– The Buccaneers defeated the Cardinals, 20-17, to move to 7-5 on the season. Tampa Bay remains in sole possession of first place in the NFC South, and has held at least a share of the division lead in 71 of the last 85 weeks, dating back to the 2021 season. The Buccaneers have won each of their last three games against the Cardinals – the team’s first three-game win streak over Arizona since 1989–92.
– Since the start of the 2023 season, the Buccaneers have the most wins (11) and the highest winning percentage (.846) of any NFL team in Weeks 13-18. They own the second-highest point differential (+122) in such games.
– Tampa Bay recorded two takeaways on the day – one fumble recovery and one interception. Their 18 takeaways this season are the sixth-most in the NFL this year, as of Sunday’s 1:00 p.m. ET slate of games. Tampa Bay’s 11 interceptions on the season are the seventh-most.
– The Buccaneers limited Arizona to 95 yards rushing, marking their ninth game this season in which they did not allow their opponent to eclipse 100 rushing yards – tied for the most such games in the NFL this season, as of Sunday’s 1:00 p.m. ET slate of games.
– Tampa Bay held the Cardinals to 3-of-8 (38%) on third downs, the eighth time this season in which it’s held an opponent to a 40% or fewer success rate. The eight such games are tied for the seventh-most in the NFL this year, as of Sunday’s 1:00 p.m. ET slate of games.
– The Buccaneers finished with two sacks on the day, one from
Yaya Diaby and one from
Vita Vea. Paired with the two takeaways on the day, Sunday’s contest marked the fifth game this season in which the Tampa Bay recorded multiple takeaways and multiple sacks – tied for the most such performances in the NFL this year, as of Sunday’s 1:00 p.m. ET slate of games.
– According to Next Gen Stats, Tampa Bay generated pressure on 53.3% of dropbacks against the Cardinals, the unit’s second-highest mark of the season. Five different Buccaneers defenders generated at least four pressures.
Vita Vea,
Logan Hall and
Elijah Roberts all generated three quick pressures (in under 2.5 seconds).
– QB
Baker Mayfield completed 18-of-28 passes (64.3%) for 194 yards and one touchdown with zero interceptions to earn a 96.4 passer rating on the day. Sunday’s contest marked
Mayfield’s seventh game this season in which he recorded a passer rating of 96.0 or higher, tied for the sixth-most such performances by a quarterback this season.
Mayfield connected with nine different Buccaneers receivers on Sunday, his most in a single game this season.
–
Mayfield owns a 3.8 touchdown-to-interception ratio on the season. Among passers with at least 250 attempts on the year, it’s the fifth-best mark in the NFL.
– RB
Bucky Irving led the Buccaneers in scrimmage yards in his first game back since being injured in Week 4, contributing 81 yards by way of 17 carries for 61 yards with one score and two catches for 20 yards. His rushing touchdown marked his first of the season, and his third overall scrimmage touchdown on the year.
– With his 81 scrimmage yards on Sunday,
Irving eclipsed the 2,000 scrimmage yards milestone in the 22nd game of his career. In doing so, he became the third player in franchise history with 2,000+ scrimmage yards in their first 25 career games (
Warrick Dunn,
Doug Martin). The only other running backs drafted since 2018 with 2,000+ scrimmage yards in their first 22 career games played are
Saquon Barkley,
Jahmyr Gibbs,
Josh Jacobs and
Jonathan Taylor.
– WR
Chris Godwin Jr. led Tampa Bay in receiving yards on Sunday, bringing in three catches for 78 yards. After missing the second half of the 2024 season due to injury,
Godwin’s 78 receiving yards marked his most in a contest since Week 6 of the 2024 season against the New Orleans Saints.
– WR
Emeka Egbuka tallied a team-high four catches for 42 yards in Sunday’s contest, extending his team-leading season totals to 52 catches for 791 yards and six touchdown catches. Through Sunday’s 1:00 p.m. ET slate of games, he ranks tied for first among all rookies in touchdown catches, second in receiving yards, and third in receptions.
– T
Tristan Wirfs brought in a two-yard receiving touchdown from Baker Mayfield, marking his first career reception and his first touchdown of any kind. Wirfs became the fifth offensive lineman in franchise history to record a touchdown reception, joining
Leonard Wester,
Donald Penn,
Randall McDaniel and
Ron Heller. He is the first offensive lineman in the NFL to record a touchdown catch this year.
– TE
Payne Durham recorded his first catch of the season, an 11-yard gain.
– LB
SirVocea Dennis led Tampa Bay with 10 tackles – his third game with double-digit tackles this season – and added one quarterback hit on the day. He was the nearest defender on the team’s final defensive play of the day, a pass breakup, which secured the victory for Tampa Bay.
– S
Antoine Winfield Jr. notched an interception in Sunday’s game, marking his second pick of the season and the ninth of his career.
Winfield Jr. added seven tackles and one quarterback hit on the day.
– NT
Vita Vea finished with two tackles (one for loss), three quarterback hits and 1.0 sack. With his sack, he increased his season total to 3.5 sacks and his career total to 34.0. In doing so, he surpassed
Jason Pierre-Paul and
Brad Culpepper (33.0) for sole possession of the ninth-most sacks in franchise history.
– OLB
Yaya Diaby also tallied two tackles on the day (one for loss), two quarterback hits and 1.0 sack. His sack increased his season total to 6.0 and his career total to 13.0.
Diaby has recorded sacks in consecutive games for the second time this season, joining Weeks 6-7.
–
Diaby’s 18.0 career sacks are the third-most by a Buccaneers player through his first 46 games played, trailing only
Warren Sapp (22.5) and
Stylez G. White (19.5).
– DL
Logan Hall recorded his first career forced fumble, which was recovered by
Tykee Smith to mark his second fumble recovery on the season.
Smith is the only player in the NFL this year to have 75+ tackles, three-or-more takeaways, and multiple sacks.
– K
Chase McLaughlin went 2-for-2 on field goal tries on the day, connecting successfully from 25 yards and 57 yards out.
McLaughlin is a perfect 9-for-9 on field goal tries from 50+ yards away this season, and his nine such makes are the most in the NFL as of Sunday’s 1:00 p.m. ET slate of games.
McLaughlin is the fourth kicker since 2000 – and the first since Dallas’
Brandon Aubrey in 2023 – to have at least nine attempts of 50+ yards in a season and record a 100% success rate.
– P
Riley Dixon punted five times for a 48.0 gross average and a 46.8 net average, including pinning three punts inside the Arizona 20-yard line and two inside the Arizona 10-yard line. His 46.8 net average was his third-highest mark in a game this season, and the highest in game in which he punted at least four times. Through Sunday’s 1:00 p.m. ET slate of games,
Dixon’s 20 punts downed inside the opponent 20-yard line are tied for the fifth-most in the NFL, while his eight punts downed inside the opponent 10-yard line are tied for the sixth-most.
