TAMPA – The surging Tampa Bay Buccaneers are back over .500, with a fourth straight NFC South title within reach.

Now they hope to complete that task by building on a three-game winning streak that has taken them to the top of the league after a spell in which they lost five of six games.

“It’s one thing to get first place. It’s completely different to stay there,” said coach Todd Bowles after Sunday’s sloppy 28-13 win against the struggling Las Vegas Raiders. “We still have four games left. It will be a battle all the time. We have to be ready every week.”

Baker Mayfield threw for 295 yards and three touchdowns, and the Bucs won for the third straight time against a last-place opponent and moved ahead of struggling Atlanta in the NFC South.

The Falcons, who hold a tiebreaker lead after winning the season series between the rivals, have lost four straight.

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

Mayfield threw scoring passes of 15 yards and 29 yards to freshman Jalen McMillan. Rachaad White had a 5-yard reception and a 3-yard run for the Bucs, who pulled away in the second half after the Raiders (2-11) lost quarterback Aidan O’Connell to a knee injury, coach Antonio said Pierce. doesn’t look good.”

O’Connell was carted off the field after he was shoved to the ground by Bucs defender Calijah Kancey after throwing a pass late in the third quarter.

The quarterback was left on the ground after an 8-yard, third-down completion to Jakobi Meyers in his second game back after being sidelined for nearly six weeks with a broken thumb. Kancey chased O’Connell from the pocket to the Bucs sideline and shoved him from behind after the ball was released.

Kancey was not penalized for a late goal.

“Prayers to him. I pray for a speedy recovery,” Kancey said. “I hope everything turns out well for them. I definitely knelt down and prayed for him.”

White rushed for 90 yards on 17 carries. His TD run in the fourth quarter gave Tampa Bay a 21-10 lead. McMillan’s second TD capped an 80-yard drive and put the game out of reach after Desmond Ridder led the Raiders to a field goal with three minutes left that put Las Vegas up 21-13.

The Raiders have lost nine straight games, an NFL-high.

READ: Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Bucky Irving is NFC Offensive Player of the Week

“I appreciate the effort, the courage, the fight,” Pierce said. “Listen, it’s hard. And these guys don’t flinch or blink. They still believe. … All of these guys fight until the end. Proud of the achievement.”

Mayfield turned the ball over three times in the first half to help the Raiders stay close.

O’Connell fumbled a play after Mayfield threw his first interception. But four plays later, Raiders linebacker Amari Burney sacked Mayfield and forced a fumble, which led to O’Connell’s 1-yard TD run that cut Tampa Bay’s early lead to 14-7.

Tre’von Moehrig’s fumble recovery was the Las Vegas defense’s first of the season. Jack Jones’ interception in the end zone prevented Mayfield from extending a 14-10 lead just before halftime.

Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, who entered the day leading the NFL with 84 receptions, had three catches for 49 yards, breaking Sam LaPorta’s long-standing record for receptions in a season by a rookie tight end. LaPorta had 86 catches for the Detroit Lions in 2023.

“It’s cool, but it would be even cooler with a few more wins,” Bowers said.

“He’s having a great individual year,” Pierce added. “I wish it could lead to more success for our team.”

Injuries

Raiders: O’Connell left the game with 1:23 left in the third quarter and was replaced by Ridder. O’Connell finished 11 of 19 games with 104 yards and one interception. He was fired once.

Buccaneers: Played without LB KJ Britt (ankle), S Mike Edwards (hamstring), CB Josh Hayes (hamstring) and OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (ankle). S Antoine Winfield Jr. (knee) and RB Bucky Irving (back) left the game in the second quarter and did not return. WR Ryan Miller (concussion) left in the fourth quarter.

Next

Raiders: Host Atlanta on Monday, December 16th.

Buccaneers: Visit the Los Angeles Chargers next Sunday.

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