The 4-5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers face the 4-4 San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium, looking to snip a three-game losing skid and reestablish themselves as bona fide contenders in the conference playoff hunt. They hope to head into their Week 11 bye with something positive to fuel them for the stretch run that follows.

The Buccaneers will not lock in a playoff spot with a win, nor will they eliminate themselves from contention with a loss. However, they are not trying to downplay the importance of this battle with the defending NFC champions.

"We've been in all these ballgames, that's the thing," said quarterback Baker Mayfield of the Bucs' recent losses. "We've been in all these ballgames, now it's just about executing. I think we know – it's not adding pressure to this team, but we need this one. NFC opponent at home right before the bye week, to change this thing, change the momentum, turn it around, this is a huge one for us. It is what it is and so just continuing to stress the importance of the details and doing your job each play is the most important thing."

The Buccaneers are back at home after a thrilling but ultimately painful overtime loss at Kansas City on Monday night. While they look to recover from that physical contest and get things turned around for the 49ers – the team will only hold walk-throughs instead of full-speed practices until Friday – the 49ers are coming off a bye week that gave them a little extra time to prepare and to get some key players healed up. Most notably All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey could make his 2024 debut on Sunday in Tampa. A San Francisco offense that already ranks second in the NFL in yards and sixth in scoring could get a big boost with McCaffrey rejoining the likes of George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Ricky Pearsall and Mason Jordan. Underrated wideout Jauan Jennings could also return to action after missing two games, giving quarterback Brock Purdy even more to work with.

"It's just another weapon we've got to worry about, along with him, Deebo, George, Purdy as well. You've got to worry about five different guys, you can't just worry about McCaffrey. We've got to be sound, defensively, and everybody has to do their assignment because they're talented all over the field.

"Like I said, they've got a lot of weapons. They can run the ball, as well. They've got a very good offensive line. He can just throw to the open guy. They have five talented guys that can catch the football. We've got to be sound, and we've got to be able to get pressure on them."

San Francisco's defense is also 10th in the NFL's yardage ranking, sixth against the run and second with 10 interceptions. Mayfield pointed out that the 49ers have impact players on all three levels, from Nick Bosa (4.5 sacks) and Leonard Floyd coming off the edges, Fred Warner patrolling the middle of the field and Charvarius Ward in the secondary.

"The way they rush the passer, they're jetting up field, that's their system – they teach those guys to rush straight up field and so [we] have to know that, have to be able to protect up front and get the ball out," said Mayfield. "Obviously Fred Warner is a guy in the second level – unbelievable player, flies around, really makes a defense go, tough to stop in the run game because he recognizes the play so quickly."

Mayfield, who leads the NFL with 23 touchdown passes and has thrown at least two in each of the last six games, will stress that defense. Tampa Bay's offense has continued to hum following the devastating losses of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, rolling up 707 yards and 50 points over the last two weeks, a testament to Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen's creative play-calling and Mayfield's pinpoint passing. Tight end Cade Otton has stepped up in a significant way, hauling in 25 passes for 258 yards and three touchdowns over the past three weeks.

If the playoffs started this weekend, neither the 49ers not the Buccaneers would be in the field. Nevertheless, this could end up being a key contests between two teams that expect to make a lot of noise down the stretch. It's a big one for the Bucs, and they know it.

GAME AND BROADCAST DETAILS

San Francisco 49ers (4-4) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5)

Sunday, November 10, 1:00 p.m. ET

Raymond James Stadium (capacity: 65,844)

Tampa, Florida

Television: ESPN

TV Broadcast Team: Kevin Burkhardt (play-by-play), Tom Brady (analyst), Erin Andrews (reporter), Tom Rinaldi (reporter)

Radio: 98Rock (WXTB, 97.9 FM), Flagship Station

Radio Broadcast Team: Gene Deckerhoff (play-by-play), Dave Moore (analyst), T.J. Rives (reporter)

Spanish Radio: 96.1 Caliente

Spanish Radio Broadcast Team: Carlos Bohorquez (play-by-play), Martin Gramática (analyst), Santiago Gramática (reporter)

ALL-TIME HEAD-TO-HEAD SERIES

The Buccaneers and 49ers have played each other 27 times, including the postseason, but that history divides neatly into two very different series right near the middle.

