo after the game.
“I didn’t even realize he was doing it,” Powers recalled after practice Friday at Broncos Park. “It was awesome.”
Mayfield brings a similar backyard football swagger in the NFL.
The Buccaneers are 2-0 with road wins over the Commanders and Lions. Mayfield is completing 73% of his throws (36-of-49) and is tied for the NFL lead with five touchdown passes. He also rushed for a TD.
It’s a resurgent start for a so-called “NFL bust” early in his career.
The Browns drafted Mayfield with the No. 1 overall pick in 2018 and endured multiple coaching changes. He got traded to the Panthers in 2022 before joining the Rams and Buccaneers. Last season, Mayfield led Tampa Bay to a 9-8 record before his hot start in 2024.
“You love to see it,” Powers said. “Any feel-good story like that when everyone is counting him out and he’s able to succeed. … I’m happy for him.”
Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is less sentimental. His job on Sunday is devising a scheme to contain the dual-threat Buccaneers quarterback. Joseph coached Mayfield in the 2018 Senior Bowl.
“It’s been good to watch him come back,” Joseph said. “He’s always been a confident guy and he’s always been a playmaker. So, that stuff wasn’t going to shake him personally. Just being in the right system, having good players around him and maturing. It’s been good for him. … He’s playing the best I’ve ever seen him play.”
Inside linebacker Alex Singleton added: “I’ve known Baker for a long time. We’ve trained together. He’s had his ups and downs. I think he’s playing the best football he’s played. It’s exciting for him and hopefully we can slow that down.”
Powers said he is planning to catch up with Mayfield briefly following the game in Tampa Bay.
“We played a lot of good ball together, me and Baker, being on the same offense,” Powers said. “A lot of guys that are still competing at the next level. Whenever you’re competing on a great offense like that, it’s a lot of fun.”
