The Tampa Bay Buccaneers surged to the top of the NFC South with a decisive 28-13 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 14, fueled by a dominant second-half performance and a standout game from quarterback Baker Mayfield. With the win, Tampa Bay (7-6) climbed above .500 for the first time since Week 8 and extended their winning streak to three games, positioning themselves for a fourth straight division title.
After a midseason slump in which the team lost five of six games, Tampa Bay is rounding into form, taking advantage of a soft schedule and a faltering Atlanta Falcons squad that has dropped four straight. Despite Atlanta holding a tiebreaker over Tampa Bay due to sweeping their season series, the Bucs now control their destiny in the division race.
Mayfield led the way, throwing for 295 yards and three touchdowns, two of which went to rookie wide receiver Jalen McMillan. Running back Rachaad White contributed with 90 rushing yards, a touchdown on the ground, and another through the air.
“This was a statement game for us,” said Mayfield. “We’ve weathered some tough losses, but now we’re hitting our stride at the perfect time.”P
The Raiders (2-11) saw their woes deepen with an NFL-high ninth straight loss. Their hopes of staying competitive were dashed when starting quarterback Aidan O’Connell was carted off in the third quarter with a knee injury. O’Connell, in his second game back after a broken thumb, was shoved to the ground by Buccaneers defensive lineman Calijah Kancey after releasing a pass. Though Kancey wasn’t penalized, Raiders coach Antonio Pierce expressed concern for his quarterback.
“It doesn’t look good,” Pierce said. “We’ll know more after further evaluation, but it’s a tough blow.”
O’Connell’s absence highlighted Las Vegas’ offensive struggles. Desmond Ridder replaced him and managed to lead a late field goal drive to pull the Raiders within 21-13, but Tampa Bay answered decisively with an 80-yard touchdown drive capped by McMillan’s second score to seal the game.
While Mayfield ultimately guided the Bucs to victory, his first-half struggles kept the game closer than expected. Three turnovers—including an interception in the end zone and a fumble forced by Raiders linebacker Amari Burney—gave Las Vegas opportunities to stay in the game. O’Connell’s 1-yard touchdown run, set up by Burney’s strip-sack of Mayfield, cut the Bucs’ lead to 14-7.
However, Tampa Bay’s defense stiffened after halftime, and Mayfield settled in. His precision passing and White’s hard-nosed running proved too much for the Raiders to handle.
Jalen McMillan continued his impressive rookie season, catching touchdown passes of 15 and 29 yards. Rachaad White carried the ground game, with his fourth-quarter rushing score giving the Bucs a commanding 21-10 lead. White’s dual-threat ability has been a key factor during Tampa Bay’s winning streak.
“Rachaad and Jalen are stepping up in big moments,” said Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles. “They’ve been huge for us.”
Despite the defeat, Raiders rookie tight end Brock Bowers reached a significant milestone. With three catches for 49 yards, Bowers broke the NFL record for receptions in a season by a rookie tight end, surpassing Sam LaPorta’s mark of 86 set in 2023.
“It’s a great individual achievement,” Bowers said. “But I’d trade it for a win any day.”
The Buccaneers now have a division title within reach and hope to maintain their momentum as they prepare for critical matchups down the stretch. The Raiders, meanwhile, are focused on regrouping and evaluating their roster heading into the offseason.
“This team has fight, but we’ve got to clean things up and find a way to finish,” said Pierce.
With three weeks left in the regular season, the Buccaneers are in control of their playoff fate, a stark turnaround from a midseason slump that left their hopes in doubt.
