The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are focused on staying grounded and not getting ahead of themselves.
Sunday’s 30-7 win over the New York Giants kicked off a seven-game stretch to end the regular season, where the Bucs (5-6) will face six teams with losing records.
The victory after their bye week ended a four-game losing streak and brought the three-time defending NFC South champions to within one game of first-place Atlanta in the division.
Since the Falcons swept the season series, the Bucs are effectively two games behind Atlanta with six games remaining.
While they’re in a good spot to chase their fifth straight playoff appearance, they can’t take it for granted just because they have an easier schedule ahead.
“We’re hoping it builds confidence. We have belief that we’re still sitting and controlling our own destiny,” quarterback Baker Mayfield said about the win over the Giants.
“But it’s not just going to happen,” Mayfield added. “So, we have to take it one week at a time. And you find the recipe for success within your work week. … You try to emulate that week after week and continue to build it.”
The Los Angeles Chargers, who entered Monday night’s game against Baltimore with a 7-3 record, are the only team left on Tampa Bay’s schedule with a winning record.
The Bucs will play division rival Carolina (3-8) twice in the next six weeks. They’ll also host Las Vegas (2-9) and New Orleans (4-7) and travel to play the Chargers and Dallas Cowboys (4-7).
“We can’t get comfortable,” rookie running back Bucky Irving said. “We just got to keep our foot on the gas and keep running.”
