Buccaneers 9, Panthers 0
Q. Just your thoughts about accomplishing three straight division titles in a game that wasn't pretty?
TODD BOWLES: It was a defensive battle. We got enough thank goodness for Winfield's play on the goal line, thank goodness for Chase kicking some field goals. We knew it was going to be a tough battle. We knew we had to play four quarters. We made less mistakes, and we got a division title.
Q. How gratifying is it?
TODD BOWLES: It's great to win three straight, especially how people counted them out. I'm happy for the fans. I'm happy for the players, the coaches, the management, the scouting department. They worked so hard to get everything done, and to hear all they had to hear and to come out and win the division title is outstanding for those guys. I'm very happy for them.
Q. Mayfield comes off the field with the ball. Did you have anything special for him?
TODD BOWLES: Third straight, everybody got a game ball today. Everybody got one.
Q. Your team is only one of two that has made the playoffs four straight seasons in a row. Can you talk about the culture of the organization to allow that to happen?
TODD BOWLES: We talked about it early in the summer. We've got a very good culture. We like what we have. It was a complete change from what we had before, which was great, too, but there's a lot of ways to skin a cat. The guys believed in each other. They never fed into the outside media. We wrote our own narrative. We heard everything. They practiced hard, they worked hard, and they got it done.
Q. Baker struggled today in the passing game. How hard was he, and it looked like he also banged up his ankle. What was he going through out there?
TODD BOWLES: He was banged up. By the time he had to throw, I think they had great coverage. You've got to credit their defense, too. They played very good defense, and we were off, weren't clicking on all cylinders. We got enough to have some tough runs to run the clock out, and that's what team ball is. You're not going to win on one side or the other. It's going to take everybody.
Q. Speaking of the run game to close it out, it's not the first time this season you guys have struggled -- the run game has gotten going late in order to help close out games. Can you talk to how you've been able to find that success late?
TODD BOWLES: It's a great job with the four man at offense, running the ball when they know you're going to run it and you're not throwing the football and still getting some yardage against that type of team, it's the execution on offense. They did a great job on the O-line. Rachaad ran hard, Chase ran hard, and they got it done.
Q. Antoine was left off the Pro Bowl but we've seen him make these hustle plays. This is the second time he's knocked the ball out at the end zone, then gets a pick sack. What else can the guy do for you?
TODD BOWLES: Well, he can get us to the playoffs like he did. Winning playoffs and Super Bowls, that's what helps your Pro Bowl snubs.
Q. Calijah Kancey with multiple pressures, Yaya with the sack, JT also had the strip sack. Can you talk about your young pass rushers?
TODD BOWLES: Growing up. They've grown up. They know how to play complete football now, run game, pass game, they show up in the fourth quarter. They've got their system down. They're adding their own twists to it, and they're playing very well.
Q. Now that you've made the postseason, can you talk to how hard it was or how dark it was when you guys had lost five out of six, and just to be able to turn around like this and win these five out of six, it's hard to do in the NFL.
TODD BOWLES: It's extremely hard. Nobody turned on each other. Everybody battened down the hatches. We knew we had work to do and mistakes to correct, and when everybody counted us out, we didn't, and that's the biggest thing. That's the main thing we got out of it, and you see the fruits of our labor winning the last five out of six to get in.
Q. People talked about Antoine missing the Pro Bowl, but Chase has only missed two kicks all year but blocked seven of eight from beyond 50 yards. Can you talk about his impact on the team on the kicking game, especially from beyond the 50?
TODD BOWLES: It's been huge. We couldn't make those 50 yarders a year ago. Right now we can make them easily, and he's hitting them right down the middle. I don't like to talk about kickers much because it jinxes them, but he's been a big addition for us, and he's come through for us every time.
Q. How will Baker be by next week? Do you have any fears at all? And how dangerous can he be in the postseason? Again, people counted you out --
TODD BOWLES: We know we're counted out. To be dangerous, you first have to get in. We're in, so now we have a change to be dangerous.
As for Baker, I'll see how he feels and how he goes through treatment this week, and we'll make that determination as the week goes.
Q. Lavonte and Calijah both seemed to get nicked up a little bit. Looked like Lavonte came back in. Can you talk about either one of them, any worries long-term?
TODD BOWLES: Right now they're both ready to go. We'll see how the week goes with them.
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FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports