HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On if there are any updates for players who left with injury against the Jaguars)

"Shaq [Barrett] has a groin – he didn't practice. Carlton [Davis III] is in the [concussion] protocol. Ko Kieft has a shoulder – he didn't practice."

(On the status of RB Rachaad White)

"He's full-go."

(On the road to the playoffs going through New Orleans)

"Well, they've been on top for a long time. They've had a good team over the years. I don't know how far it goes back, but they've had a good team. We've won the last two [division titles]. We're trying to fight and scrape to win three of them. They're a tough team to play. Obviously, it's a division game – there's a lot on the line, a lot at stake for them [and] a lot at stake for us."

(On what the plan is for LB Devin White moving forward)

"He can help us a great deal – you saw that on Sunday. Obviously, we got up early, so some of the packages [the defense] would have had where K.J. [Britt] got more time didn't materialize. It ended up being that type of ballgame. That doesn't mean we're through using K.J. because we are going to use him some. A healthy Devin, a fast Devin, Devin flying around like he did Sunday, makes us a faster defense."

(On QB Baker Mayfield's leadership)

"I just think that's who he is. That's the kind of guy he is. He doesn't have to put on a façade to go out there and be a leader. He does the things he normally does. He leads by example – sometimes he leads by vocality and he talks it. He leads by actions, as well. The type of guy he is is energized every day, motivated every day, focused every day and everybody sees that. He makes it easy to play for and easy to follow."

(On if he thinks the defense has improved lately)

"They're healthier. There are some things we've got to work on. We're healthier and we're playing faster, I think. We're playing with more guys that are coming off nicks than we've had in the past. We're rotating guys around and everybody is focused, trying to get a win to get in the playoffs. Obviously, it's that time of year. Everybody is trying to do their part."

(On WR Mike Evans potentially having the best season of his career)

"I hadn't seen the early Mike Evans – I wasn't around. But, the Mike Evans I've seen over the years, he continues to do everything day-in and day-out the way he's been doing it. It seems like he's ageless at this point with the stats he's putting up, the numbers he's putting up, the way he competes and the way he goes out there to play."

(On S Antoine Winfield Jr.'s production this season and his ability to impact the game in so many different ways)

"It's kind of all of the above – he's instinctual, he has talent, he studies film profusely, he practices like that, he asks a lot of questions. We're able to move him around to some places, but his football IQ allows him to execute a lot of the things he's doing."

(On Winfield Jr. producing as many turnovers as he does)

"Certain guys have a knack for it – it's something you can't teach. You can teach them to get the ball out and try to go for the ball, but he has a knack for it every time and he's making it happen."

(On if Winfield Jr. reminds him of any other player in NFL history)

"Not in my lifetime. I think Charles Woodson might have had some numbers like that. I couldn't tell you what the numbers were, but I know he did a lot of things when he played."

(On what concerns him about the New Orleans Saints)

"[Alvin Kamara] is a huge problem. Them going downfield, that's a huge problem with [Rashid] Shaheed and [Chris] Olave, as well. They always play great defense. It's going to be a tough game."

(On if there was a moment when he felt the offense was clicking)

"I couldn't tell you that moment. It's still a work in progress, but we're clicking on all cylinders right now. We've got some things we can get better at, but the focus is there [and] everybody understands what they're doing. They're just playing faster."

(On what he thinks the atmosphere of the game will be like this weekend)

"It should be loud. It's always going to be physical. We need it to be as loud as possible. We need to give them something to cheer for."

(On how he ensures that players aren't 'too amped up' for this weekend's game)

"On Sunday, it's okay to be excited. We've got a lot of young guys on this team, but the focus has to be there. We've got a long way until Sunday. We've got a lot of things to prepare for and get ready for. We've got to execute. It's a long way until Sunday. You can be excited on Sunday, but you've got to be focused, as well."

QUARTERBACK BAKER MAYFIELD

(On the rarity of having an opportunity to clinch the NFC South division title in Week 17 at home)

"It means a ton just to be able to possibly do it at home, and against a divisional opponent, as well. It should be a great atmosphere. The things we've had to do and go through to get to this point – it means quite a bit when you look at having to rattle off this many in a row and having to do it again at home. It's a great opportunity for us and just the beginning of where we eventually want to get to."

(On the emotions in the Tampa Bay-New Orleans matchup)

"They're a physical team – it gets chippy. It's just one of those good rivalries that goes back and forth, so you see the intensity. You feel it on the field – the physical ballgame that it really is. Obviously, it comes down to this late December game and there's a lot on the line, so I'm expecting it to be a physical game."

