Jacksonville @ Tampa Bay preview
Raymond James Stadium
Last Meeting ( Dec 1, 2019 ) Tampa Bay 28, Jacksonville 11
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars are headed in opposite directions despite finding themselves atop their respective divisions.
Winners of three in a row, the Buccaneers (7-7) look to continue their ascent and hand the Jaguars (8-6) a fourth straight loss on Sunday when the Sunshine State clubs meet in Tampa, Fla.
"Momentum is coming with winning," Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said. "The urgency is there. We know we have to win out to get to the playoffs; that's been our mindset since we played Carolina (a 21-18 win on Dec. 3). That's our mindset this week, as well, against a good Jacksonville team."
Baker Mayfield was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week after throwing for 381 yards and four touchdowns in Tampa Bay's 34-20 road victory over the Green Bay Packers last Sunday.
Mayfield has embraced his role as a team leader despite being in his first season with the club.
"For me, it's not like I'm going out of my way to do it," Mayfield said. "That's just honestly how I've always been. Be involved with the team, be one of the guys. (As a) quarterback, you get a lot of the press, but you've got to get down and dirty with the guys. You've got to understand that you're in the process with them. Everything needs to feel involved."
Running back Rachaad White has found the end zone in three straight games, with the last two touchdowns coming in the passing game. White ranks second among running backs in receiving yards (469) and fifth in catches (50).
Mike Evans reeled in his sixth touchdown reception in his past six contests last Sunday, boosting his team-leading total to 11 on the season. Fellow Bucs wideout Chris Godwin notched season highs in catches (10) and receiving yards (155) last week.
Tampa Bay ruled out wide receiver Rakim Jarrett (quadriceps), who's yet to return from injured reserve, while defensive lineman William Gholston (knee, ankle) and safety Antoine Winfield (calf) are questionable.
While the Bucs are a half-game ahead of New Orleans atop the NFC South after the Saints' loss Thursday night, the Jaguars' slump has allowed the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans to pull even in the AFC South.
"It's figuring out how to win the game right now," Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson said. "It's just mentality, a mindset, that ‘Hey, sometimes enough's enough and you just have to take pride in the opportunities you get.'"
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is officially questionable for the Tampa Bay game after he was placed in concussion protocol following last Sunday's 23-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Lawrence has cleared concussion protocol and will travel with the team to Tampa, NFL Network reported Saturday. Lawrence, 24, also continues to nurse an ankle injury.
Lawrence has started every game since he was selected with the top overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. C.J. Beathard would find himself under center should Lawrence's streak of 48 consecutive starts come to a halt.
"To me it's the same. I'm taking a lot more reps at practice and stuff, but I'm preparing the same way," Beathard said. "You gotta prepare as if you're gonna be going and then, hopefully, (Lawrence) clears concussion protocol by the end of this week for sure."
Beathard, who owns a 2-12 career record, made his last start in 2020 as a member of the San Francisco 49ers.
Along with Lawrence, who was a limited practice participant Friday, five other Jaguars are listed as questionable: wide receiver Zay Jones (knee, hamstring), tight end Brenton Strange (foot), safety Andre Cisco (groin) and cornerbacks Christian Braswell (hamstring) and Tyson Campbell (quadriceps).
"Zay is getting better. His strength is good but (he's) still week-to-week," Pederson said.
Jones and fellow wideout Calvin Ridley each had five catches versus the Ravens and running back Travis Etienne added four for the fourth straight game.
--Field Level Media