Tampa Bay running back Bucky Irving (7) finds running room as the Chargers Tarheeb Still (29) attempts to make the tackle during the second half at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. The visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 40-17 in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Tampa Bay cornerback Jamel Dean, left, intercepts a Justin Herbert pass intended for Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston, right, during the second half at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. The visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 40-17 in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield escapes the grasp of the Chargers Troy Dye during the second half at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. The visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 40-17 in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield reacts after making a run during the second half at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. The visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 40-17 in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Tampa Bay wide receiver Mike Evans catches a third quarter touchdown pass as the Chargers Kristian Fulton defends at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. The visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 40-17 in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Charger quarterback Justin Herbert gets a pass off during the second half as Tampa Bay’s Christian Izien defends at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. The visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 40-17 in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Tampa Bay tight end Cade Otton is stopped by the Chargers Daiyan Henley (0) after being upended by AJ Finley and Junior Colson during the second half at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. The visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 40-17 in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Tampa Bay running back Bucky Irving (7) breaks away for a long run during the second half as Chargers Daiyan Henley (right) and Tarheeb Still (left) move in to make the stop at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. The visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 40-17 in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
The Chargers Ja’Sir Taylor (36) hits Tampa Bay returner Trey Palmer (10) too soon as he tries to catch a punt during the second half at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. Taylor was given a penalty on the play. The visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 40-17 in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is sacked by Tampa Bay’s Logan Hall during the second half at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. The visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 40-17 in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert sits on the bench as the final minutes run off the clock against visiting Tampa Bay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. The visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 40-17 in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
The Chargers Stone Smartt fumbles late in the fourth quarter after being hit by Tampa Bay’s Anthony Nelson, left, and C.J. Brewer, right, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. The visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 40-17 in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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Tampa Bay running back Bucky Irving (7) finds running room as the Chargers Tarheeb Still (29) attempts to make the tackle during the second half at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. The visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 40-17 in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
INGLEWOOD — The Chargers’ route to the playoffs got a lot bumpier Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield threw four touchdown passes, including two in the pivotal third quarter, and the Buccaneers took a 40-17 victory from the Chargers. Mike Evans caught two long touchdown passes from Mayfield as the Buccaneers outscored the Chargers 17-0 in the third quarter.
Justin Herbert and the Chargers had zero response. Herbert threw two touchdown passes in the first half, but they couldn’t hold onto a 17-13 halftime lead. In addition, he threw his first interception since the Chargers’ victory over the Carolina Panthers in Week 2.
The loss dropped the Chargers to 8-6 with three games remaining. Herbert completed 21 of 33 passes for 195 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
The victory was the fourth in a row for the Buccaneers (8-6). Mayfield completed 22 of 27 passes for 288 yards and four touchdowns with one interception.
Mayfield drove the Buccaneers 70 yards in seven plays on the opening possession of the game, completing a 26-yard touchdown pass to Jalen McMillan to give Tampa Bay a 7-0 lead. The worrisome aspect, as far as the Chargers were concerned, was how easily Mayfield moved the ball.
It was a sign of things to come.
The Chargers went into the game with the NFL’s stingiest defense, giving up only 15.9 points per game. So, to watch Mayfield slice and dice the Chargers’ defense for a score in only 3:46 to start the game, recalled the final minutes of their 19-17 loss last Sunday to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Kansas City rallied to defeat the Chargers on Matthew Wright’s 31-yard field goal as time expired. It was the Chargers’ seventh consecutive loss to the Chiefs and their 19th in the past 22 games overall. It also left a sour taste in the Chargers’ mouth entering their matchup with the Buccaneers.
Herbert rallied the Chargers with scores on their first three possessions, taking a 17-13 lead into the half. Herbert threw touchdown passes of 7 yards to Ladd McConkey and 13 yards to Quentin Johnston. The Chargers’ fourth possession ended with a punt from the Buccaneers’ 42-yard line.
Coach Jim Harbaugh decided against giving Cameron Dicker a chance at kicking a field goal from 55-plus yards, punting instead. Dicker converted on a 41-yard field goal earlier in the second quarter to make it 10-10. He went into the game having converted eight of nine field goals from 50 yards or beyond.
Rookie cornerback Tarheeb Still’s fourth interception of the season led to Herbert’s touchdown pass to Johnston putting the Chargers in front 17-10. The Chargers failed to cash in Rachaad White’s fumble on the Buccaneers’ next possession, punting instead of attempting a field goal.
Mayfield’s 57-yard touchdown pass to Mike Evans put Tampa Bay back in front 20-17 on its first possession of the second half.
Still tried for his second interception of the game, but mistimed his approach to the ball. Evans caught the pass and there was no one behind Still to prevent the touchdown run down the left sideline.
Mayfield then hit Evans for a 35-yard touchdown with 1:36 left in the third quarter to put the Buccaneers ahead 30-17, after Chase McLaughlin’s 42-yard field goal that made it 23-17 with 5:06 left in the third. Tampa Bay’s 17 points in the third quarter were the most the Chargers had given up all season.
McLaughlin’s 43-yard field goal with 2:51 left accounted for the final score.
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