Monday, 4 a.m.
Maybe you keep waiting for them to stumble. Maybe you aren't convinced they're as good as they're record.
On the other hand, aren't the Tampa Bucs fun?
The Bucs ran their record to 5-1 Sunday evening, beating a San Francisco team that, like them, had four wins. Like them, their roster was beaten up. Like them, they were playing behind a former backup quarterback.
Well, congratulations, San Francisco.
You came in second.
This time, there was no last-second heroics in the Bucs' 30-19 victory. The Bucs gave up hunks of yardage, but only one touchdown.
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay survived a missed field goal, a roughing -the-punter call,a fumble that was overturned after Lavonte David knocked it out of Mac Jones' hands. and the loss of yet another wide receiver (noted rookie Emeka Egbuka, who pulled a hamstring.
They also withstood 347 passing yards by Jones. But they sacked him six times and intercepted him twice.
Baker Mayfield, meanwhile, hit 17 of 23 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns, He threw scoring passes to Kameron Johnson (34 yards) and Tez Johnson (45 yards).
Just before the touchdown pass to Tez Johnson, Mayfield had one of his most memorable plays of the year. On a third-and-14, he dropped back, evaded the rush, dodged a tackler and lunged for 15 yards.
"I was in disbelief lilke everybody else," coach Todd Bowles said. "It happens every other week or so that he makes those types of plays. You just pray he doesn't get hurt or anything happens to him, but he has a knack. He has a knack that you can't teach or coach. It was an unbelievable play."
Mayfield drew some criticism for two passes that were behind Egbuka. But he threw just six incompletions (and no interceptions) all day. In fact, his rating of 139.0 was actually better than his rating in lst week's win over Seattle.
Coming into the game, Tez had five catches and Kameron had none. On Sunday, Kameron had four catches and Tez had one.
Rachaad White rushed fosr 65 yards.
The Bucs took an early lead on a two-yard run by White. The 48ers kept come back with gaping receptions and long field goals by Eddie Pinero.
The Bucs leed just 20-19 in the thtird period. But Mayfield threw a. scoring pass to Tez Johnson, who caught it on his fingertips. Chase McLaughlin clinched the game with a 45-yard field goal with 1:55 left.
The Bucs are in Detroit on Monday night, October 20, to face the Lions.
