Two years ago, Baker Mayfield found himself in Southern California fighting to revive his career. On Sunday, in his 100th NFL start, Mayfield returned triumphantly, leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a dominant 40-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in a Week 15 showdown.
Mayfield’s performance was nothing short of spectacular. The veteran quarterback threw for 288 yards and four touchdowns, reaching 30 TD passes for the first time in his seven-year career. The NFC South-leading Buccaneers (8-6) outscored the Chargers 30-0 in the second half, making an emphatic statement against a defense that had been one of the NFL’s stingiest all season.
Trailing 17-10 late in the second quarter, the Buccaneers turned the game on its head with six straight scoring drives, including five in the second half. Wide receiver Mike Evans delivered one of his best performances of the season, tallying a season-high 159 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
The turning point came early in the third quarter. On second-and-13 from their own 43-yard line, Mayfield eluded pressure, scrambled left, and launched a 57-yard strike to Evans. The veteran receiver caught the ball at the Chargers’ 35-yard line, shrugged off a shoulder tackle from rookie cornerback Tarheeb Still, and sprinted down the sideline for a touchdown that gave Tampa Bay a 20-17 lead with 10:23 left in the third.
Evans wasn’t done. Late in the third quarter, he hauled in a 35-yard pass to extend Tampa Bay’s lead to 30-17. It marked Evans’ 14th career game with at least 150 receiving yards, second only to Miami’s Tyreek Hill among active players.
Rookie running back Bucky Irving powered the Buccaneers’ ground attack, rushing for 117 yards on 18 carries. His 54-yard burst off right guard in the third quarter set up a Chase McLaughlin field goal. Tampa Bay’s dominance on the ground was part of a staggering 506-206 advantage in total offense, including a 223-32 edge in rushing yards.
The Buccaneers’ offense was relentless, surpassing 400 total yards and 150 rushing yards for the fourth consecutive game. For the first time all season, the Chargers defense, which had allowed just 15.9 points per game through Week 12, had no answers. Tampa Bay never punted in 10 possessions.
Defensively, the Buccaneers made key plays when it mattered most. In the third quarter, cornerback Jamel Dean intercepted Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, ending his streak of 357 pass attempts without an interception—the longest active streak in the NFL.
The Chargers (8-6) entered the game clinging to a playoff spot but suffered their worst loss of the season in head coach Jim Harbaugh’s first year. Justin Herbert completed 21 of 33 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns, but his interception in the third quarter proved costly.
Herbert’s lone bright spot came early, connecting with rookie Quentin Johnston for a 17-yard touchdown in the second quarter to give the Chargers a 17-10 lead. However, Los Angeles couldn’t sustain its momentum and managed just 32 rushing yards against a swarming Buccaneers defense.
The Buccaneers, winners of four straight, will look to keep their playoff push alive as they head to Dallas next Sunday for a pivotal NFC clash against the Cowboys.
The Chargers, reeling from their third loss in four games, will host the Denver Broncos on Thursday in a must-win game to solidify their postseason hopes.
As Mayfield celebrated a career milestone with one of his finest performances, the Buccaneers appear to be peaking at the perfect time, ready to make noise in the NFC playoff picture.
