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National Football League
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

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
Rushing
Jacksonville   Tampa Bay
Trevor Lawrence Player Rachaad White
4 Attempts 20
29 Yards 39
7.2 Avg Yards 2.0
0 Touchdowns 1
15 Long 11
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.