The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are back above .500 and are aiming for their fourth straight NFC South title. They hope to continue their success with a three-game winning streak that has brought them to the top of the division after a tough stretch where they lost five out of six games.
“It’s one thing getting to first place. It’s a whole other thing staying there,” said coach Todd Bowles after a 28-13 win over the struggling Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. “We’ve got four games left. It’s going to be a battle all the way through. We have to come ready every week.”
Baker Mayfield threw for 295 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Buccaneers to their third straight win against a last-place team, putting them ahead of the fading Atlanta Falcons in the NFC South. The Falcons, who hold a tiebreaker advantage over the Bucs after sweeping their season series, have now lost four games in a row.
“It doesn’t have to be pretty. Obviously, there are a lot of things that I would personally like to have back, but it’s a resilient group. We play for each other,” Mayfield said. “Guys step up when other people go down and that’s what football is all about. It teaches you life lessons.”
Mayfield threw touchdown passes of 15 yards and 29 yards to rookie Jalen McMillan. Rachaad White also scored on a 5-yard reception and a 3-yard run. The Buccaneers pulled away in the second half after Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell left the game with a knee injury that coach Antonio Pierce described as serious. O’Connell was carted off the field after being knocked to the ground by Buccaneers defensive lineman Calijah Kancey late in the third quarter.
O’Connell had just completed an 8-yard pass to Jakobi Meyers when Kancey chased him out of the pocket and shoved him from behind. Kancey was not penalized for a late hit.
“Prayers to him. I pray for a speedy recovery,” Kancey said. “I hope everything’s good on their end. I definitely took a knee and prayed for him.”
White rushed for 90 yards on 17 carries, including a touchdown run in the fourth quarter that put Tampa Bay up 21-10. McMillan’s second touchdown, following an 80-yard drive, made the game out of reach after the Raiders managed a field goal to make it 21-13 with three minutes left.
The Raiders, now on a nine-game losing streak, have the most losses in the NFL.
“I appreciate the effort, the grit, the fight,” Pierce said. “Listen, it’s tough. And these guys, they’re not flinching or blinking. They still believe. … All of those guys are fighting until the very end. Proud of the effort.”
Mayfield had a rough first half, turning the ball over three times, which allowed the Raiders to stay close. O’Connell fumbled one play after Mayfield threw his first interception. However, a few plays later, Raiders linebacker Amari Burney sacked Mayfield and forced another fumble, which led to a 1-yard touchdown run by O’Connell, cutting the Bucs’ lead to 14-7.
The fumble recovery by Tre’von Moehrig was the first of the season for the Raiders’ defense. Jack Jones also intercepted Mayfield in the end zone, denying him a chance to extend the lead before halftime.
Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, who came into the game leading the NFL in receptions with 84, had three catches for 49 yards and broke the record for receptions in a season by a rookie tight end. Sam LaPorta had 86 catches for the Detroit Lions in 2023.
“It’s cool, but it would be cooler with some more wins,” Bowers said.
“He’s having a great individual year,” Pierce added. “I wish it could lead to more success for our team.”
