Ladies and gentlmen, it's with great joy that we announce the Bakery is open again.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were making what felt like a last stand on Sunday in Atlanta, as so much hinged on what happened against the Falcons. A loss would sink the Bucs to third place in the NFC South and essentially end their season, while a win would propel them back into first place.
For the first time all season -- in fact, for the first time since November of last season -- the Bucs snatched victory from the jaws of defeat and found a way to close out a comeback win. As the Falcons matched down the field with under half a minute left, memories of the blown lead against the Texans back in Week 9 came flooding back but unlike that meltdown the Bucs managed to hold.
Not only does the win put them back in first place, but it allows the Bucs to control their own destiny from here on out. The only team that can stop the Bucs from making the playoffs is themselves, and we saw something out of them on Sunday that should give fans hope that brighter days are ahead.
We're talking a lot about the win, but it's how the Bucs got there that needs to be celebrated.
Listen to Buccaneers radio call of Baker Mayfield game-winning TD pass
It was shaping up to be another classic Buccaneers meltdown, as the defense cracked and leaked a nine-point lead. With under three minutes left, Tampa Bay trailed 25-22 and everything pointed toward another soul crushing defeat.
Baker Mayfield had other plans.
He wasn't perfect, and nearly cost the Bucs a chance to come back with some errant throws and misfires, but he more than made up for it at the end. Mayfield led a drive that ended with a Cade Otton touchdown that gave Tampa Bay a lead they wouldn't give back -- thankfully.
Per usual, Gene Deckerhoff was on the call for Buccaneers radio network and turned in another classic on the game-winning drive:
Gene Deckerhoff calls the Bucs' game winning touchdown drive in Atlanta pic.twitter.com/piFIWjXnjm
— Bucs Rays Bolts (@BucsRaysBoltsYT) December 10, 2023
It was the sort of electrifying win we hadn't seen from the Bucs this year, but it's one we weren't sure they were capable of producing. Now that they have, it gives some confidence that they might be able to build on it and make something more out of this season than it seemed they would.
A lot of work still needs to be done, and the Bucs haven't yet proved they can measure up to the best of the best, but this win was sorely needed in every way imaginable.