Baker Mayfield mocks Tommy DeVito's celebration as the Bucs embarrass the Giants 30-7

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield embarrassed the woeful Giants with his arm and legs, and if that wasn't enough, he rubbed it in by mimicking New York fan favorite Tommy DeVito's celebratory dance after scoring a touchdown.

Mayfield catapulted into the end zone on a spectacular 10-yard scramble for one of Tampa Bay's four rushing TDs, and the Buccaneers beat the Giants and new starting quarterback DeVito 30-7 on Sunday, snapping a four-game losing streak and extending New York's skid to six.

With both teams struggling and coming off byes, most of the focus leading up to the game was on the Giants' decisions this week to bench and then release quarterback Daniel Jones. The brash DeVito was given the starting job and asked to spark coach Brian Daboll's team, as he did last season.

Instead, Mayfield provided the energy with his play and his trolling of DeVito.

“Tribute to Tommy,” said a straight-faced Mayfield, who was 24 of 30 for 294 yards. “He’s a good dude, that’s why. Most of the times, I don’t know what I’m going to do. It’s spontaneous.”

Mayfield was asked several times about the gesture and admitted he wanted to give Giants fans something they liked, adding he met DeVito at the Super Bowl in Las Vegas in February.

“He had his chain blinged out, swag walking through the casino. It was awesome,” Mayfield said. “It was like a movie scene, honestly.”

DeVito did nothing to help the NFL's lowest-scoring offense. He threw for 189 yards, mostly in the second half with New York well on its way to its sixth straight loss at home, where it is winless.

Meanwhile, the Buccaneers dominated in every phase in a near-perfect performance that featured TD runs of 1 yard by Sean Tucker, 6 yards by Bucky Irving and 1 yard by Rachaad White. After recent losses to the Ravens, 49ers and Chiefs, Tampa Bay (5-6) moved within one game of idle Atlanta in the NFC South.

“We’re hoping it builds confidence,” Mayfield said. “We have a belief that we are still sitting and controlling our own destiny.”

Tampa Bay scored on five of its on first six possessions to open a 30-0 lead, and none was more exciting than Mayfield's TD run with 12 seconds left in the first half. On a second-and-goal from the 10, he avoided pressure and went for the end zone. He was hit by Cor'Dale Flott low and Dru Phillips high around the 2-yard line, and he was airborne when he crossed the goal line. The ball came loose when he hit the turf but he jumped up and flexed, DeVito-style, as the Bucs took a 23-0 lead.

DeVito said players talked about the celebration in the locker room but he did not see it.

Daboll was asked about the gesture and said Mayfield played well. He said the Giants' poor performance had nothing to do with Jones being released.

“No excuse on that,” said Daboll, whose job is on the line despite making the playoffs in 2022. “We just didn’t do a good enough job.”

“We played soft, and they beat the (expletive) out of us,” defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence added.

Mayfield's favorite target Mike Evans returned to the lineup after missing three games with a hamstring injury and had five catches for 68 yards. Irving had 87 yards rushing and six catches for 64 yards.

The Bucs held New York to three first downs and 45 yards in the first half, and they finished with 450 yards to the Giants' 245.

DeVito had a 17-yard run in the fourth quarter to set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Devin Singletary. The brash New Jersey native was sacked four times, including once in the fourth quarter, which forced him to go to the bench for one play.

Buccaneers: LT Tristan Wirfs (knee) did not play and Justin Skule replaced him. ... Tampa Bay lost OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka to an ankle injury in the second quarter and safety Jordan Whitehead to a pectoral injury in the fourth quarter.

Giants: LT Jermaine Eluemunor (quad) and OLB Azeez Ojulari (toe) were hurt in the first quarter and did not return.

Buccaneers: At Carolina next Sunday.

Giants: At Dallas on Thanksgiving

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) celebrates his touchdown run against the New York Giants during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) meets with New York Giants linebacker Brian Burns (0) after an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)

New York Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito (15) throws a pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker (44) celebrates his touchdown run against the New York Giants during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White (1) leaps over New York Giants cornerback Cor'Dale Flott (28) and linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker (44) celebrates his one-yard touchdown run against the New York Giants during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito (15) throws a pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito (15) gets sacked by Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Calijah Kancey (94) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield and New York Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito (15) meet after an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) scores past New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22), cornerback Cor'Dale Flott (28) and linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) eludes New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22) and cornerback Cor'Dale Flott (28) to score during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) scores past New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22) and cornerback Cor'Dale Flott (28) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) celebrates his touchdown run against the New York Giants during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions spent three months scoring at a historic rate.