San Francisco leads the overall regular-season series by an overwhelming margin, 20-6, but as much as the '97 season is the dividing line between a long-downtrodden team and a successful franchise in Tampa, it also marks the point at which this head-to-head matchup became competitive. The Buccaneers and 49ers had met 13 times between 1977 and 1994 and San Francisco had won 12 of them, often by wide margins. The last four San Francisco wins prior to 1997 were by a combined score of 138-58.

Then the Buccaneers shocked the league by beating Steve Young, Jerry Rice and the 49ers (who would go all the way to the NFC Championship Game that season), 13-6, in Week One of 1997. That was the first of five straight wins to start the '97 season for Tampa Bay as they wound up ending a 15-year playoff drought. Including that win, the Bucs have forged a 6-8 record in the series since 1997 if one includes Tampa Bay's 31-6 drubbing of the 49ers in the Divisional Round of the 2002 playoffs.

However, San Francisco has taken control of the series again recently, winning each of the last three meetings between the two teams, beginning with a 31-17 decision at Raymond James Stadium in 2019 that featured three interceptions by the 49ers defense. The last of those picks allowed the visitors to pull away at the end, as the Buccaneers had closed to within 20-17 in the fourth quarter before a Robbie Gould field goal and Ahkello Witherspoon's 25-yard pick-six off Jameis Winston. The Bucs and 49ers had a rematch in San Francisco in 2022 but that one went even more poorly for Tampa Bay, as soon-to-be fan favorite Brock Purdy was a revelation in his first start, completing 16 of 21 passes for 185 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Running back Christian McCaffrey scored once on the ground and once through the air in a 35-7 blowout.

Most recently, the Buccaneers went back to San Francisco once again last year, and while the game was somewhat more competitive than the 2022 contest, it was a still a 27-14 win for the home team in the end. Purdy threw three touchdown passes, including a 76-yarder to Brandon Aiyuk, and was not intercepted.

Tampa Bay had won the two previous games in the series before those three, 34-17 in California in 2016 and 27-9 in Florida in 2018. The former included a 249-yard rushing performance by the Buccaneers, led by Jacquizz Rodgers' 154 on 26 carries. In the latter, the Bucs' defense sacked Nick Mullens four times and intercepted him twice while Winston threw touchdown passes to Cam Brate and Adam Humphries.

The aforementioned 2002 Divisional Round win for the Bucs is the only postseason contest the team has had against San Francisco. Mike Alstott scored on a pair of two-yard runs, Brad Johnson threw two touchdown passes and the Bucs kept Jeff Garcia and the 49ers' offense at bay with picks by Rondé Barber, Derrick Brooks and Dwight Smith.

As for that turning-point contest in 1997, it famously featured Warren Sapp knocking out Young and Rice with early injuries. San Francisco still managed to take a 6-0 lead into halftime as the Bucs' offense took time to get going, but the defense got even stinger in the second half, allowing only 45 more yards. The Bucs took their first lead five minutes into the fourth quarter on Trent Dilfer's one-yard rollout touchdown pass to tight end Dave Moore. Much of the rest of the offense was provided by fullback Mike Alstott, who finished the game with 119 yards from scrimmage, including 46 of the 53 yards on the game's only touchdown drive. Young came back into the game to start the fourth quarter but was promptly sacked by Hardy Nickerson and intercepted by Tyrone Legette on consecutive plays, setting up Michael Husted for his second field goal, a 34-yarder, and the game's final points.

