TAMPA — You can call their victories ugly, because they are. This is a Bucs team lasts Prisoners.

Last week they had to force a fluke in overtime to beat the Panthers by three.

You can say their quarterback is ruthless. Baker Mayfield was brilliant at throwing touchdown passes on the Bucs’ first two possessions in their 28-13 win over the Raiders on Sunday.

But then he held on to the ball too long, threw two interceptions, lost a fumble and was sacked four times.

You could say they’re over-injured on defense, losing Antoine Winfield Jr. to a knee injury on Sunday. He sits down in a crowded cold tub with his fellow safeties Mike Edwards and Jordan Whitehead.

They may even suggest that they only enter this race because the hawks fold like origami.

But you’d be better off calling the Bucs the NFC South Division leaders; They are alone in first place with four games remaining.

“It doesn’t have to be pretty,” Mayfield said. “Of course there are many things that I would personally like to have back. But it’s a resilient group. We play for each other. Boys step up when others are down and that’s what football is all about. It teaches you life lessons.

“We will win. It’s hard in this league.”

Sure it is, but the Bucs have a way to make it more difficult.

Mayfield split the Raiders’ first two possessions early in Sunday’s game, completing 8 of 9 passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns.

Then came the next six possessions: interception, fumble, punt, interception, punt, punt.

The Bucs didn’t just let the Raiders back into the game. They accompanied her with a corsage.

Mayfield’s blunder finally gave Las Vegas some life. Aiden O’Connell connected with tight end Michael Mayer on a 29-yard pass, and three plays later the Raiders quarterback scored a touchdown on a 1-yard sneak, cutting the lead to 14-7.

Mayfield grabbed a sack to kill the next drive, and Daniel Carlson’s 25-yard field goal made it 14-10.

“I think I was by far the worst player on offense, but our guys stepped up when they needed to and they did it,” Mayfield said.

On the one hand, Mayfield matched his career mark set last year with 28 touchdowns. On the other hand, his 13 interceptions are three more than a year ago.

“Anytime you turn it over three times, it gets tough,” head coach Todd Bowles said. “It will be hard to say he played well. But you have to play winning football. We won’t be perfect, but we have to play winning and determined football. We didn’t play winning football in the first half. We played it in the second half.”

The Raiders nearly took the lead early in the third quarter, with a 17-play drive that took them to the Tampa Bay 8-yard line. But Tykee Smith, who had missed the last three games with a knee injury, stepped in front of former Georgia teammate Brock Bowers and threw the Bucs’ first interception since beating the Saints on Oct. 13.

“I know once they were in the red zone he would be looking,” Smith said. “He was going to take an out and bring it back in, and I was able to break it in front of him.”

Two plays saved the game for the Bucs on Sunday. Mike Evans converted a short pass into a 32-yard gain by beating a defender. Then Sean Tucker, replacing the injured Bucky Irving, ran 34 yards to set up Rachaad White’s 3-yard TD run.

White was the Bucs’ hero in this game, rushing for 90 yards and a score and catching two passes for 19 yards. Rookie Jalen McMillan also had two touchdown receptions.

Things get even tougher next Sunday when the Bucs travel to Los Angeles to play the Chargers, the only team with a winning record left on their schedule.

This Sunday may have been ugly, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. There is no selection committee in the NFL. Also, there are no mirrors on the walls at One Buc Place.

“We didn’t play well overall,” Bowles said. “It’s hard to win a game when you turn it over three times. But these guys hung in there, made some plays in the second half and got it done. It won’t always be pretty. But as long as you can win it, it doesn’t matter how you get it.”

• • •

Sign up for the Sports Today newsletter for daily coverage of the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.

Never miss the latest on your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on Instagram, X and Facebook.