C.J. Gardner-Johnson continued his trash talk of Baker Mayfield even after the Detroit Lions’ playoff win on Sunday.
Gardner-Johnson’s Detroit Lions beat Mayfield’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-23 at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday in their NFC divisional-round playoff game. Gardner-Johnson intercepted a Mayfield pass on Tampa Bay’s first possession of the game.
After his interception, Gardner-Johnson taunted the Bucs QB by flipping the interception ball back to him (watch here).
The interception was particularly notable given what transpired between the men in the week leading up to the game. Gardner-Johnson, who is known for his trash talk, slighted Mayfield while complimenting the Bucs’ receivers.
“This group probably is one of the better groups we done faced all year, besides that Tampa group. If you give that Tampa group a good quarterback, that’s a great group. Evans, Godwin, [Russell] Gage, that’s a great group. I played against them for real.”
The slight there is that Gardner-Johnson didn’t consider Mayfield a “good quarterback.”
Mayfield had a diplomatic response, only commenting that Gardner-Johnson included Russell Gage despite Gage being injured.
“I don’t think he’s really watched film because he mentioned Russell Gage. We love Russell but Russell hasn’t played a snap all year for us,” Mayfield said.
After the win, Gardner-Johnson went on Instagram Live and continued his trash talk. He laughed off the idea that he doesn’t watch film and said his interception is proof he studies his opponents.