NOTABLE CONNECTIONS

• San Francisco General Manager John Lynch was inducted into the Buccaneers' Ring of Honor at Raymond James Stadium in 2016. Lynch played for the Buccaneers for the first 11 seasons of a career that landed him in the Hall of Fame, and he was a key part of the historic defense that led a franchise turnaround, peaking with a victory in Super Bowl XXXVII.
• Lynch and Head Coach Kyle Shanahan came in together as the 49ers' new leadership in 2017. Shanahan got his first NFL coaching job in Tampa, as an offensive quality control coach under Jon Gruden in 2004-05.
• Buccaneers Head Coach Todd Bowles played one season for the 49ers as a safety in 1991. Quarterbacks Coach Thaddeus Lewis also spent time with San Francisco as a quarterback in 2016.
• San Francisco's Offensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator Chris Foerster served as the Buccaneers' offensive line coach from 1996-2001, following Tony Dungy from the Vikings to Tampa and holding that job for Dungy's entire tenure with the Buccaneers.
• Brian Griese, now in his third year as the 49ers' quarterbacks coach, had two separate stints with the Buccaneers during his 11-year career as an NFL quarterback. Griese first signed with the Buccaneers as a free agent in 2004 and over the next two seasons started 16 games with a 9-7 record. He was released by the Buccaneers in 2006 and then spent two years with the Bears before being traded back to Tampa for what would prove to be his final season in 2008, in which he started five games and won three of them.
• 49ers Assistant Defensive Backs Coach Andrew Hayes-Stoker was the Buccaneers' wide receivers coach in 2014 and 2015.
• San Francisco was one of three teams that Buccaneers kicker Chase McLaughlin played for in his 2019 rookie season. He signed with the 49ers in November and kicked in three games before being released in November. McLaughlin made seven of his eight field goals and all eight of his extra point attempts during his time with the 49ers.
• Buccaneers tackle Justin Skule was a sixth-round pick by the 49ers in the 2019 draft. He spent two seasons in San Francisco, appearing in 31 games with 12 starts.
• Buccaneers defensive lineman Earnest Brown was on the 49ers' roster for three months during the 2024 offseason, signing with the team on February 15 before being waived on May 14.
• Running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn, who is currently on the 49ers' practice squad, entered the league as a third-round draft pick by the Buccaneers in 2020. Over nearly four seasons in Tampa he appeared in 43 games, logging 103 carries for 384 yards and two touchdowns, plus 14 receptions for 81 yards and a score.

SENIOR COACHING STAFFS

Tampa Bay:

• Head Coach Todd Bowles

• Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen

• Run Game Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach Kacy Rodgers

• Pass Game Coordinator/Inside Linebackers Coach Larry Foote
• Special Teams Coordinator Thomas McGaughey

San Francisco:

• Head Coach Kyle Shanahan

• Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach Chris Foerster

• Defensive Coordinator Nick Sorensen

• Special Teams Coordinator Brian Schneider

KEY 2024 ROSTER ADDITIONS

Buccaneers:

• C Graham Barton (1st-round draft pick)
• OLB Chris Braswell (2nd-round draft pick)
• G Ben Bredeson (UFA)
• TE Devin Culp (7th-round draft pick)
• P Trenton Gill (FA)
• CB Bryce Hall (UFA)
• RB Bucky Irving (4th-round draft pick)
• WR Kameron Johnson (UDFA)
• G Elijah Klein (6th-round draft pick)
• WR Jalen McMillan (3rd-round draft pick)
• G Royce Newman (W-GB)
• S Tykee Smith (3rd-round draft pick)
• CB Tavierre Thomas (UFA)
• S Jordan Whitehead (UFA)

49ers:

• DL Evan Anderson (UDFA)
• LB Tatum Bethune (7th-round draft pick)
• LB De'Vondre Campbell (FA)
• DL Maliek Collins (T-HOU)
• WR Jacob Cowing (4th-round draft pick)
• QB Josh Dobbs (UFA)
• DT Jordan Elliott (UFA)
• DL Leonard Floyd (UFA)
• CB Renardo Green (2nd-round draft pick)
• RB Isaac Guerendo (4th-round draft pick)
• CB Malik Mustapha (4th-round draft pick)
• WR Ricky Pearsall (1st-round draft pick)
• G Dominick Puni (3rd-round draft pick)
• TE Eric Saubert (FA)
• RB Patrick Taylor (FA)
• CB Rock Ya-Sin (FA)
• CB Isaac Yiadom (FA)

ADDITIONAL 2024 CHANGES/DEVELOPMENTS OF NOTE

Buccaneers:

