The Bucs and the Ravens have an intense but short-lived rivalry. The teams have played a mere 7 games against each other, but the results speak for themselves. After Tampa Bay won their first two matchups, they went on to lose the next 5 in a row. That’ll weigh on them going into their game this Monday night, despite the strong season they’ve had so far. Both the Bucs and the Baltimore Ravens stand at 4-2, but the Bucs have the advantage coming off their mammoth win against the Saints. A 51-27 win will put a pep in anyone’s step.

With the two teams set to play out the next step of their one-sided (thus far) rivalry, you’d expect there’d be bad blood and fiery words exchanged. Nothing could be further from the truth. If anything, there’s been a baffling amount of mutual respect. Recently speaking about the most gifted quarterbacks in the league, Bucs’ quarterback Baker Mayfield named Lamar Jackson. the Ravens quarterback, among others and, speaking of their skill level, said “I’ll do what I can, but I’m not on their level.”

Lamar Jackson himself had earlier praised Mayfield for his fantastic performances this season. “He is a tremendous quarterback. He has been since college, ever since I’ve known him – even going back to the Heisman.” This was of course, in reference to the Heisman trophy, practically the highest honor a college football player can receive.

Lamar Jackson won the Heisman prize in 2016, playing for the Louisville Cardinals, while Baker Mayfield bagged it playing for the Oklahoma Sooners the very next year. No wonder the two are compared to each other quite often. There’s a tendency to pit the best against the best. Come 2018, Mayfield was the first overall pick, but Jackson was the 32nd, though both were first round picks. With time, it seems like Jackson might have been more deserving of the first pick, but they’ve both seen success. So far this season, Mayfield’s ranked 2nd overall best quarterback, with Jackson just behind at 3rd best.

Baker Mayfield has a different rival on the Ravens team?

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews has been having a so-so season so far, though he has managed a touchdown. Why are we talking about him? Well, he happens to be the man Baker Mayfield would call his best friend. For some part of the year, at least. The two played together for the Oklahoma Sooners back in the day, which is where they bonded.

But things have changed recently, and the game of football’s the only thing to blame. Speaking about his buddy, Mayfield said, “Him and I don’t talk during the season, he’s a weirdo. He can’t exactly separate friendship and football.” It seems like there’s some actual impact to a football rivalry for once.

So long as the football season’s on, the two are rivals, nevermind that Andrews attended Mayfield’s wedding. A sad state of affairs, but let’s hope the rivalry simmers down a bit after the game next Monday, whichever way things go.