LOS ANGELES (AP) — Baker Mayfield returned to Southern California and delivered one of the most complete performances of his career in his 100th NFL start, leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a resounding 40-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on Sunday.
The Buccaneers (8-6) trailed 17-10 midway through the second quarter but flipped the script with a dominant second half, scoring 30 unanswered points. Mayfield threw four touchdown passes, including two to Mike Evans, and Tampa Bay’s rushing attack piled up a franchise-record 222 yards.
“This group that we have is really why we had a good game,” Mayfield said. “At halftime, the offense said if we don’t hurt ourselves, we’ll be alright. The defense came out and stopped them, and then the offensive line took over. It was complementary football.”
Mayfield was nearly flawless, completing 22 of 27 passes for 288 yards and four touchdowns against one of the NFL’s stingiest defenses. Evans, his top target, had nine receptions for 159 yards, highlighted by a 57-yard touchdown on a broken play that gave the Buccaneers the lead early in the third quarter.
Head Coach Todd Bowles praised his team’s resilience after an error-filled first half that included two turnovers. “We didn’t panic at halftime,” Bowles said. “We understood the assignment and showed our growth in the second half of the season. We took the game to them.”
Tampa Bay’s defense played a pivotal role, forcing two punts and shutting down Justin Herbert and the Chargers’ offense after halftime. The Chargers (9-5) managed just 47 total yards in the second half, failing to sustain drives as Tampa Bay’s defensive line applied relentless pressure.
Running back Bucky Irving, a game-time decision due to back and hip issues, spearheaded the Bucs’ ground attack with 117 yards on 15 carries, including a 54-yard burst in the fourth quarter that set up Rachaad White’s touchdown catch.
With the win, the Buccaneers extended their winning streak to four games and widened their lead in the NFC South. They now sit 1.5 games ahead of the Atlanta Falcons, who face the Raiders on Monday night.
“This was a statement game for us,” Evans said. “We’re finding our identity at the right time, and we’ve got everything to play for down the stretch.”
The Bucs will return home next week to face the Carolina Panthers as they look to solidify their playoff position.
