Bucs celebrate with Christmas Eve romp over Jaguars for 4th win in a row

TAMPA — The Bucs had just dismantled the Jaguars for their fourth win in a row.

Red-hot quarterback Baker Mayfield threw two more touchdown passes to Mike Evans, who leads all NFL receivers with 13. Their defense came up with a pair of interceptions and forced two fumbles while also knocking quarterback Trevor Lawrence out of the game with a shoulder injury.

The 30-12 win on Christmas Eve was the fourth in a row for coach Todd Bowles’ team, leaving it one win shy of clinching the NFC South.

When the door to the locker room swung open Sunday, Mayfield stepped to the podium with the sound of his raucous teammates still shaking to the Jackson 5′s Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

The Bucs’ arrival to the NFC playoff picture had not been nearly as anticipated before Christmas Eve, but Mayfield was happy to tell everyone why they’d better watch out for his team if it enters the postseason.

How difficult would Tampa Bay be to play in January?

“Extremely difficult,” Mayfield said. “Obviously, we had a lot of guys come back tonight on defense and just offensively, we continue to improve. We’re getting hot at the right time, but we can’t take that for granted. I’ve got to realize the one game at a time mentality has really been the turning point for us. That singular focus has been the edge and the intensity we’ve needed, and we’ve got to continue that.”

A week ago, Mayfield had one of his best games as a pro, throwing four touchdown passes and becoming the first visiting quarterback to Lambeau Field to produce a perfect passer rating.

On Sunday, he started nearly as fast, going 18 of 23 passing for 189 yards in the first half alone with the two TD passes to Evans. His final numbers were 26 of 35 for 283 yards, but that doesn’t include how he escaped pressure and pinballed off four or five Jaguars defenders early in the second quarter to run for a first down on third and 6 from the Jags’ 10-yard line.

It was reminiscent of Mike Alstott, who ordered the cannons to fire before kickoff. “I wouldn’t go that far,” Mayfield said. “He probably would’ve scored.”

What Mayfield has done, however, is lead a remarkable turnaround. Twenty-two days earlier, the Bucs had lost six of seven games and were 4-7, teetering on elimination when they hosted the Panthers.

“He’s been outstanding. He’s been outstanding in December,” Bowles said of Mayfield. “That’s what you want from your quarterback in December. Everybody knows each other’s plays right about now, but when you’re trying to make a push, if the quarterback is playing great, it gives you a chance.”

Not only is Mayfield and the offense clicking, but the Bucs defense is starting to dominate opponents the way the Super Bowl 55 championship team did.

No player has been more impressive than safety Antoine Winfield Jr., who filled up the stat sheet again Sunday.

Winfield had a sack, an interception, a fumble recovery, a tackle for loss, a quarterback hit and a pass defensed to go with three tackles. Embattled linebacker Devin White, who did not start but rotated with K.J. Britt, got things going with a first-quarter interception and added a half sack and two passes defensed. Rookie YaYa Diaby posted five tackles and 1.5 sacks, and he forced and recovered a fumble.

It was all too much for Lawrence, who watched the Bucs turn those turnovers into 17 points and a 30-6 lead entering the fourth quarter.

“That’s a great quarterback,” Bowles said of Lawrence. “It’s huge for us to get the turnovers early. It keeps him off the field. It gives us some momentum, especially going into the half and it worked out for us.”

It seems to have all worked out for Bowles and Mayfield, especially if they can secure a playoff berth with a win either next Sunday against the Saints or the following week at Carolina.

“It says a lot about the group that we have, about the coaches that haven’t wavered on the game plans, haven’t wavered on the foundation of our system but then the guys trusting at the same time,” Mayfield said. “Run game is coming along. The pass game has obviously improved. It says a lot about the group. ... To stick it out and win four in a row and to be able control our own destiny at this point is great.”

The Bucs aren’t yet in the postseason, but they’re 4-0 since putting themselves in must-win playoff mode.

So they have a rhetorical question for the NFC.

“Why not us?” left tackle Tristan Wirfs asked. “We were counted out a lot early in the season. A couple weeks ago, even. We’re not just trying to get into the dance, we’re trying to go the distance. Everyone is. Having that mindset and don’t quit mentality, we’ve just got a bunch of dawgs in this locker room. Just trying to fight.”

Winfield agreed. “One hundred percent, it’s anybody’s ballgame, right?” he said. “You get into the tournament and it’s any given Sunday, right? When you get in there and we can execute, it’s a matter of matchups, it’s who’s the healthiest, who’s the hottest.”

For a month, Mayfield has had his magic. The defense is getting turnovers.

To all, it was a very good night.

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