- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Los Angeles Chargers, 40-17, to secure their fourth consecutive win. With the win, Tampa Bay improves to 8-6 and remains in sole possession of first place in the NFC South. The Buccaneers are now 8-1 (.888) in December/January games dating back to the start of the 2023 season and 20-5 (.800) dating back to the start of the 2020 season. Tampa Bay's eight such wins and .888 win percentage in December and January since 2023 are each tied for the best in the NFL during that span.
- Dating back to Week 4 of the 2021 season, Tampa Bay has held at least a share of the NFC South lead in 53 of the last 66 weeks, winning three consecutive division titles during that span (2021-23).
- The Buccaneers amassed 506 yards of offense in the win - the team's second-highest total of the season and 16-highest in team history - making them the lone team this season with eight 400-yard games and 1-of-3 teams with multiple 500-yard performances. Tampa Bay has now recorded each 400 yards of offense and 150-or-more rushing yards in four consecutive games - the longest-such streak in franchise history and the second-longest such streak in the NFL this season (Baltimore - five games).
- Tampa Bay's offense put up the most points (40), most total yards (506), most rushing yards (223) and second-most passing yards (283) vs. the Chargers defense this season. The Buccaneers offense also became the first to score on each of its opening two possessions vs. the Chargers defense in 2024. The Buccaneers did not punt on Sunday and scored on 9-of-12 possessions in the game, including six in a row before their final drive, which ended the game.
- Baker Mayfield completed 22-of-27 passes for 288 yards and four touchdowns, with one interception, earning a 135.3 passer rating. It marked Mayfield's seventh career regular season game with four-or-more touchdown passes, including four-such performances for Tampa Bay.
- Making his 100th career start today, Mayfield (162) became 1-of-6 QBs selected No. 1 overall to record 150+ touchdown passes through their first 100 starts, joining Peyton Manning (178), Matthew Stafford (178), Andrew Luck (171), Carson Palmer (160) and Jared Goff (155).
- Mayfield's 32 touchdown passes this season established a new career high and currently rank third in the NFL this season. He has now thrown the fourth-most single season touchdown passes in franchise history (32). His seven games with three-or-more touchdown passes this season are the second-most in the NFL, trailing only Joe Burrow (eight).
SINGLE SEASON PASSING TOUCHDOWN LEADERS - FRANCHISE HISTORY
- Mike Evans notched season highs with nine receptions and 159 yards receiving, including a season-long 57-yard touchdown reception. He officially moved into the top 25 in NFL history in receiving yards, surpassing Jimmy Smith (12,287) and Antonio Brown (12,291) for the 25-most all-time receiving yards. Evans also surpassed Roddy White (808) for the 40-most receptions in league history.
- The Buccaneers improved to 8-3 this season with Evans active and 8-1 in games in which Evans has five-or-more targets. Evans now has 52 receptions for 749 yards and nine touchdowns on the season. His nine touchdown receptions are the fourth-most in the NFL this season. He now needs 251 receiving yards (83.7 yards per game) and eight receptions to continue his 1,000-yard and 60-catch streaks (10 seasons).
- Evans etched his 38 career regular season game with 100+ receiving yards and his 14 career regular season game with 150+ receiving yards, the second-most among all active players trailing only Tyreek Hill (16).
- Appearing in his 165 career game for Tampa Bay, Evans surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer John Lynch (164) for the seventh-most games played in team history.
- The Buccaneers rushed for 223 yards in the game, while averaging 5.7 yards per carry, marking their 11th 100-yard rushing performance in 14 games played this season, and their third game with at least 200 yards rushing. After finishing 32 in the NFL in rushing in each of the previous two seasons, Tampa Bay currently ranks fourth in rushing yards per game (144.4) and second in yards per rush attempt (5.2).
- Bucky Irving notched his second 100-yard rushing performance of the season - taking 15 carries for 117 yards. He currently leads all rookies in both yards from scrimmage and rushing yards this season.
- Rachaad White pitched in 81 yards from scrimmage on Sunday (64 rushing, 17 receiving), while averaging 4.3 yards per rush attempt and securing an 11-yard touchdown reception. He now has six receiving touchdowns on the season and nine total touchdowns from scrimmage. White is 1-of-2 players this season with at least six receiving touchdowns and three-or-more rushing touchdowns (Miami Dolphins RB De'Von Achane).
- Jalen McMillan notched a career-best 75 yards receiving on five receptions, while hauling in his fourth receiving touchdown of the season, including three over the past two games alone. McMillan's four receiving touchdowns are the most by a Buccaneers rookie since tight end O.J. Howard had six as a rookie in 2017.
- Cade Otton contributed two receptions for 24 yards giving him 59 receptions on the season, which surpassed Cameron Brate (57 in 2016) for the fifth-most single season receptions by a tight end in franchise history. Otton also surpassed Rob Gronkowski (1,425) for the eighth-most receiving yards by a tight end in team history.
- Defensively, Tampa Bay limited the Chargers offense to just 206 total yards - the lowest total allowed by the Buccaneers in a game this season. The Chargers were 0-for-6 on third down and 0-for-2 on fourth down in the game and rushed for a season-low 32 yards. The Buccaneers limited the Chargers to just 14 first downs on Sunday - the fewest surrendered by Tampa Bay in a game this season.
- Since the Bye Week in Week 11, Tampa Bay has allowed the fewest points per game in the NFL (15.0) over the past four weeks.
- Lavonte David led the defense with 12 tackles (one for loss), 1.5 sacks and three quarterback hits. He now has 5.5 sacks on the season and 39.0 for his career, which ties David Logan for the sixth-most sacks in franchise history. David has amassed 51 career regular season games with 10-or-more tackles and seven games with 1.5+ sacks.
- David is the lone player this season with 100+ tackles, 5.0+ sacks and three-or-more forced fumbles. Over the past 10 seasons, only four players have recorded these numbers in a single season: David (2024), Antoine Winfield Jr. (2023), Shaquille Leonard (2018) and Thomas Davis (2015).
- Per the Associated Press, since 1991, David is just the eighth player to record 40+ sacks and 30+ takeaways, including playoffs, joining Karlos Dansby, Ray Lewis, London Fletcher, Julius Peppers, Junior Seau, Jason Taylor and Brian Urlacher. Five of the other seven players in this group are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- Since tackles became regularly tracked in 1994, David's 11 seasons with 100+ tackles are the third-most, trailing only London Fletcher (14) and Bobby Wagner (13).
- Logan Hall extended his single-season career high to 4.5 sacks, after picking up 1.5 sacks on Sunday.
- Jamel Dean intercepted a Justin Herbert pass to record his first interception of the season and the eighth of his NFL career. Herbert entered the game with just one interception thrown this season.
- Chase McLaughlin went 4-of-4 on field goal attempts in the game - connecting from 22, 37, 42 and 43 yards - to improve to 25-of-27 (.926) on the season. His .931 field goal percentage since arriving in Tampa Bay in 2023 ranks third in the NFL during that span.