Tampa Bay 30, Jacksonville 12
When: 4:05 PM ET, Sunday, December 24, 2023
Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Temperature:
72°
Head Official:
Brad Allen
Attendance:
62547
By Field Level Media
Baker Mayfield threw two touchdown passes to Mike Evans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took advantage of Jacksonville's offensive follies to beat the visiting Jaguars 30-12 on Sunday.
Mayfield was 26-for-35 for 283 yards, including seven completions to Evans for 86 yards. Chase McLaughlin made three field goals for Tampa Bay (8-7), including a 51-yarder in the third quarter.
Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who cleared concussion protocol after a week of uncertainty, was 17-for-29 for 211 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in three quarters. C.J. Beathard replaced Lawrence in the fourth quarter after he was ruled out with a right shoulder injury.
Evan Engram caught 10 passes for 95 yards and Calvin Ridley had six receptions for 90 yards and both of Jacksonville's touchdowns.
The Jaguars (8-7), who trailed 30-0 late in the third quarter, fell into a tie for first place with Indianapolis and Houston in the AFC South.
In the NFC South, Tampa Bay holds a one-game lead on New Orleans and Atlanta with two weeks left.
The Buccaneers used up more than half of the first quarter before the Jaguars even took an offensive snap. A 14-play drive that consumed 7:38 resulted in McLaughlin's 24-yard field goal. Mayfield threw for 59 yards on the drive, which included three third-down conversions.
Tampa Bay went up 10-0 when Mayfield hooked up with Evans on a 3-yard touchdown. Then, McLaughlin was good from 31 yards out to stretch the lead with 2:27 to play in the first half.
The second touchdown for Evans came on a 22-yard play with 45 seconds left in the half, which ended with a 20-0 Bucs lead.
Jacksonville had four first-half possessions, with those ending in an interception by Devin White, Brandon McManus' miss on a 52-yard field goal, an interception by Antoine Winfield Jr. and a punt.
The Jaguars got the ball to begin the second half and fumbled three plays later.
The Buccaneers needed to go only 37 yards to stretch their lead to 27-0 on Rachaad White's 2-yard run.
Trailing by 30, the Jaguars finally scored in the final minute of the third quarter on Lawrence's 18-yard pass to Ridley. Beathard found Ridley for a 1-yard score late in the fourth.
--Field Level Media
Top Game Performances
Receiving
| Jacksonville |
|
Tampa Bay |
|
Evan Engram
|
Player |
Mike Evans
|
|
10 |
Receptions |
7 |
|
95 |
Yards |
86 |
|
9.5 |
Avg Yards |
12.3 |
|
0 |
Touchdowns |
2 |
|
14 |
Long |
22 |
Team Stats Summary
| |
Yards |
Scoring |
Defense |
| Team |
Tot |
Rus |
Pas |
TD |
FG |
INT |
Sck |
FF |
| Jacksonville
|
305 |
37 |
268 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2.0 |
0 |
| Tampa Bay
|
335 |
70 |
265 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
4.0 |
2 |
Upcoming Games
-
Tampa Bay will play their next game at home against New Orleans. The Buccaneers have a W/L % of .625 after a win and .429 after a loss.
-
Jacksonville will play their next game at home against Carolina. The Jaguars have a W/L % of .667 after a win and .333 after a loss.
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