The Tampa Bay Buccaneers moved into first place in the NFC South with a 28-13 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. This win improves the Buccaneers’ record to 7-6, and an Atlanta Falcons loss to the Minnesota Vikings makes them 6-7. So, Tampa Bay now has sole control over the NFC South, and if the season ended today, they would be in the playoffs. Coming out of their bye week, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have won three consecutive games, putting them in prime position to win the division if they can finish the season strong.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defeat Las Vegas Raiders
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers got off to a hot start against the Raiders, scoring touchdowns on their first two drives to go up 14-0. They opened with a 12-play, 85-yard drive that was capped off with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Baker Mayfield to Jalen McMillan. After the Bucs defense forced a three-and-out, the offense went on a 5-play, 52-yard touchdown drive. Mayfield threw a 20-yard pass to Cade Otton and a few big Rashaad White runs set up a 5-yard touchdown pass from Mayfield to White. This game was shaping up to be a blowout until chaos ensued over the next few possessions.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers forced another Las Vegas punt but then Mayfield threw an interception. This started a string of turnovers from both teams. The Raiders fumbled the ball on their next drive and the Buccaneers fumbled it right back. Another Mayfield interception brought the game into halftime, with the Buccaneers leading 14-10.
The third quarter saw no points for either team, as they mostly traded punts. In the fourth quarter, Tampa Bay pulled away with two more touchdown drives. Mayfield completed a 32-yard pass to Mike Evans, followed up by a 34-yard run to set up a 3-yard Rashaad White rushing touchdown. On the next Buccaneers possession, McMillan took a screen pass 29 yards for a touchdown that put the game out of reach. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers secured a 28-13 victory at home. Baker Mayfield finished with 295 passing yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. Rashaad White rushed for 90 yards with one rushing and one receiving touchdown. The defense also forced two turnovers in the win.
NFC South Title Race
With the win over the Raiders, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have won three consecutive games. Meanwhile, their division rivals, the Atlanta Falcons, are doing the opposite. The Falcons have lost their last four games and have not looked strong in defeat. This week, the Minnesota Vikings lit up their secondary, with Sam Darnold throwing for five touchdowns. Last week, they lost to the Los Angeles Chargers when Kirk Cousins threw four interceptions. And in the weeks before that, they were blown out by the Denver Broncos and lost to the New Orleans Saints.
While their division rival has been falling, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been rising. They had a rough losing streak in the middle of the season with built-up injuries all over the roster. But coming out of their bye week, the Buccaneers have defeated the New York Giants, the Carolina Panthers, and the Las Vegas Raiders. While these are not the toughest opponents, wins are wins in the NFL.
The Buccaneers and Falcons have light schedules to finish the season. The Buccaneers play the Chargers, the Cowboys, the Panthers, and the Saints, while the Falcons play the Raiders, the Giants, the Commanders, and the Panthers. The Falcons won both games against the Buccaneers this season, so if they finish with the same record, the tiebreaker will go to Atlanta. So, this win was significant for Tampa Bay, giving them a one-game advantage and the division lead. Now, they will just need to hold onto it.
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