(On if he feels like he's playing his best football since he's been in the NFL)

"I feel good. Yeah, I feel really good about where I'm at, seeing the field. Obviously, playing quarterback, each rep you can take things away from it. [You're] continuing to learn and improve on it. So yeah, I think just being in the system for a bit now and getting comfortable with it, that's what happens. Once you get comfortable in the system, you can truly grow and see the improvements and I think that's where we're at right now."

(On how well the team and organization has embraced him as a leader for this team)

"I think a lot of that has to do with success. The leadership aspect – I didn't try and come in and be anybody else besides myself. That comes with time. I can always feel that. That's always been something that's been natural for me, but yeah, it has definitely happened more so in the last few weeks. Everybody has come together and that's what we've had to do as a team to be able to put these four games in a row. We've had a lot of leaders step up, a lot of guys step up and that's what you really look for."

(On what helped galvanize the team when it became apparent there wasn't a lot of room for error moving forward)

"From an offensive perspective, we talked about for those weeks that we didn't play very well, but we were so close schematically and doing the little things right. We finally put those things together and you've seen the improvement. That was the thing – weather the storm, trust the system, don't try and do too much, don't reinvent the wheel, stick with it, just improve on it and find success within the system."

(On if attention to detail was the reason for the turnaround or if it was more due to tweaks within the system)

"Um, a little bit of everything, honestly. You're one-eleventh every single play. Then just some formational things to try and change it up to get guys in different spots. Different run schemes, I think we've evolved and gotten really comfortable with where we're at schematically in the run game. [It takes] guys just being comfortable within that and understanding what we're trying to get done. Just having that attention to detail within the system."

(On if the organizational stability has been critical to his success this season)

"Obviously, free agency allowed me to pick the organizational stability and knowing what it is here. That's what you look for when you have an opportunity to choose. You look for that and then you do the best you can and make the most of it. Right now, I'm just trying to take it one game at a time, like I've mentioned the past few weeks, and just see where it goes."

(On the difficulty in facing the New Orleans Saints veteran defense)

"Just their recognition of schemes, understanding that they've seen a lot of reps of football. They've seen pretty much everything you can. They do it well. Obviously, Demario [Davis] is an unbelievable player and I think Pete Werner has come along and it's been a great side-by-side duo with those linebackers there. You've got to know where they're at all times. You've got to understand that they're going to understand these patterns. They're going to know how to pass things off. They're going to fill the runs and hit the holes pretty quickly. It's just knowing you've got to do those little details right when you're playing a team like this."

(On the improvement of the offensive line)

"I think all year they've done a tremendous job in pass protection. I think the biggest improvement has been the run game – more reps, the new scheme, whether it's mid-zone or some gap-scheme stuff, it's just guys understanding what we're trying to get accomplished. More reps always helps. It was new for a lot of guys. [Robert] Hainsey starting at center. I know he did last year, but then Cody [Mauch] was a new guard, [Aaron] Stinnie and [Matt] Feiler switched at left guard, Tristan [Wirfs] made the switch to left tackle – there was a lot of moving parts, but they've been more and more comfortable and on the same page in the run game. That's why you've seen the improvement."

(On Offensive Coordinator Dave Canales and what he has seen from his development and adaptability over the course of the season)

"It's always a healthy balance. Dave came in and he did want the foundation of his system. When we were going through that lull midseason, we stuck to it. It was like, 'OK guys, we've got to get this ironed out. We've got to fix the things we need to do and grow it from there.' But in the pass game and some other schemes, he's evolved to different ideas. That's what you look for. You want somebody that says, 'Alright, this is our bread and butter. This is what we have to be good at. We have to work at it.' Then, when it comes to game-planning, he's always coming up with new ideas."

(On if there are things that WR Mike Evans does that still surprise him)

"The guy, he's a stud. It makes my job easy. It's fun to play with him. His second touchdown – being able to high point a ball like that, it's a special gift. [There was] not a whole lot of separation in the man coverage, the safety is over the top, but he understands he's going to pluck it out of the air and go down. He just does things so consistently and so, so well. You just enjoy it as a quarterback."

(On if he has a favorite play to Evans)

"No, any time you throw it to him, it's pretty good."

(On the synchronized boxing celebration with Evans)

"I'm trying to get on time with it. He's got to mix up the timing though – I might catch him off guard."

(On TE Cade Otton's progression this season)

"Cade, obviously [as a] young player [in] year two as a tight end, we've asked him to do a lot. I think he is a guy that we really, really appreciate. He's just really consistent in the pass game, too. He's had a lot of clutch moments, clutch catches and he does a lot of the dirty work, but he has come up big in the pass game for us. We're extremely happy to have him and he knows that those guys are going to get attention, so he's going to have some one-on-one opportunities. He has really taken advantage of them."

