Orchard Park, New York. 17/11/2025
The Buffalo Bills’ 44–32 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 11 delivered one of their most explosive offensive performances of the season. But the moment that spread far beyond Highmark Stadium didn’t come from a highlight, a touchdown, or a stat line. It came after the game ended — when one of the NFL’s most competitive quarterbacks sat alone on the opposing sideline, carrying a weight heavier than the loss.
Baker Mayfield, the fiery leader of the Buccaneers, finished the night with numbers that didn’t reflect the emotional toll behind them. Despite throwing, scrambling, and fighting for every yard, he simply couldn’t match the Bills’ relentless surge. When the final whistle blew, Baker remained seated on the bench, helmet beside him, staring at the turf as teammates walked toward the tunnel. His posture said everything — this wasn’t just another loss. It was a hit to the pride of a veteran who had emptied everything he had.
Then came an unexpected moment.
As Bills players celebrated near midfield, Josh Allen quietly stepped away from the crowd. He walked across the field toward the Buccaneers sideline, approached Mayfield, and gently tapped his shoulder. When Baker finally looked up, Allen pulled him into a brief, sincere embrace. Fans nearby fell silent — witnessing a moment that felt more like brotherhood than rivalry.
According to a staff member standing close by, Allen leaned in and told him softly:
“ You’re a hell of a competitor. One tough night doesn’t change who you are. Keep leading your guys.”
For Mayfield — a player who rarely shows vulnerability — the words struck deep. He nodded slowly, eyes heavy, acknowledging the respect coming from the quarterback who had just beaten him in a Week 11 shootout.
Inside the Buccaneers locker room, Baker didn’t hide his frustration. But he made sure to speak about Allen’s gesture.
“He didn’t have to come over,” Mayfield said. “But he did. That meant something. I expect a lot from myself. Tonight wasn’t good enough. Hearing that from him… I respect that.”
Meanwhile, in the Bills locker room, Allen’s teammates praised him not just for leading the team to a dominant 44–32 win, but for showing humanity in a moment when most players think only about celebration. Defensive players admitted they took pride in disrupting Tampa Bay’s offense — yet they admired Allen even more for recognizing the man behind the helmet.
Moments like these are reminders that NFL Sundays are about more than touchdowns and standings. They’re about respect. Brotherhood. The shared struggle of men who pour everything into a game that doesn’t always reward them.
Josh Allen didn’t just lead the Bills to a Week 11 victory at Highmark Stadium.
He delivered a moment that echoed far deeper than any highlight — a reminder that even the fiercest competitors can hurt, and sometimes the greatest strength is compassion.
Sep 19, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. (56) throws during the eighth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
To tender or not to tender, that is the question facing New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman. According to CBS Sports’ R.J. Anderson, Cashman has until Friday to tender contracts for the 2026 season to players not already under guaranteed deals.
On the other hand, Cashman can cut ties with those players and make them immediate free agents, which is likely to happen for several arbitration-eligible players.
That could include right-hander Mark Leiter Jr., who went 6-7 with a 4.84 ERA in 59 appearances last season for the Yankees.
“Leiter is a better pitcher than his bloated 4.84 ERA indicates. Need evidence? He ranked in the 92nd percentile in average exit velocity and he struck out roughly a quarter of the batters he faced,” Anderson notes.
“Unfortunately, that lead-in sentiment has applied for most of his career — and that’s not a good sign when you’re talking about a right-handed reliever nearing his age-35 campaign,” Anderson adds. “The Yankees are skilled enough at finding cheap relief arms that I think they part ways here. Prediction: Non-tendered.”
The Yankees acquired Leiter from the Chicago Cubs before the 2024 MLB trade deadline. He made six postseason appearances for New York over the last two seasons, going 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA.
Leiter, who went to high school in Toms River, N.J. and attended New Jersey Insititute of Technology, comes from a long line of Leiters to take a big-league mound.
His father, Mark Leiter, spent 11 seasons in the majors and pitched for the Yankees in 1990.
His uncle, Al Leiter, was a two-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion, winning titles in 1993 with the Toronto Blue Jays and in 1997 with the Florida Marlins. Leiter made his MLB debut in 1987 with the Yankees and later pitched for the New York Mets from 1998 to 2004. Leiter finished his 19-year career with the Yankees in 2005.
Al Leiter’s son, Jack Leiter , currently is a starting pitcher for the Texas Rangers. Jack Leiter attended Delbarton School in Morristown, N.J. with current Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe.
The Yankees selected Jack Leiter in the 20th round of the 2019 MLB Draft, but the right-hander opted to honor his commitment to Vanderbilt University. The Rangers selected Leiter with the No. 2 pick overall in 2021.
Leiter made his MLB debut in 2024 and became a rotation mainstay for Texas in 2025, going 10-10 with a 3.86 ERA in 29 starts.
As for Mark Leiter Jr., MLB Trade Rumors projects he will make $3 million if he goes to arbitration.