TAMPA, Fla. — Baker Mayfield has equaled his personal best for touchdown passes in a single season, as he guides the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a three-game winning streak that has them back atop the NFC South division.
The quarterback is focused on securing a fourth straight division title for Tampa Bay (7-6) and recognizes that to achieve their aspirations of making the playoffs and pushing deep into the postseason, the team must enhance their performance as the season progresses.
“We will take wins. I don’t really care how it looks,” Mayfield remarked following a messy but decisive 28-13 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, which helped the Buccaneers regain momentum after a challenging period in which they had lost five out of six games.
“But offensively, we will have to be a lot more consistent for us to be able to make this push that we want to do, and we know that,” he continued. “There is a lot of ball left, and we have to continue to get better.”
In the game against the Raiders, Mayfield passed for 295 yards and threw three touchdown passes. Nonetheless, he had a challenging first half, turning the ball over three times, which allowed Las Vegas to keep pace until the final quarter.
This marks the third consecutive year in which the Buccaneers have needed a strong finish to recover from a midseason slump to stay in contention for a playoff spot.
Mayfield’s current total of 28 touchdown passes ties the mark he set last season when he revitalized his career in Tampa Bay.
The Buccaneers have been strong in December and January, currently holding a 7-1 record dating back to last year, making them the only NFC team to qualify for the playoffs in each of the last four years.
“We’ve got four weeks to play. We’re happy to be playing meaningful football in December. We understand what that means,” said coach Todd Bowles. “We have to go out every week and try to squeeze out these games, but it feels good.”
A significant factor in their recent success is the improved running game. Against the Raiders, the Buccaneers rushed for 152 yards, reaching over 100 yards on the ground in 10 of their 13 games this season, a stark contrast to their total of nine games in two previous seasons. Rachaad White’s effort added the team’s 14th rushing touchdown, surpassing the total number of touchdown runs from both 2022 and 2023 combined.
However, there are areas needing improvement. Despite the rushing success, the offensive line struggled with pass protection, allowing Mayfield to be sacked four times and hit eight times. He also faced two interceptions and lost a fumble, which led directly to Las Vegas scoring.
Recent performances have showcased some blossoming talent. Rookie wide receiver Jalen McMillan produced his best game yet, with four receptions for 59 yards and two touchdowns, marking the first Tampa Bay rookie to achieve multiple receiving touchdowns in a game since O.J. Howard in 2017.
Conversely, rookie punter Jack Browning had an uneven debut. After generating a promising 49-yard punt on his first attempt, subsequent kicks were less impressive, including a 39-yarder that was returned 14 yards. Coach Bowles indicated that this was a learning experience for Browning, suggesting it could be attributed to rookie nerves.
The Buccaneers faced some injury setbacks during the game, losing safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (knee) and running back Bucky Irving (back) in the first half. Bowles indicated that Winfield might be out for a couple of weeks, which could affect his ability to play in upcoming games against the Los Angeles Chargers and Dallas Cowboys, while Irving’s status will be reviewed later in the week.
Notable performances include linebacker Lavonte David, who made an impact in his 13th season with a sack, a quarterback hit, and a fumble recovery, marking the 19th fumble recovery of his career—the most since entering the NFL in 2012. He also boasts 37½ career sacks, four of which have occurred this season.
Looking ahead, the Buccaneers will face the Chargers next, who are the only remaining opponent with a winning record in the final stretch of the season.
