TAMPA Christmas Eve victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars — their fourth straight — Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield said of his now rapidly ascending offense that’s averaged 31 points a game the past three weeks: “It’s a hell of a lot better than the last five years. I can say that.”

Mayfield threw for 283 passing yards and two touchdowns to lift the Buccaneers to an 8-7 record and one victory away from an NFC South title, providing an exhilarating twist to a career that included four different teams in the last calendar year and a one-year, prove-it signing last offseason. The Buccaneers, seeking to fill the near-impossible void left by Tom Brady, and Mayfield, eager to resurrect his once-promising career, both appear to be big winners in this