Tampa Bay Buccaneers never wavered at 4-6: 'We still have a chance'

TAMPA, Fla. - For a second straight year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have bounced back from a midseason long losing streak. At 4-6, some teams would have caved, but this team didn't waver.

"It’s not just captains on this team, it’s everybody throughout the building – guys just being accountable and saying, ‘We still have a chance,'" Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield said. "There are situations that sometimes you can let dictate your attitude and effort when it comes to week-to-week work, but this is a group that’s going to put their heads down and do it."

Veteran leadership has been the key in keeping this team focused and motivated. After the Bucs let the Las Vegas Raiders back into the game in the second quarter last Sunday, Bucs linebacker Lavonte David passionately addressed the team at half-time, and it got the whole team's attention.

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Aidan O'Connell #12 of the Las Vegas Raiders is sacked by Lavonte David #54 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium on December 08, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

"It’s as needed with him," Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said. "Sometimes it’s on the field, sometimes it’s grabbing a guy by the shoulder and talking to him one-on-one, sometimes it’s talking to the whole group. Whether it’s inspirational or whether he’s pissed off, it’s well needed as leaders. As much as we can coach, it’s a player’s game. If you don’t have the leadership and accountability from the players, you’re not going to have a good locker room. He’s one of many that has a very big voice and makes the locker room together."

There are a lot of contributing factors for the Bucs offensive success this season. Mayfield is tied for the NFC lead in touchdowns, new Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen elevated the offense and the Bucs running game has gone from the worst to one of the best.

But, the key down the stretch will be Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans. The Bucs are 7-1 when Evans is targeted at least five times per game.

"Mike just being in the game – he said it – he started feeling better and better as the game went on, which is kind of rare considering he didn’t have that many targets," Mayfield said. "We're trying to get him going early and often, just because he’s the game changer for us in the pass game. He can take the downfield shots, he does things, he attracts so much attention on defense in the secondary that he opens things up for other guys, whether it’s targeted towards him. He’s kind of the focal point of our pass game."

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