(On being a candidate for AP Comeback Player of the Year)

"It's humbling. It's an honor. It's kind of a big-picture mindset – if I take a step back and really look at it – of all the things that I've had to weather in the last year. It really speaks volumes to this place right here. To be able to come in and be myself and be the best version of myself, they've allowed me to do that. That's been the best reason."

(On what he got the offensive line for Christmas)

"The gifts were a little late, so I'm not going to announce it yet, but I have told them we have an end-of-the-year boat day whenever we're done playing. Hopefully that's February. We've got a boat day with a chef on it and a few other things that are coming in for them."

(On former Buccaneers RB Mike Alstott praising him on social media)

"I'll take that. I think that's another thing… being in this community, seeing all of the guys around, the former players, that were a part of the great teams. It's awesome to see that family aspect of it. The alumni are always around. To get to be able to be around those guys… you see Rondé Barber, you see Warren Sapp at games all the time. That's special that guys want to continue to be around the organization and want to be a part of it." 

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER YAYA DIABY

(On being such an effective pass rusher and leading all rookies in sacks)

"That's what I wanted. At Louisville, I wanted opportunities to be able to rush off the edge. I'm just happy that I'm able to do that now. I'm going to just keep working and moving forward."

(On playing the New Orleans Saints for the second time this season)

"I feel like this game, I'll feel more confident. I feel like I'm going to be able to get to the quarterback better than I did the last go around when we played the Saints. [I am] getting ready to set the guys up better and I feel like I'm getting there."

(On what he's learned about the rivalry against the Saints and if he's excited to have a division-clinching opportunity against them)

"It's very exciting. All of the guys had been waiting [for] this moment when we went through our little losing phase – now we've got some juice. I feel like, for us young guys, we've got to keep bringing that to the older guys and just help the whole team."

(On what the key is to keeping the winning streak going)

"The practices. The practices. Just coming to work every day and pushing each other. We've got a goal and we're trying to achieve that goal. We've just got to keep helping each other and keep pushing each other in practice and don't let up."

(On what he knows now that he didn't know when he played the Saints the first time)

"When we played the Saints, I wasn't as comfortable as I am now. I've gotten more snaps and I'm getting more comfortable with the scheme and being able to just get off the ball. That's what I didn't do against the Saints the last go around [when] we played them. I was still in that rookie phase and just trying to find my way around. Now, I feel more confident."

LEFT TACKLE TRISTAN WIRFS

(On what has helped the offensive line come together)

"I think just seeing things through the same set of eyes for us five upfront. Run game, pass game, we know the [New Orleans] Saint pull a lot of crazy stunts in the pass game. They'll bring Pete [Werner] or Demario Davis up in the A-gap, then drop them, and bring someone from the slot. So, just being on the same page, knowing who to pick up, and when to pick it up."

(On if the mentality has changed knowing that a win against the New Orleans Saints means clinching the division)

"I think so. I think that's what we're going into. We know it's a big game. Big game for a couple of reasons – we can clinch, it's the next one, [and] it's the [New Orleans] Saints. Whatever it may be, whatever you want to make it, we know it's a big game. It's an important one, but at the same time, I've said it for weeks, there is nothing we can do to change it, but go out there and play our best. So, that's what everyone is trying to do, focus in, definitely take care of our bodies this week, like I said, it's going to be physical, and yeah, it's going to be fun."

(On how much harder it is playing against experienced pass rushers)

"Yeah, they [have] all of these savvy moves. Cam [Jordan] has been out for a long time. What is it? His thirteenth season, I think. He's seen everything so, he kind of expects things, it feels like he is a step ahead almost, so you [have] to be on your game. You know you have Demario Davis, one of the best inside linebackers in the league. [He] just flies around and hits like a truck. Just guys like that, you know they're savvy, they've been around, seen a lot of football, [and] played a lot of football. You [have] to know what you're dealing with in them."

(On how proud he is of the offense)

"Yeah, it's been a lot of fun to be a part of. I just know the work we've put in to get things on the right track. It's fun to kind of see it come into fruition, and to be rolling kind of how we are now. There's still a lot of things to improve on. I think we had 1.9 [yards per] carry last week, you know we can't have that this time of year. So, there is still a lot of stuff to improve on, but it's nice to be where we are at, and still [have] so many things to get better at."

(On when he started feeling like the left side was home for him)

"I think I'm still getting there. There [are] some days where you feel great, and some days you're like, 'What am I doing?' I'm definitely more comfortable than I was to start the season, and it's fun to look back and see. Like I was watching film this morning from the first [New Orleans] Saints game, and you're just like, 'What am I doing?' Then I watch tape from this past weekend, and just comparing those two, [and to see] the strides that I have taken makes you every happy. [I] feel more comfortable than I did, but I think I still have a lot of room to grow."

-BUCCANEERS-