• As Todd Bowles enters his third season as the Bucs' head coach he'll be working with his third offensive coordinator in as many seasons. Last year, Bowles picked former Seattle Quarterbacks Coach Dave Canales to replace Byron Leftwich, but Canales departed this offseason to take over as the head coach of the Panthers. Bowles then turned to Liam Coen, who comes from the Sean McVay coaching tree with the Rams and most recently was the offensive coordinator at the University of Kentucky. Three members of the Bucs' 2023 staff followed Canales to Carolina – Brad Idzik, Harold Goodwin and Joe Gilbert, which led to some other new additions on Bowles staff in 2024. Those include Offensive Line Coach Kevin Carberry, Pass Game Coordinator Josh Grizzard, Wide Receivers Coach Bryan McClendon and Assistant Offensive Line Coach Brian Picucci. In addition, long-time Special Teams Coordinator Keith Armstrong retired in the offseason, so the Bucs brought in Thomas McGaughey as his replacement.
• Under Coen, the Buccaneers' offense is expected to employ quite a bit more pre-snap shifts and movement than it had in 2023, and Coen also plans to widen the variety of the types of runs the ground game employees. One of Coen's other key initiatives in an attempt to get a moribund rushing attack going is to give quarterback Baker Mayfield multiple plays to choose from in the huddle and at the line so that the offense runs into unfavorable looks less often.
• Despite having tight salary cap restrictions, the Buccaneers made it a priority to retain key players from the 2023 season who were scheduled to hit free agency. General Manager Jason Licht and his staff successfully checked off every item on their list of priorities, beginning with a new two-year deal for franchise icon Mike Evans. That helped bring the team's negotiations with quarterback Baker Mayfield to a conclusion. After Mayfield played the 2023 season on a one-year prove-it deal, his resurgence landed him a lucrative new multi-year contract. The Bucs were also able to re-sign linebacker Lavonte David and kicker Chase McLaughlin. With the other deals in the works, the Bucs used the franchise tag on safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and later inking him to a new contract making him the highest-paid defensive back in the NFL.
• All-Pro tackle Tristan Wirfs didn't need a new contract for 2024 but he was entering the final year of his rookie deal and the Buccaneers were highly motivated to lock him in to a new long-term pact. That lengthy process came to a head on August 1, when the two sides agreed on a five-year extension that runs through the 2029 campaign and makes him the highest paid offensive lineman in the NFL.
• In March, the Buccaneers traded cornerback Carlton Davis, who had started 75 games over six seasons with the team, to the Detroit Lions for a third-round pick in this year's draft. The Buccaneers eventually used that pick to select Washington wide receiver Jalen McMillan.

49ers:

• Up to their bye week last week, the 49ers have not had the services of perhaps their most dangerous offensive weapon, running back Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey led the NFL in rushing yards (1,459) and yards from scrimmage (2,203) and tied for the league lead with 21 total touchdowns in 2023, his first full season in San Francisco after arriving in a midseason trade with Carolina in 2022. Early in this year's training camp, McCaffrey suffered a calf injury but he returned to practice in a limited fashion before the team's regular season opener and there was a general belief that he would be good to go for the start of the season. Rather, he was a late scratch for that opener and then was subsequently placed on injured reserve due to lingering issues with his Achilles tendon. The 49ers opened their 21-day window for McCaffrey to return from injured reserve this week and had him on the practice field on both Monday and Wednesday.
• The 49ers got a new two-year contract extension done with McCaffrey at June but still had work to do with a couple of their other offensive stars, tackle Trent Williams and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Aiyuk was even granted permission to seek a potential trade with another team in mid-August. However, all three stayed together in the end, with both Williams and Aiyuk getting their own lucrative new deals in early September. Other 49ers who got extensions or new deals during the offseason included right tackle Colton McKivitz and safety George Odum.
• The 49ers advanced all the way to the Super Bowl last season but still made a couple significant changes to their coaching staff in the offseason. Steve Wilks, who spent just one season as the team's defensive coordinator after DeMeco Ryans left that post to become the Houston Texans' head coach, was not retained. Instead, he was replaced by Nick Sorensen, who was promoted after previously serving as the team's defensive pass game specialist and nickel backs coach. The 49ers also gave Sorensen help by hiring former Chargers Head Coach Brandon Staley to serve as assistant head coach/defense.
• John Lynch also lost one of his trusted assistants in the personnel department, as Adam Peters was hired away by the Washington Commanders to be their new general manager. Peters had been with the 49ers since Lynch's arrival in 2017, first as the vice president of player personnel and then, in the last three seasons, as the assistant general manager.
• The 49ers saw quite a few departures from their usually oppressive defensive front during the offseason. The team released lineman Arik Armstead just before the start of free agency and let Chase Young – a 2023 midseason trade acquisition – depart for New Orleans in free agency. Defensive tackles Javon Kinlaw and Sebastion Joseph also left, as did defensive end Clelin Ferrell and edge rusher Randy Gregory. Through free agency and one trade, the 49ers restocked that front with Maliek Collins, Jordan Elliott and Leonard Floyd.

