HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On the Jim Harbaugh-led Los Angeles Chargers)

"[They are] tough-minded. Huge up front – both sides of the ball – they stop the run and run the ball. They do a very good job with time of possession. They can play action and hit you deep. The quarterback can do a lot of things. Their hallmark is they don't beat themselves. We've got to play clean football."

(On what makes Los Angeles' defense so effective)

"They've got a lot of players over there. The scheme is good, but you've got a lot of pass rushers over there, you've got some good DB's over there, and they've got some decent linebackers. They're fast, they're strong, they're solid, and they play fast."

(On Tampa Bay rushing for over 150 yards in three straight games)

"The biggest thing for the explosive runs are the tight ends and the [wide] receivers. If they don't do their jobs down the field, those are six-, seven-, eight-yard gains. Those guys do a very good job in the run game. With the addition of the offensive line – I'm not counting them out – they're the lynchpin of the whole thing. Those guys do a very good job of getting downfield and blocking."

(On what has been the most important reason for Tampa Bay's offensive success)

"They're all important. You can't have one without the other. However you win – there's a lot of ways to skin a cat…Between us running the ball, timely throws with Baker [Mayfield], scrambling with Baker, keeping the continuity together and getting better each week. We're not going to win the same every week. The trick is to try and win different ways and build everything up at the same time."

(On if Tampa Bay's ability to win games in different ways is what makes them dangerous)

"We're getting there, yes."

(On what improvements he saw on defense against Las Vegas)

"Just the understanding of the game. There [weren't] that many big plays going down the field. I don't like the one tackle we missed on the third-and-2-or-3 that we had right there, but for the most part, they followed the gameplan. They finished [the] two-minute [situation], which was important for us on defense. The offense did a good job two weeks ago; the defense did a good job this week."

(On the state of S Mike Edwards' hamstring injury)

"He's coming along. I don't have a timetable on him yet, though."

(On Tampa Bay signing LB Deion Jones to the practice squad and when Jones might be able to contribute)

"I'm not sure how soon – there's a lot to learn. He just got in full action today, as far as from a learning standpoint. He's a very athletic [linebacker]. The way the passing game has been going and guys have been going down, we're going to need him. We've got to see how fast we can get him caught up."

(On Los Angeles QB Justin Herbert only having thrown one interception this season)

"He does a great job taking care of the football and understanding the offense. If it's not there, he can use his legs; if it's there, he's got a cannon of an arm. He can zip it in. He trusts his receivers – they do a good job of mixing it up."

(On LB Lavonte David's leadership and him addressing the team recently)

"It's as needed with him. Sometimes it's on the field, sometimes it's grabbing a guy by the shoulder and talking to him one-on-one, sometimes it's talking to the whole group. Whether it's inspirational or whether he's pissed off, it's well needed as leaders. As much as we can coach, it's a player's game. If you don't have the leadership and accountability from the players, you're not going to have a good locker room. He's one of many that has a very big voice and makes the locker room together."

(On WR Mike Evans' leadership and talking to teammates on the sideline against Las Vegas)

"Yeah, he was into it. He was into it and yelling at defensive guys – offensive guys, defensive guys, that's what you want…This is not church here, we're not going to be standing there getting ready to sing a song. We do a very good job – the guys do a very good job of holding people accountable when they need it."

(On the important of wide receivers Jalen McMillan and Sterling Shepard contributing in the absence of WR Chris Godwin)

"They've done a great job. Jalen has done a great job coming down the stretch here – he's gotten better each week. He understands the offense very well and he's playing with a lot of confidence right now. I don't think Sterling ever lost confidence once he got healthy. He's hell on wheels in practice; he's hell on wheels in the game. He's our Energizer Bunny – I keep saying it. He's a very intelligent football player."

(On WR Sterling Shepard's attitude and energy level)

"He enjoys the game. He puts in the work, he puts in the time, he's here early – he gets it. He understands it. He still plays at a high level."

(On if WR Jalen McMillan's season is an example of the saying 'Once December hits, you're no longer a rookie')

"We try to make that saying in August. Once you have your first meetings and first day of practice, you're no longer a rookie. He got hurt and then he came back, and he had to catch up on the offense a little bit. He had to get comfortable. Right now, he's come along, we've put him in some important roles and he's come through for us. You can see the confidence [growing]."

