TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — It’s do-or-die for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On Sunday, quarterback Baker Mayfield and Tampa Bay will face off against the Carolina Panthers for a chance to clinch the NFC South for the third consecutive year and a playoff berth.
With the Bucs roster at full health, including Mayfield, who was experiencing rib pain after taking a hit in the Saints matchup last week, Bucs’ head coach Todd Bowles feels this game will have a promising ending.
“It’s good to have everybody back. Obviously, he’s a good [running] back and they’ve got a huge offensive line. They run the ball very well – they do a good job at that. We’ve got to make sure we read our keys and play team ball,” Bowles said when asked about stopping Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard, considering he had a strong performance in their last meeting when Tampa Bay was short on linebackers.
FINAL SCORE: Buccaneers 9 – Panthers 0
4:42: Mayfield passes right to Godwin for 14 yards.
6:25: SACKED! Joe Tryon-Shoyinka takes down Young for a loss of 10 yards. The ball is fumbled and recovered by Bucs’ Gaines.
6:33: Blackshear goes on the run for 28 yards – touchdown nullified due to Panthers’ illegal formation.
7:17: Young scrambles left for a gain of 20 yards.
8:00: Hubbard goes to the right for 2 yards.
10:18: Hubbard goes up the middle for 12 yards.
10:18: Camarda kicks 65 yards for a touchback.
10:22: IT’S GOOD! McLaughlin hits a 39-yard field goal. Bucs 9, Panthers 0.
11:01: Mayfield sacked at CAR 21 for a 6-yard loss.
12:32: Edmonds goes up the middle for 21 yards.
15:00: White picks up a yard.
End of the 3rd quarter: Buccaneers 6 – Panthers 0
0:04: MISSED FIELD GOAL! Panthers’ kicker misses a 52-yard field goal.
0:45: SACKED! Antoine Winfield takes down Young for a 9-yard loss.
6:08: Camarda punts 59 yards to CAR17 – Panthers return the ball for 29 yards.
6:45: Mayfield passes short to Godwin for 10 yards.
7:28: Mayfield sacked at Tb14 for a 9-yard loss.
8:42: Mayfield passes short right to Godwin to TB21 for 10 yards.
9:29: Hekker punts 43 yards to TB8 – downed by Panthers’ Jamison.
10:32: False start called on Panthers’ Tremble.
13:39: Neutral zone infraction called on Bucs’ Shaq Barrett.
14:55: Hubbard takes the ball and gets pushed back for a yard loss.
15:00: Camarda kicks 61 yards from TB35 to CAR4. The kick is returned for 21 yards – Holding called on Panthers’ Franklin.
End of the second quarter: Buccaneers 6 – Panthers 0
0:04: MCLAUGHLIN!! Bucs’ kicker matched his career-long field goal after notching a 57-yarder. Bucs lead 6-0 at halftime.
0:19: Edmonds goes to the right but ends up losing 6 yards.
0:30: Mayfield passes short right to Moore for 8 yards.
0:40: Mayfield scrambles up the middle for a first down.
2:05: Mayfield fires to Palmer and it’s broken up by Panthers’ Jones.
4:13: Camarda kicks 60 yards for from TB35 to CAR5 – Panthers return the kick for 18 yards.
4:17: BUCS ON THE BOARD! Chase McLaughlin nails a 36-yard field goal to put the Bucs up 3-0.
6:26: Mayfield goes to Edmonds, but he gets stopped for a 3-yard loss.
7:06: Mayfield passes short right to Otton for 20 yards.
8:29: White picks up 13 yards.
9:21: Panthers’ Hekker punts 42 yards to TB29 – fair catch by Thompkins.
10:04: Young passes short right to Tremble for 7 yards.
12:29: TWEEZE! Young goes deep to Chark for a 43-yard touchdown. The play was reviewed and reversed – called a fumble and recovered by Jamel Dean for a touchback. It was Winfield’s sixth forced fumble this season.
14:33: Panthers’ Sanders takes it into Bucs territory after a 13-yard run.
15:00: SACKED! Shaq Barrett takes down Bryce Young for a loss of 5. Holding called on Lavonte David.
End of the 1st quarter: Buccaneers 0 – Panthers 0
0:26: SACKED. Mayfield gets sacked for a loss of 7 yards.
1:08: Mayfield passes short middle to Trey Palmer for 4 yards – the ball was fumbled and recovered by Bucs’ Hainsey.
1:18: Mayfield throws incomplete to Godwin – Ineligible Downfield Pass called on Bucs’ Stinnie.
2:34: Bucs’ Edmonds goes to the left and picks up 8 yards.
3:18: DEVIN WHITE! White wraps Hubbard up and takes him down for a 3-yard loss.
4:33: Hubbard goes to the left for 6 yards.
5:50: Camarda punts 61 yards to the end zone for a touchback.
8:04: White picks up another 5 yards – gets the first down.
8:50: Rachaad White, out of the backfield, takes the ball for 7 yards.
9:40: SACKED!! Rookie Yaya Diaby takes down Panthers’ rookie QB Bryce Young for an 8-yard loss.
10:22: Panthers’ Hubbard takes the ball for 12 yards.
11:49: Camarda punts 37 yards to CAR10 – 4th & 9 at CAR47.
13:18: Bucs marching along into Panthers territory with a 10-yard completion to TE Cade Otton.
14:30: Mayfield goes to Evans again. This time, he picks up 9 yards and a first down.
15:00: Bucs starting the game off strong with a 7-yard completion to Mike Evans.