It was ugly for a while, but quarterback Baker Mayfield helped lead the Bucs to a 28-13 win over the Raiders on Sunday afternoon. Mayfield started the game hot, completing nine of eleven passes for 110 passing yards and touchdown throws to wide receiver Jalen McMillan and running back Rachaad White to get off to a 14-0 lead.

What looked to be the beginning of a dominant showing fell flat in the second and third quarters as Las Vegas put up a fight and nearly took the lead if not for rookie nickel back Tykee Smith’s timely interception in the third quarter. After hanging onto a 14-10 lead, Mayfield shook off a cold middle of the game and did his part to orchestrate two touchdown drives late to secure the victory in a battle of the pirates.

Following the game, he admitted it was not his best performance and there were things he would have liked to have do-overs on. Still, the team pulled through with a win that has them back atop the NFC South, and with the lessons learned along the way, they are hopeful it continues to lead to wins down the last stretch of the regular season.

Here is what Mayfield had to say following the Bucs’ third win in a row which has them at 7-6 and in control of their own destiny:

Baker Mayfield’s Full Post-Game Transcript

Baker Mayfield On Digging Out Of A Hole To Retake First Place In The NFC South Division:

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

“It doesn’t have to be pretty. Obviously, there are a lot of things that I would personally like to have back, but it’s a resilient group. We play for each other. Guys step up when other people are down and that’s what football is all about– it teaches you life lessons.”

Baker Mayfield On WR Jalen McMillan’s Two-Touchdown Performance:

“I’m really proud of ‘J-Mac’ (McMillan), just for his process to continually get better, take it week by week and try to learn as much as he can from the guys in that room. To continue to get better and use his physical skills that he got drafted that high with, and yeah, I’m really proud of him.”

Baker Mayfield On His Chemistry With McMillan:

“Yeah, I feel good about it. It’s just about, sometimes things not being on time or they might run a different coverage to take him away, but yeah, I feel good about where we’re at together.”

Baker Mayfield On His Individual Performance:

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

“Obviously, we were talking about starting fast and our guys did that. Everybody was on the same page executing [and] then we just hit a lull there. Obviously, having an interception on a screen is not ideal – the guy made a good play, but I’ve got to try to get it over him or dirt the ball. You’ve just got to avoid those [as it’s] giving the defense a short field to have to deal with. Then, they caught us in zero pressure, and I’ve just got to hold onto the football when it comes to the fumble.

“And the last one… I wasn’t able to get all that I wanted on that seam throw to Cade [Otton]. It would have had to have been a real tight back shoulder [throw], so all in all, it probably would have been a better checkdown. I’ll have to look back at it and see if Rachaad [White] was open or not – I bet he was. [It’s] just taking care of the ball. I think, by far, I was probably the worst player on offense, but the guys stepped up when we needed to, and they executed.”

Baker Mayfield On Finishing The Game With Two Touchdowns:

“Yeah, we’ll take wins. It’s hard in this league and the way our guys executed late in the game to be able to really put the dagger home… Mike [Evans’] big third down conversion, leaping over a guy, doing that, and then obviously we finished that [drive] with a touchdown. Then coming back, Liam [Coen] calling a play-action shot when they ran cover zero again, Cade Otton making great play and then, obviously, ‘J-Mac’ (Jalen McMillan) on a screen. So, guys executed in critical moments and that’s what football in December is all about.”

Baker Mayfield On How The Offense Persevered Despite RB Bucky Irving’s Injury:

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: USA Today

“Obviously, Sean [Tucker] came in for Bucky, as well, but Rachaad played his tail off, and mentality-wise, some of the runs he was doing – that’s what we need in December. He was physical, he did everything for us today, and yeah, he’s a great player.”

Baker Mayfield On Having RB Sean Tucker To Turn To For Depth At The Running Back Position:

“It’s a luxury that we are pretty lucky to have. Not many teams have three guys that you kind of just can plug and play. They are all different backs and good at their own thing. But having Sean come in there and add some physical runs in the gap game and be able to bounce the ball and create an explosive – that was huge for us.”

Baker Mayfield On What The Raiders Did Differently In The Second And Third Quarters That Caused The Offense To Stall A Bit:

“They did a few things different, coverage-wise, with their tendencies. They did a good job, but there are still… like Coach [Tom] Moore says, ‘There’s a completion out there, I just have to find it.’”

Baker Mayfield On His Feeling On Who This Team Is Overall:

“We will take wins. I don’t really care how it looks, but offensively, we will have to be a lot more consistent for us to able to make this push that we want to do, and we know that. That’s why there are more games left. There is a lot of ball left, and we have to continue to get better.”

Baker Mayfield On How He Felt Going Back To The Sideline After Each Of His Two Interceptions:

“Pissed off.”