Coming off consecutive road victories over the Giants and the Panthers, the Bucs returned home looking to make it three straight wins playing the Raiders. In a battle of the pirates, it was Tampa Bay who emerged victorious, defeating the Raiders 28-13.

Don’t look now, but they are back over .500 at 7-6 thanks to some impressive performances. They will look to keep the good times rolling in Week 15 heading across the country to face the Chargers in Los Angeles.

ILB Lavonte David

Bucs LB Lavonte David and Raiders QB Aidan O’Connell – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Lavonte David reaffirmed that he can still be a highly productive player in a game where the Bucs’ defense needed him the most. Playing without three inside linebackers, David held down the middle of the defense and was the unit’s biggest playmaker.

The veteran linebacker got a key third-down sack of Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell in the first quarter. After center Jackson Powers-Johnson had a bad snap to O’Connell in the second quarter, it was David who picked it up.

WR Jalen McMillan

It had been to this point a quiet rookie season for the Bucs’ third-round pick.

Jalen McMillan came into Sunday’s game with just 13 catches for 145 receiving yards and a touchdown in eight games. After catching Baker Mayfield’s first throw of the day, McMillan hauled in Mayfield’s first touchdown throw of the day, too. He sharply ran a 15-yard fade route and hauled in the seed from his quarterback.

In the fourth quarter, McMillan added another touchdown catch to put the game away for Tampa Bay. He took a short pass 29 yards to the house, high-stepping his way into the end zone. It was a career day for the young wide receiver and the kind of breakout game that can give fans hope for more impressive games by him in the future.

Stopping Raiders TE Brock Bowers

This was one of the biggest points of emphasis coming into this game. Pewter Report even did a whole podcast on the topic. Brock Bowers entered the afternoon first in the NFL in receptions and fourth in receiving yards.

Raiders TE Brock Bowers – Photo by: USA Today

In recent weeks, Bowers has played his best football and looked to have a highly favorable matchup against a team that has allowed tight ends far and wide to have big games against them.

Not so fast.

Bowers was held to just three receptions for 49 receiving yards and was neutralized throughout the game. Michael Mayer, his backup, had a more productive day with seven receptions for 68 receiving yards. The pass defense as a whole was impressive, but stopping Brock Bowers?

Give the Bucs’ defense its flowers.

RB Rachaad White

Bucky Irving has stolen a lot of the spotlight — and touches — in the Bucs’ backfield lately, but this game offered Rachaad White the chance to get more of an opportunity with Irving active but not getting as much run as he came into the contest with a hip injury and suffered a back injury in the first half that kept him out of action.

From the get-go, White looked explosive, converting a third-down and fourth-down run on the game’s opening drive. Then, on Tampa Bay’s second drive, he ripped off 12 and 13-yard runs and finished the drive by hauling in a 5-yard touchdown from Baker Mayfield.

Just in case he thought he did not do enough to make this list, White added a mean stiff arm and a second rushing touchdown in the fourth for good measure. He finished the game with 17 carries for 90 rushing yards along with the two scores.

NCB Tykee Smith

Tykee Smith showed just how much of an impact he can make on the field. Returning to action after missing the last three games, Smith made a game-changing play in the third quarter as the Raiders were putting the finishing touches on a 16-play drive that went nearly ten and a half minutes. Tiring a Bucs’ defense, the unit badly needed to make a play to avoid losing a lead they held for the entire game.

That’s where the rookie defensive back stepped in.

Smith jumped in front of a pass intended for former college teammate Brock Bowers to make his second interception of the season.

CBs Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum

The Bucs’ top two cornerbacks came to play in this one. Jamel Dean stepped up and had one of his best games of the season. Dean absolutely shut down Tre Tucker on one side of the field, limiting him to just one reception for six yards. That made life difficult for Aidan O’Connell and later Desmond Ridder. Needing to come up big down the last stretch of the year, the veteran cornerback did so in a big way.

Zyon McCollum came ‘Oh so close’ to getting his third interception of the year and the defense’s third interception of the day. While it was later reversed, it does not reverse the day he had. McCollum was solid in coverage and held his own with six total tackles.

WR Sterling Shepard and TE Cade Otton

Wide receiver Mike Evans had some help in the passing game.

Both Sterling Shepard (four catches for 63 receiving yards) and Cade Otton (three catches for 70 receiving yards) chipped in and added a much-needed playmaking element. Shepard had a season-high in receiving yards, while Otton stretched the field and had a huge 44-yard play in the fourth quarter.

They each had the kind of day that breathes hope that the passing game can remain lethal without Chris Godwin.