‘Linebacker’ Baker Mayfield literally leads Buccaneers back into division race

The Buccaneers have a linebacker playing quarterback. Baker Mayfield completed passes to 11 players, ran for a touchdown, recovered a critical fumble and even sprinted 40 yards downfield to throw a lead block for Bucky Irving, helping Tampa Bay puree the Giants, 30-7, on Sunday.

And for the first time since Oct. 21, one of his targets was Mike Evans, who led Tampa Bay with 68 yards on five catches. After the game on the CBS postgame show, former receiver Nate Burleson explained why the Buccaneers (5-6) are now 5-3 with Evans and 0-3 without him.

“I know he didn’t score a touchdown but just having Mike Evans back on the field gives Baker peace of mind knowing, ‘I have my security blanket when things get out of control,’” Burleson said. “I love the way Baker plays. There was that play where Irving was running and he’s running saying, ‘I got your lead block.’ That’s the type of quarterback you want to ride for.’”

They’re riding toward the lead in the NFC South, now only one game behind first-place Atlanta (6-5) in the standings. The Falcons, on a bye this week, still have a formidable tie-breaking advantage over the Bucs, having already swept the two-game series. But behind Mayfield (24 of 30, 294 yards) and Irving (87 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries), Tampa Bay on Sunday snapped a four-game losing streak and looked more than capable of overcoming the Falcons down the stretch.

Tampa Bay became the first NFL team in 24 with four players to rush for touchdowns as Rachaad White and Sean Tucker joined Mayfield and Irving in that category. The Bucs also introduced to the NFL their newest fullback in short-yardage situations, 347-pound nose tackle Vita Vea.

Mayfield punched in a 10-yard run to give Tampa Bay a 23-0 lead, hurdling through a pair of Giants defenders at the goal line before punctuating the score with a salute to Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito, who made his first start of the season after New York (2-9) benched and released Daniel Jones this week.

DeVito looked every bit like a player who hadn’t taken a snap in 322 days. Sacked four times, he never really got in a rhythm and finished 21 of 31 for 189 yards. New York hasn’t held a lead in six consecutive games, its longest streak since 1971-72.

For more information on the Buccaneers and Giants, visit the Tampa Bay and N.Y. Giants team pages at ProFootballPost.com.