Baker Mayfield used his legs and arm to help the Buccaneers clinch their fourth straight NFC South title while putting Mike Evans over 1,000 yards receiving.
Mayfield fired a 32-yard TD pass to Jalen McMillan for the go-ahead score and then scrambled 28 yards for a crucial first down on the next drive, leading the Buccaneers to a 27-19 victory over the visiting Saints on Sunday.
Evans caught a 9-yard pass on the final play of the game to surpass 1,000 yards for the 11th straight season, tying Jerry Rice for the most in NFL history.
After Mayfield’s long scramble on third-and-14 from the Bucs 12, they drove to the Saints 11. Mayfield looked for Evans but flipped the ball backward to Bucky Irving, who ran 11 yards for a TD that made it 27-19.
The Saints turned the ball over on downs and the Buccaneers got one more chance to get Evans the milestone.
Mayfield tossed a short pass to Evans, who ran upfield for a 9-yard gain. He got up, spiked the ball and was mobbed by teammates in a wild celebration.
Mayfield threw for 212 yards and two TDs and had a career-high 68 yards rushing as the Buccaneers (10-7) rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit and made sure they didn’t need the Falcons to lose to the Panthers to win the division.
The Saints finished 5-12.
Texans 23, Titans 14: The AFC South champs snapped a two-game skid going into the playoffs. The host Titans will have the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft.
Bears 24, Packers 22: Cairo Santos made a 51-yard FG as time expired and they snapped a 10-game skid with the road win. The playoff-bound Packers lost QB Jordan Love and WR Christian Watson to injuries. Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Love was held out as a precaution and “will be fine.” He was less confident about Watson.
Panthers 44, Falcons 38: Bryce Young passed for three TDs, ran for two and led a 70-yard drive capped by Miles Sanders’ 1-yard TD run on the opening possession of OT. The Falcons’ playoff hopes had already ended minutes earlier when the Buck topped the Saints.
Eagles 20, Giants 13: Tanner McKee threw for 269 yards and two TDs in a game full of backups to help the NFC East champion Eagles tune up for the postseason with the home win.
Commanders 23, Cowboys 19: Marcus Mariota threw a 5-yard TD pass to Terry McLaurin with 3 seconds left, lifting the Commanders to the road win and the sixth seed in the NFC playoffs. Mariota threw for two scores and ran for a TD after replacing Jayden Daniels.
Patriots 23, Bills 16: Joe Milton III passed for a TD and ran for another score in his NFL debut, and the Patriots cost themselves the No. 1 overall pick in the draft with the home win over the AFC East champion Bills. Bills QB Josh Allen played just one snap to extend his consecutive starts streak to 115 games.
Colts 26, Jaguars 23: Jonathan Taylor ran for 177 yards, including 33 yards on six consecutive carries in OT to set up Matt Gay’s game-ending 38-yard FG for the host Colts.