Tampa Bay Buccaneers Beat the Carolina Panthers 9-0: FINAL
PREGAME:
- Bucs Inactives: LB K.J. Britt, WR Rakim Jarrett, OL Brandon Walton, OLB Markees Watts, QB John Wolford
- Panthers Inactives: K Eddy Piñeiro, CB Shaquill Griffin, T Ricky Lee, G Cade Mays, G Ilm Manning, WR Mike Strachan, OLB Marquis Haynes
FIRST QUARTER:
- Carolina won the toss and deferred to the second half. Tampa Bay will start with the ball.
- Mayfield finds Evans for a gain of 7 yards.
- Back to back catches by Mike Evans picks up the first down.
- Mayfield finds Otton for a gain of 10 yards and another Bucs’ first down.
- Baker looks for Evans deep on third down, but the pass falls incomplete and the Bucs’ initial drive stalls.
- Camarda comes on to punt and Carolina will take over at their own 25.
- Chuba Hubbard finds some room for a gain of 12 yards.
- Yaya Diaby comes away with a sack on third down and the Panthers will be forced to punt.
- Mayfield finds White out of the backfield for a gain of 7 yards.
- White follows it up with a first down run and a gain of 5 yards.
- Mayfield’s third down pass falls incomplete intended for Mike Evans and they will once again punt.
- Chuba Hubbard finds some room for 8 yards and then picks up the first with a gain of 6.
- Hubbard runs it on third down but Devin White blows the play up in the backfield. Panthers will punt.
- Edmonds finds some running room, scampering for a gain of 8 yards.
- Godwin takes the reverse for a gain of 4 yards and a first down.
- Mayfield finds Palmer for a short gain, he fumbles, but Hainsey is there to fall on it.
- Mayfield is sacked for a loss of 7 yards on third down and the Bucs will be forced to punt again. Mayfield limps off the field gingerly with an apparent right ankle injury.
- At the end of the first quarter, the Bucs and Panthers are tied at 0.
SECOND QUARTER:
- Bryce Young is sacked, but defensive holding on the Bucs will negate the play.
- Miles Sanders finds running room for a gain of 13 yards and a Panthers’ first down.
- Bryce Young finds DJ Chark for a 43-yard TD, but the play is under review as Winfield Jr. knocked the ball out right near the goal line.
- The call is reversed and ruled a fumble that was recovered in the end zone by the Bucs for a touchback.
- Buccaneers are unable to do anything with the turnover and will be forced to punt again.
- Young’s pass on third down finds Tremble for a gain of 7 yards, but he is short of the line to gain. The Panthers will punt.
- White starting to find some running room as he runs it for a gain of 13 and a first down.
- White runs it for 9 yards and Baker follows it up with a 20 yard pass to Cade Otton for a first down.
- Mayfield finds Godwin for a gain of 6 yards on third down but he is short of the first down marker.
- McLaughlin comes on and nails a 36-yard FG and the Bucs take the lead over the Panthers 3-0.
- Young finds Thomas for a gain of 5 yards on third down but he is short of the first down and the Panthers will give the ball back to the Bucs.
- Bucs possession goes absolutely no where with three straight incompletions from Mayfield. Bucs will punt.
- Bucs defense holds tight and gets a stop on third down to force the Panthers to punt.
- Mayfield runs it up the middle on third down and picks up the first down.
- Mayfield finds Moore for a gain of 8 yards.
- Edmonds is taken down for a loss of 6 yards.
- Mayfield’s third and long pass is incomplete.
- McLaughlin comes on for a 57-yard FG and he makes it to give the Bucs a 6-0 lead heading into the half.
THIRD QUARTER:
- After a penalty on the defense, Hubbard runs it for a gain of 6 yards and a first down.
- Hubbard once again finds running room going for 17 yards.
- Hubbard runs it for a gain of 5 yards on third and long and the Panthers will be forced to punt the ball.
- Godwin comes down with a 10 yard grab and a first down.
- Mayfield is sacked for a loss of 9 yards on second down.
- On third and long, Baker finds Godwin for a gain of 10 yards but well short of the first down and the Bucs will punt.
- Young finds Smith-Marsette for a gain of 6 yards and a Panthers first down.
- Panthers run the ball on third down and the Bucs stop Hubbard short.
- Panthers offense stays on the field for fourth down and convert as Young finds Thielen for a gain of 8 yards. Lavonte David and Logan Hall are both down on the play.
- Antoine Winfield Jr. comes away with a big sack on Young on third down.
- Wright comes on to attempt a 52-yard FG and it is wide left. Bucs remain in the lead.
- At the end of the third, the Bucs lead the Panthers 6-0.
FOURTH QUARTER:
- Mayfield scrambles on third down for a gain of 7 yards and a Bucs’ first down. Great blocking by White on the outside.
- Edmonds finds space and scampers for a huge gain of 21 yards.
- Baker connects with Mike Evans to push the ball inside the red zone.
- Baker is sacked on third down for a loss of 6 yards. Bucs will attempt another field goal.
- McLaughlin’s 39-yard FG is good and the Bucs extend their lead over the Panthers 9-0.
- Hubbard having a good game gets another chunk gain this time for 12 yards.
- Hubbard gets it on third and one but the Bucs stuff him short of the first down.
- Panthers go for it on fourth and convert with a 2 yard run by Hubbard.
- Young scrambles for a gain of 20 yards getting deep into Tampa Bay territory.
- Blackshear rushes it 28 yards into the end zone, but an illegal formation penalty nullifies the score.
- Young is strip sacked by JTS, Gaines hops on the fumble and the Buccaneers will take over at their own 43 yard line.
- Back to back good runs by White make it third and short.
- White converts the third down and Carolina is starting to use their timeouts to stop the clock.
- Baker finds Godwin for a gain of 14 yards and a first down.
- Rachaad White getting the late touches here and picks up another Bucs’ first down. We are now at the two minute warning.
- The Buccaneers likely will just be able to run the clock out and clinch a playoff spot after winning the NFC South for the third consecutive season.
- Baker Mayfield will kneel this one out and the Buccaneers will make the playoffs.
FINAL: Bucs 9 Panthers 0
Stick with BucsGameday and the Locked On Bucs podcast for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the 2023 season.
