Baker Mayfield passed for 381 yards and four touchdowns and the Buccaneers won their third straight game, this time 34-20 against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
Mayfield completed 22 of 28 passes, joining Mike Evans, Rachaad White, Ko Kieft and David Moore for majors. He helped the Buccaneers (7-7) keep pace with the New Orleans Saints (7-7) at the top of the National Division North.
Chris Godwin also contributed with 10 receptions for 155 yards.
The Packers (6-8) for their part lost a second game in a row, so their hopes of participating in the playoffs diminish considerably.
Jordan Love connected with his receivers 29 times on 39 attempts for 284 yards, with touchdown passes to Tucker Kraft and Jayden Reed.
Mayfield faced the Packers at Lambeau Field in December for a third straight season, each time with a different team. He had four interceptions in a 24-22 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Christmas Day in 2021, then was the starting quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams when they lost 24-12 on December 19, 2022.
Mayfield suffered five sacks on Sunday, just like in his previous two appearances at Wisconsin. But this time he was more successful.
Having completed only 14 of his 29 passes in each of his last two outings this season, the quarterback started the game with seven consecutive successful passes. He ended the Buccaneers’ first three offensive drives in the second half with touchdown passes.
Mayfield fumbled the ball at his own four-yard line in the first quarter. That turnover set up a Packers touchdown, but he made almost no mistakes afterward.
Last week, Mayfield threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Cade Otton with 31 seconds left to give his team a 29-25 victory over the Falcons in Atlanta.
Mayfield also put the Buccaneers in position for Chase McLaughlin to attempt a 46-yard field goal just before halftime. The kick gave the Florida club the lead.
The Bucs then forced their opponents to punt after three plays during their first sequence of the second half, then Mayfield completed a 26-yard touchdown pass to White to make it 20-10.
The Packers responded when Love found Reed in the corner of the end zone for 17 yards on a third down and 15. But the home favorites couldn’t slow down Mayfield, who connected with Kieft for the major for two yards. It was the tight end’s first reception this season.
The Packers cut the lead to 27-20 on a 33-yard field goal by Anders Carlson with 10:04 remaining. A short pass from Mayfield to Moore, however, turned into a 52-yard touchdown. Moore hadn’t recorded a major since 2020, when he played for the Seahawks.
Steve Megargee, Associated Press