(On Tampa Bay being able to overcome adversity, and players recalling when Bowles told the team during training camp that they would be tested this season)

"Just talking to guys about being ready to play when your number is called…You only get 53 guys and people are going to get hurt. Guys make the team for a reason – we talk about it all the time. When your number is called, are you ready? What can you do? We expect to count on you, not like a substitute but like a starter. We talk about it constantly, we put them in situations in practice constantly – whether they're first-team or not. You're in these situations and you have to perform, and these guys have done a very good job of stepping up and playing when they got the chance."

(On S Christian Izien being an example of a player being asked to step up this season)

"He's a tough kid. He's a tough kid. He's very smart, he's very cerebral out there on the field. He plays with his hair on fire."

(On Tampa Bay not giving in when adversity struck earlier in the season)

"It says a lot. Like I said in the spring and the summer, it's the culture of the locker room, it's the culture and the camaraderie they've built to get through some tough times whether it's home or on the road…It's a long season. We say that every week. We do a good job of taking it game-by-game. We do a good job of trying to focus on the little things and just let everything else take care of itself."

(On RB Rachaad White's performance against Las Vegas)

"I think the change in the run game, how they approach it from the backfield, the job that Skip [Peete] does and 'Carbs' (Kevin Carberry) [does] and what they ask those guys to do has really helped him a lot. He's always been a heady player. He was always a good runner, but he's probably hitting it one step faster now than he did last year. He probably was more hesitation last year. A lot of that has changed and helped him a lot, but he always prepares like a pro."

(On if it's more difficult to play on the West Coast compared to the East Coast)

"No. It's a longer flight, but it's probably the same. We try to keep things as normal as possible."

QUARTERBACK BAKER MAYFIELD

(On what makes the Chargers' defense so formidable)

"They play really, really hard. Obviously, they have great players. I think Derwin James is playing some of the best ball of his career right now. They're using him really well and obviously the guys up front – they have some stars up there. I think the secondary as a whole is playing really well, not letting a lot of things behind them. They're obviously coached well, they fly to the ball, keep things in front of them, fly and play for each other."

(On if Chargers S Derwin James is one of the chess pieces of their defense)

"I would think so, yeah. They want him down there on the ball. He's a very versatile player in that kind of Kyle-Hamilton-hybrid safety that can do pretty much everything for them in that aspect. Yeah, he's a vital piece to their defense."

(On the Chargers ability to rotate their secondary with multiple skilled players)

"Normally you have your guys that, every once and a while, they might need a breather, not really on third downs but early downs when they come out, you're like, 'Okay, we can take a shot down field,' but that's not the case when you play these guys. They have guys that they can rotate in and feel really good about it. They do a good job of mixing some of the fronts that they use and getting one-on-one matchups. We just have to be on our Ps and Qs up front."

(On what a game like this against an 8-5 team can do potentially to help the Buccaneers down the stretch)

"I mean, it's the next one. [It's] the most important one. Talking about how this game is going to go, it's… They don't beat themselves. They do a really good job of taking care of the football, running the ball really well, controlling the clock forcing teams to beat themselves and taking advantage of those mistakes. For us, it's about the little things – executing, doing our job and playing four full quarters."

(On what makes the Chargers red zone defense so tough)

"[They're] really gap sound. They don't get bad eyes down there. Everybody does their part in whatever the plays called. Nobody tries to do too much and then like I said earlier, they fly to the ball. They don't let you get explosives. Obviously, in the red zone, they're closing windows pretty quick."

(On if he can use this game as a measuring stick as it is the only team they're playing with a winning record for the remainder of the season)

"It's just the next one. It's the most important one. Obviously, it's a good challenge for us just based on how they're playing right now. We have to bring our A-game but that's every Sunday."

(On G Cody Mauch and T Luke Goedeke's growth working together throughout the past two seasons)

"Cody has come a long way for us. He's improved each and every week. Those guys, they don't say a lot. It's a lot of nonverbal communication but they work well together. And then Luke is a stud. You can put him up against anybody, we trust that guy to block whoever it is. He loves a good challenge, so I know he's going to be looking forward to this week just with the guys that he's going to be facing."

(On what he would point to that helped improve the run game)

"Schematically, guys are executing in the right way. [The] offensive line is playing unbelievable in some of the schemes that we're having success on. [The running] backs are hitting the holes where they should be, and then tight ends and receivers are doing their job. You don't have some of these explosive runs unless guys are blocking down field. That's the important part is guys being fully bought in to the run game and understanding that it helps us as a whole."