INJURY REPORT

Key:

DNP: Did not participate in practice

LP: Limited participation in practice

FP: Full participation in practice

NL: Not listed

Buccaneers:

• G Ben Bredeson (shoulder) – WEDS: LP
• LS Evan Deckers* (hamstring) – WEDS: FP
• WR Mike Evans (hamstring) – WEDS: DNP
• DL Greg Gaines (calf) – WEDS: LP
• DL Will Gholston (knee/ribs) – WEDS: LP
• RB Bucky Irving (toe) – WEDS: LP
• QB Baker Mayfield (toe) – WEDS: DNP
• WR Jalen McMillan (hamstring) – WEDS: DNP
• LB J.J. Russell (ribs) – WEDS: LP
• WR Sterling Shepard (hamstring/hip) – WEDS: DNP
• DL Vita Vea (hip) – WEDS: LP
• S Jordan Whitehead (quad) – THURS: DNP

* Deckers is in a 21-day window in which he can be activated from injured reserve.

49ers:

• DL Nick Bosa (hip) – WEDS: LP
• WR Chris Conley (hamstring) – WEDS: DNP
• C Jon Feliciano (knee) – WEDS: LP
• DL Kevin Givens (groin) – WEDS: DNP
• CB Renardo Green (ankle) – WEDS: FP
• DE Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) – WEDS: LP
• WR Jauan Jennings (hip) – WEDS: LP
• RB Jordan Mason (shoulder) – WEDS: FP
• RB Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) – WEDS: LP
• K Jake Moody (right ankle) – WEDS: LP
• WR Deebo Samuel (rib/oblique) – WEDS: LP
• CB Charvarius Ward (personal) – WEDS: DNP
• T Trent Williams (rest) – WEDS: DNP
• LB Dee Winters (concussion) – WEDS: FP
• P Mitch Wishnowsky (back) – WEDS: LP

* Feliciano, Gross-Matos and McCaffrey are in 21-day windows in which they can be activated from injured reserve.

WEATHER FORECAST

Sunshine and clouds mixed. High of 86, low of 71, 24% chance of rain, 71% humidity, winds out of the E at 11 mph.

GAME REFEREE

Head referee: Shawn Smith (10th season, 7th as referee)

BETTING LINE

• Favorite: 49ers (-5.5)
• Over/Under: 50.5

INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS IN 2024

Buccaneers-

Points Scored: K Chase McLaughlin, 69

Touchdowns: WR Mike Evans, 6

Passing Yards: QB Baker Mayfield, 2,389

Passer Rating: QB Baker Mayfield, 105.6

Rushing Yards: RB Bucky Irving, 419

Receptions: WR Chris Godwin, 50

Receiving Yards: WR Chris Godwin, 576

Interceptions: CB Zyon McCollum, 2

Sacks: DL Vita Vea, 5.0

Tackles: LB Lavonte David, 64

49ers-

Points Scored: K Jake Moody, 51

Touchdowns: TE George Kittle, 6

Passing Yards: QB Brock Purdy, 2,101

Passer Rating: QB Brock Purdy, 93.7

Rushing Yards: RB Kareem Hunt, 308

Receptions: TE George Kittle, 40

Receiving Yards: TE George Kittle, 503

Interceptions: CB Deommodore Lenoir/LB Fred Warner, 2

Sacks: DE Nick Bosa, 4.5

Tackles: LB Fred Warner, 66

TEAM STAT RANKINGS IN 2024

Buccaneers-

Scoring Offense: 5th (28.8 ppg)

Total Offense: 5th (377.8 ypg)

Rushing Offense: 10th (127.0 ypg)

Passing Offense: 5th (250.8 ypg)

First Downs Per Game: 2nd (22.6)

Third-Down Pct.: 2nd (51.9%)

Sacks Per Pass Attempt Allowed: 15th (6.98%)

Red Zone TD Pct.: 2nd (70.6%)

Scoring Defense: 28th (27.0 ppg)

Total Defense: 30th (386.7 ypg)

Rushing Defense: 19th (130.8 ypg)

Passing Defense: 30th (255.9 ypg)

First Downs Allowed Per Game: 31st (22.1)

Third-Down Pct. Allowed: 23rd (43.1%)

Sacks Per Pass Attempt: 17th (7.35%)

Red Zone TD Pct. Allowed: 21st (60.0%)

Turnover Margin: t-16th (-1)

49ers-

Scoring Offense: 6th (26.3 ppg)

Total Offense: 2nd (412.4 ypg)

Rushing Offense: 4th (159.0 ypg)

Passing Offense: 4th (253.4 ypg)

First Downs Per Game: 5th (21.6)

Third-Down Pct.: 6th (43.3%)

Sacks Per Pass Attempt Allowed: 12th (6.61%)

Red Zone TD Pct.: 28th (48.6)

Scoring Defense: 16th (22.8 ppg)

Total Defense: 10th (314.8 ypg)

Rushing Defense: 6th (105.8 ypg)

Passing Defense: 14th (209.0 ypg)

First Downs Allowed Per Game: 10th (17.9)

Third-Down Pct. Allowed: 25th (44.1%)

Sacks Per Pass Attempt: 16th (7.69%)

Red Zone TD Pct. Allowed: 22nd (61.5%)

Turnover Margin: t-8th (+4)

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

• LB Lavonte David will play in the 191st game of his career on Sunday, all with the Buccaneers. When he does so, he will break out of a tie with former tight end Dave Moore for the third most games played in franchise history. Only Hall of Famers Rondé Barber (241) and Derrick Brooks (224) have played more.
• David has 36.5 career sacks and needs 2.5 more to tie David Logan for sixth place in Buccaneers history.
• Baker Mayfield has thrown two or more touchdown passes in each of his last six games, the longest streak by any quarterback in the NFL so far in 2024. If he collects two more scoring passes against the 49ers he will tie Tom Brady for the longest such streak within a single season in Buccaneer annals. Brady's seven-game streak to end the 2020 season was eventually extended to nine games in the first two weeks of the 2021 campaign.
• Two more touchdown passes for Mayfield would also give him 25 in 2024, just three below the career high of 28 he threw last season. That would also allow him to join Brady as the only quarterbacks in team history to have consecutive seasons with 25-plus touchdown passes.
• Tight end Cade Otton has caught eight or more passes in each of the Buccaneers' last three games. If he can do that again in Week 10 he will join the Chiefs' Travis Kelce as the only NFL tight ends since at least 1970 to do so in four straight outings.
• Rachaad White has caught three touchdown passes in the past three games and now has eight scoring grabs in his career. One more would tie Warrick Dunn and James Wilder for the second most receiving touchdowns by a running back in franchise history.

NOTABLY QUOTABLE

• Head Coach Todd Bowles on where he's seen the biggest growth in tight end Cade Otton: "It's really been his route-running. Not that he couldn't do it – I don't think we asked him to do it because we had the other guys out there doing it. So, just asking him to step up more in a receiver role, you really see his route-running prowess and his precision."
• Tackle Tristan Wirfs on how he's preparing for the matchup with the 49ers and Nick Bosa: "I think you just go out and keep the quarterback safe. I don't know if I'd think anything different really. I think the Niners have great get off, they're flying off the ball, so I think for tackles, you just have to get out to your junction point, your set point, whatever you want to call it, beat them to the spot. Bosa is great with his hands, insane get off, bends the edge really well, he's got power, he stays low, so it's all sorts of stuff you have to be ready for. That's how it is every week, you know. This is the NFL. [There aren't any] slaps around, so it's going to be fun. We've played them the past two years, they've had great defensive lines the past two years – the past forever pretty much. We just have to come ready to play. We know it's a big test for us up front like it was this past week, come out ready to play and do our jobs to the best of our ability and if we keep '6' (Baker Mayfield) upright, then we'll probably be all right."
• Quarterback Baker Mayfield on the toughest part of recovering during a short week: "It's a ton of mental work. A ton of mental work, guys have to get their body right, and that's – when you do the walk-throughs like we did today, they're trying to allow us to recover as quickly as possible, but yeah, guys have to take the accountability to be locked in when you're not getting the full speed reps of overcommunicating, understanding when we're calling a certain pass play, what depth the route is at with the timing of it and all that."
• Wide receiver Ryan Miller on how he was ready to step up when other receivers got injured this season: "It's just mentally preparing each week. If you're on the practice squad you've got to be ready pretty much every week in case someone goes down. Players went down and I took advantage of my opportunities. I was just waiting, biding my time, grinding day-in and day-out."
• Bowles on if defensive linemen Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey have learned how to play off of each other well: "I believe so. They're talking more. They're talking more amongst themselves and they're setting each other up to do things that we haven't done before. They're helping each other get sacks and they're working together. That looks good."