Bucs grab NFC South lead, hand Raiders ninth straight loss
Dec 8, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) gets pressured by Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images Rachaad White and Jalen McMillan each produced two touchdowns in the host Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 28-13 win on Sunday, extending the Las Vegas Raiders' losing streak to nine.
Tampa Bay (7-6), which has won three in a row, took over first place in the NFC South as the Atlanta Falcons (6-7) lost at the Minnesota Vikings.
Shut down for the second and third quarters, the Bucs got a 3-yard scoring run from White and a 29-yard touchdown catch from McMillan in the fourth to finish it.
Las Vegas quarterback Aidan O'Connell was carted to the locker room with an air cast on his right leg after being pushed from behind by Calijah Kancey with 1:23 left in the third.
O'Connell was fleeing pressure toward the right sideline when Kancey shoved him after the play. No penalty was called.
O'Connell, who was 11-for-19 passing for 104 yards and an interception, was replaced by Desmond Ridder, who completed 12 of 18 passes for 101 yards.
Mayfield finished 18-for-29 passing for 295 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
White amassed 109 all-purpose yards as Bucky Irving suffered an early back injury and didn't return.
The Raiders' Sincere McCormick gained 78 yards on 15 rushes.
Las Vegas smothered Tampa Bay's offense after the first quarter until White's 3-yard scoring run with 8:52 left to play made it 21-10.
Tampa Bay set the tone quickly with an 11-1 first-down advantage in the first quarter. The Bucs parlayed that dominance into touchdowns on their first two possessions, both on passes from Mayfield. McMillan worked wide open for a 15-yard score and a 7-0 lead and White caught a 5-yard score for a 14-0 cushion with 3:58 left in the quarter.
The Raiders changed the momentum early in the second quarter when linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson intercepted Mayfield. But O'Connell suffered his second botched snap in two weeks on the next play and the Bucs recovered at their 35-yard line.
However, Mayfield fumbled the ball away and Las Vegas drove 44 yards to set up a 1-yard scoring plunge by O'Connell. The Raiders drove to the Bucs' 6 on their next series but had to settle for a 25-yard Daniel Carlson field goal and a 14-10 deficit at halftime.
The Raiders forced three turnovers in the first half, including an interception in the end zone in the closing seconds.
Bucs All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. left in the second quarter with a knee injury.
--Field Level Media
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