(On him being 2^nd in the NFL for completion percentage and passer rating on first-and-10 and what's different about this offense that's made him more comfortable)

"I think just being on the same page as Liam [Coen] and just all of our guys, understanding what's being called, whether it's a shot play on first-and-10 if we're in the middle of a drive, understanding, if it's there, great, if not, check it down, continue to get the ball in these guys hands in space, and let them do the rest of the work. When it comes to quick game, just finding those completions."

(On how he is able to pull himself together and make plays in crunch time after making mistakes)

"To me, it's the mentality of 'next play is the most important' and then when it comes down to in-the-game situations, things that you really want to go over mentally throughout the week. Obviously, that helps with experience and time, but you cover those situations, you understand where you want to get the ball, where you want to do it and sometimes it's a chaotic situation but you don't want to… It's just heightened awareness – you don't want to let the situation dictate how you're feeling but just really [pay] attention to details and get back to basics in those moments."

(On how he is able to avoid letting negative self-talk infiltrate his headspace)

"I'm not exactly a great example of positive self-talk. I just hit the reset button, go through it, look at the pictures on the sideline and just move on. We need everybody to do their job each play, so I have to be the tone setter when it comes to that. If I'm making a bad play, it's the next one. Let's move on, let's make it happen."

(On if he has a lot of negative self-talk when he makes mistakes)

"Yes."

(On how important it is for WR Mike Evans to be involved in the offense down the stretch)

"Mike just being in the game – he said it – he started feeling better and better as the game went on, which is kind of rare considering he didn't have that many targets. [We're] trying to get him going early and often, just because he's the game changer for us in the pass game. He can take the downfield shots, he does things, he attracts so much attention on defense in the secondary that he opens things up for other guys, whether it's targeted towards him. He's kind of the focal point of our pass game."

(On WR Mike Evans' hurdle against the Raiders)

"He said it was the first time he's done it in his career. I guess he's like a fine wine."

(On how mentally tough this team is)

"It's an unbelievable group. That's what made me want come back here. I wanted that, just because of the group that we have, the key pieces here, the culture that's been set far before I was here. For guys to actually be able to hit the reset button and say, "If I just do my job and we play for each other and play together, good things are going to happen.' That's really rare to have, but it's what makes this group so special."

(On what prevents players from giving up on the season when things aren't going well)

"It's not just captains on this team, it's everybody throughout the building – guys just being accountable and saying, 'We still have a chance.' There [are] situations that sometimes you can let dictate your attitude and effort when it comes to week-to-week work, but this is a group that's going to put their heads down and do it."

(On having leaders like WR Mike Evans and LB Lavonte David be vocal in big moments)

"Even if you haven't spent a lot of time around those guys, obviously their stats and the years they've played speaks for itself. Like you mentioned, they're not exactly vocal guys, so when they speak, everybody listens. That's important in situations like that where we're not playing our best ball, for everybody to focus in and then obviously, Mike['s] talking, you're going to listen."

NOSE TACKLE VITA VEA

(On the key to keeping the win streak alive against the Los Angeles Chargers)

"I think we're playing a team that's very fundamentally sound and a team that doesn't beat themselves. It's going to be a challenge on us, especially [seeing] what they've done under [Jim] Harbaugh this year. They're a well-coached team, so we've got to be on top of it and we can't beat ourselves this week."

(On if this week's game is a measuring stick for the Buccaneers)

"No, I don't think so. I think it's hard every week. It's hard to get a win in the NFL. This is just another challenge for us – the same as last week and the week before. Each week will be a challenge for us."

(On playing alongside DL Calijah Kancey, and what he's seen from Kancey this year)

"I've seen a lot of growth. If you watch him when he plays, he plays like he's been playing for the same amount of years that I have. I think we both learn from each other, which I think is a good thing. Each week, I feel like I see growth from him. I think that's a plus. I think it's a good thing, playing next to him."

(On the Chargers' ability to run the ball)

"They're definitely committed to it. You see what they've done all year – they've been running really well. We've still got more tape to watch on them, [but] it'll be a good test for us."

(On Tampa Bay's ability to overcome adversity)

"I think we still have a lot of key pieces that were here that Super Bowl year. Not only that, we [have] a lot of new pieces that keep us all together. I think it's a testament to everybody in the locker room and the coaching staff – keeping each other together and not giving up."

-BUCCANEERS-