The 8-7 Bucs returned to Raymond James Stadium on Sunday afternoon, hosting the 4-11 Panthers in a must-win game. With a victory, Tampa Bay could put pressure on Atlanta in the NFC South race and keep its hopes alive heading into the final weekend of the regular season. The Bucs got off to a fast start, scoring their eighth opening-drive touchdown of the season to take a 7-0 lead.
The Panthers responded with a quick opening-drive score of their own to tie the game at 7-7, but Tampa Bay scored 20 straight points from there to take a commanding 27-7 lead late in the first half. Carolina didn’t go quietly, though, getting within 27-14 just before the break. But after halftime, the Bucs finished the Panthers off in convincing fashion.
Tampa Bay’s defense pitched a second-half shutout while the offense scored twice and the punt block team added another, leading to a dominant 48-14 win. Todd Bowles and his team are now 9-7 and remain firmly in the hunt for the division title heading into the season finale. Here’s a recap of all the action from Sunday’s convincing victory at Ray Jay: Bucs 48, Panthers 14 The Panthers won the coin toss and deferred, meaning it would be Baker Mayfield and the Bucs offense opening things up to start the afternoon.
Their opening drive got going quickly, with Bucky Irving getting six, 10 and 12 yards on his first three carries with a 9-yard catch by Mike Evans mixed in. From there, Mayfield hit Payne Durham for a 31-yard gain over the middle to s.
