After a trying three-game losing streak that has kept the Bucs from winning in November, they had one final chance against the Cardinals on Sunday afternoon. Opposed to the last two contests in Buffalo and Los Angeles, Tampa Bay remained at home facing a 3-8 Arizona squad. In what quickly became a must-win scenario, the Bucs emerged with a victory over the Cardinals, 20-17.

Believe it or not, after this week, 13 of 17 games are already in the books for the 2025 season. Here is what was most impressive about Sunday afternoon’s game for Tampa Bay.

LT Tristan Wirfs

Throughout his entire NFL career, Tristan Wirfs has made this column for his work as a tenacious blocker. Wirfs carries the reputation of being one of the best offensive tackles in the league, but this week, he was impressive for something else.

His sure hands.

On third-and-goal from the two-yard line, Baker Mayfield trusted his left tackle with the task of hauling in the football. Wirfs succeeded in helping the Bucs extend the lead 10-0.

Wirfs scoring the first touchdown of the game was the last thing anyone expected, but it was a welcome sign and one way for the red zone offense to reach paydirt. Pewter Report’s Josh Queipo suggested this past week that the offense should get weird.

This was one way to do it.

RB Bucky Irving

Another way to get the offense rolling is to get the ball into Bucky Irving’s hands. It has been a while since Irving has played, much less had success running the football. Before suffering shoulder and foot injuries, he had a slow start to his second year, averaging just 3.3 yards per carry and no touchdowns. Safe to say, he hit the ground running in his much-anticipated return on Sunday.

Irving got the majority of touches in the backfield, despite a solid three-man rotation with Rachaad White and Sean Tucker on hand. After an even split between White and Tucker in recent weeks, Irving came back and significantly outpaced them with 17 carries while they combined for just four carries behind him.

So, how did Irving do? He finished the game with 61 rushing yards, with his 13-yard score giving Tampa Bay a 17-3 lead in the third quarter. The theme for this matchup was getting reinforcements back, with Irving flashing the elusiveness and big-play ability that made him a rookie sensation in 2024.

QB Baker Mayfield

All the talk coming in was whether or not Baker Mayfield would play, and how he would look when it became clear that he would be the starter. Turns out, Mayfield not only recovered in time to not miss any action, but he did well operating within Josh Grizzard’s offensive gameplan.

Compared to recent outings, Mayfield looked more comfortable in the pocket throwing with better timing. That led to a higher percentage of passes being completed, and it also created chances for him to utilize his legs when he needed to.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

Mayfield avoided pressure, and when he rolled out, he smartly slid and found blockers to pick up extra yards along the sideline. Despite battling a shoulder injury, it did not seem to affect him in the slightest as he aired out the football further down the field than in recent weeks.

Overall, the franchise quarterback finished the game completing 18 of his 28 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown, adding three carries for 31 yards on the ground. With the team desperately needing a win, seeing him show up and play through adversity is the kind of effort that leads to wins and provides life for a team needing all the victories it can get.

S Antoine Winfield Jr.

What looked like another situation in which the Bucs’ defense would be bested, Antoine Winfield Jr. showed why he remains a dangerous safety. With the Cardinals driving down the field and Jacoby Brissett completing his first six passes for 42 yards, they just entered the red zone when Brissett looked for Michael Wilson across the middle of the field.

Instead, Jamel Dean made his presence felt by tipping the ball, with Winfield coming down with an interception.

It was a clutch play, and as the legendary Simeon Rice said at his press conference before the game, it matters when players make impact plays. That is what separates the good from the great, and in this case, Tweeze’s takeaway kept points off the board and gave his offense the ball.

WR Chris Godwin Jr.

In the three games Chris Godwin Jr. had played this season, his longest catch entering Week 13 was for 13 yards. Godwin looked much more explosive against the Cardinals secondary, with his first catch of the game going for 25 yards to move the chains on third down. Then in the second quarter, he added a 31-yard catch on a beautiful throw by Baker Mayfield to get the offense into the red zone.

Bucs WR Chris Godwin Jr. – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Unfortunately, Tampa Bay was unable to score a touchdown after Godwin dropped a very catchable pass in the end zone. Still, seeing him look more explosive than he has at any point this season is a very encouraging sign as he looks to get back on track post-injury. He led the offense with three catches for 78 yards (26.0 avg.).

DT Logan Hall

Logan Hall is playing for a lot over the final six games. Hall will be a free agent after this year, and every performance matters as he looks to get a second contract, whether in Tampa or elsewhere. It has been a disappointing season for the fourth-year defensive tackle, but he saved his biggest play thus far for this game.

At the start of the third quarter, Hall cleanly knocked the ball out of the hands of Cardinals running back Bam Knight, and the fumble was recovered by safety Tykee Smith. It did not lead to points, but it was an instance of the front seven stepping up, which needs to happen with much greater frequency with contributions from everyone.

K Chase McLaughlin

Chase McLaughlin is the gift that keeps on giving at kicker. Even with the offense failing to get a yard after the defense forced a turnover on downs at the Arizona 39-yard line, it did not matter as McLaughlin came on to attempt a 57-yard field goal. The best kicker in franchise history knocked it through, making it 20-10 with just over half a quarter left. It was a clutch kick that made it a two-possession game, and as expected, Money McLaughlin cashed in. In the end, that kick was the difference in the Bucs’ win.