With five games left, the Bucs are approaching each one looking to win to get in the playoffs.

After beating the Giants 30-7 and the Panthers 26-23, Tampa Bay’s next matchup is against the 2-10 Raiders. While they may not be littered with high-end talent, it’s a game that they cannot overlook on their path to the postseason.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield’s play down the stretch will be key, but the whole roster has to do their part to control the team’s destiny. That was something the signal-caller extensively discussed further during his Wednesday press conference.

“We Have To Win Out To Get In”

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

With a Bucs win against the Raiders and a Falcons loss to the Vikings on Sunday, Tampa Bay could be atop the NFC South once again with a 7-6 record. If the Bucs keep Buckying and the Falcons keep Falconing, perhaps they don’t even need to win out to secure a spot in the playoffs.

Don’t tell Baker Mayfield that, though.

Mayfield shared that the team’s mentality down the stretch is one where they will rely on themselves to get in the postseason and not on anything happening externally.

“Our mentality right now is that we’re in playoff mode,” Mayfield said. “We have to win out to get in and just see what happens. It’s a one-game-at-a-time mentality, much like last year and we’re going to continue to say it.”

Being atop the division would not hurt though. Wins only help the Bucs’ path to controlling their destiny.

“Yeah, I mean obviously, we’d like to have a better record than we do now but we’re still saying that we control our own destiny,” Mayfield added. “Outside factors right now don’t really matter if we don’t take care of business. It’s got to be, ‘How do we win this game?’ And it’s got to be like that every week on out.”

What’s Going To Be Critical For Baker Mayfield, Bucs Down The Stretch?

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and TE Cade Otton – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR

Less than a month ago, the Bucs sat at 4-5 and the Falcons were flying high at 6-3. But after holding two games and the regular-season tiebreaker, Atlanta is reeling off three consecutive losses that have Tampa Bay looking to catch up as both teams now sit at 6-6.

“I mean, that’s the ebbs and flows of the season,” Baker Mayfield said about how they have quickly made things interesting. “You can be hot early, you can be hot in the middle or late. You just have to be hot at the right time. We’re trying to continue to build and stack these wins and by any means, find a way to win. Like I keep saying, control our own destiny and see what happens.”

It won’t be given to them on a silver platter, and Sunday’s game against the Raiders is a big test on multiple levels. It will be a big game for head coach Todd Bowles’ defense, one that nearly allowed Panthers quarterback Bryce Young to beat them through the air. They won’t always get that game-sealing turnover, and the defense must step up and prevent quarterback Aidan O’Connell from having similar success. The unit needs to recover and look more like it did against the Giants to deal Las Vegas a loss.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and Panthers LB Josey Jewell – Photo by: USA Today

Offensively, Baker Mayfield recognizes the need to be careful with the football.

After throwing two interceptions in Carolina and struggling with his accuracy until late in the game, Mayfield knows that is not a recipe for success. Staying on track with efficient throws and letting running back Bucky Irving do his thing is.

“Taking care of the ball, situational football,” Mayfield said. “I mean, this time of the year – obviously it’s late in the year, guys are banged up so it’s the mental aspect of it – taking care of the ball situationally, making sure we get touchdowns in the red zone, getting turnovers on defense and special teams – making sure there are big plays for us and stopping the big plays for them.”

Baker Mayfield will lead the charge on Sunday to get the Bucs back over .500 down the homestretch. An easy schedule on paper doesn’t make it easy on game day. The team must play up to their competition, and like last season, get hot at the right time come January.