Now with the weather changing outside, they’re winning with old school football, too.

Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for two scores, David Montgomery added a third TD run and Detroit's increasingly stingy defense kept the Indianapolis Colts out of the end zone on Sunday, leading the Lions to their ninth straight win, 24-6.

“This is, whatever it is, 10 quarters without allowing a touchdown and the three last games in the second half we're not allowing it,” coach Dan Campbell said. “We talk about it all the time — limiting points, play physical style, shut down the run — we were able to do that.”

They've been doing it all season in their greatest run in decades, but have been more effective lately and it has shown.

The Lions improved to 10-1 for the first time since 1934, their inaugural season in the Motor City. They own the league's longest active winning streak and are 6-0 on the road this season.

While the Lions have scored points by the dozens all season, Campbell's preference for physical football means they're equally capable of grinding out wins with the combination of a ball-control offense and an ascending defense that propelled them to this win.

Gibbs finished with 21 carries for 90 yards on a day Goff went 26 of 36 with 269 yards and no touchdowns. And for the third straight week, all against AFC South foes, the Lions had a second-half shutout.

“If you can win on the road, you're normally a pretty damn good team,” Campbell said. “And we can win on the road.”

The Colts (5-7) found out the hard way by losing their second straight home game and for the fourth time in their past five games.

Anthony Richardson had another up-and-down game, going 11 of 28 with 172 yards while rushing 10 times for 61 yards. But it was Indy's inability to finish drives with touchdowns that again cost the team.

That flaw was evident right from the start when Richardson took the Colts inside the Lions 5-yard line on the game's first series and settled for a short field goal when they couldn't punch it in.

“We've got to take advantage of our opportunities,” Colts coach Shane Steichen said. “This league comes down to inches, it comes down to yards and you've got to take advantage of those opportunities. We've had issues down in the red zone and you have to look at the tape and clean it up.”

Detroit made Indy pay dearly for its offensive miscues.

Gibbs' 1-yard TD run on the Lions' second series made it 7-3 early in the second quarter and after Indy settled for another short field goal, Montgomery spun his way across the goal line for a 6-yard TD and a 14-6 lead.

Detroit's defense made sure that was all the scoring punch it needed.

“Those players, we've been around each other long enough, they've been around each other to know exactly what we're looking for,” Campbell said. “We have an identity about us. We know the critical factors as they pertain to winning, and those guys take that stuff serious.”

Gibbs' 5-yard TD run late in the third quarter gave Detroit a 21-6 lead and they closed it out with a 56-yard field goal midway through the fourth.

Amon-Ra St. Brown caught six passes for 62 yards for Detroit while Michael Pittman Jr. had six catches for 96 yards for Indy despite leaving briefly in the first half with an injured shoulder.

Gibbs' first score extended Detroit's league record to 25 consecutive games with a TD run, including the playoffs. He's also the third Lions player with 1,000 scrimmage yards and 10 TDs in each of his first two pro seasons with Detroit, joining Billy Sims and Barry Sanders. Gibbs and Montgomery have each scored at least one TD in the same game nine times.

Lions: Things got ugly during a third-quarter flurry. Receiver-punt returner Kalif Raymond (foot), left tackle Taylor Decker (right leg) and Montgomery (shoulder) all left in quick succession. Raymond and Montgomery did not return. Decker did. CB Carlton Davis II left early in the fourth with what appeared to be a left knee injury.

Colts: Indy deactivated left tackle Bernhard Raimann (knee), forcing the Colts to again use three rookie linemen. Receivers Ashton Dulin (ankle) and Josh Downs (shoulder) both left in the second half. Downs returned, Dulin did not.

Lions: Host Chicago in its traditional Thanksgiving Day game.

Colts: Visit New England next Sunday.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (1), defended by Detroit Lions cornerback Khalil Dorsey (30), is unable to catch a pass during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) signals a first down during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Detroit Lions cornerback Kindle Vildor (29) tackles Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick (17) is pushed out of bounds by Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin (44) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Detroit Lions cornerback Emmanuel Moseley (4) trips Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (1) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Detroit Lions cornerback Emmanuel Moseley (4) reaches in on Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (1) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) pulls away from Indianapolis Colts linebacker E.J. Speed (45) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) is tackled by Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell, left, and safety Kerby Joseph (31) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson scrambles during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) is tackled by Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) and linebacker Jack Campbell (46) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph reaches but is unable to catch a pass as Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) is tackled by Indianapolis Colts safety Nick Cross (20) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick (17) pulls away from Indianapolis Colts safety Julian Blackmon (32) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) runs into the endzone for a 1-yard rushing touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)