Buccaneers Defeat Panthers to Become NFC South Division Champions, Clinching Playoffs
Last week, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a golden opportunity to clinch their third consecutive NFC South title, and home-field advantage for the first round of the playoffs. All they had to do was beat their division rival, the New Orleans Saints, at Raymond James Stadium. But the football gods had other plans, as the Bucs’ offense came out extremely flat, digging themselves a huge hole, which despite a last-ditch effort, was simply too steep to climb out of.
So on the final weekend of the NFL regular season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wouldn’t have the opportunity to rest key starters. Instead, they would have to travel to Carolina, with hopes of beating another NFC South opponent, and the NFL’s worst team, in order to punch their ticket to the playoffs.
For the Bucs, it was simple.
Win? They’re in. Lose? Bad news.
The Buccaneers started this game with the ball, and although he did hit Mike Evans for consecutive receptions to start the game, Baker Mayfield was nearly picked off two separate times on the opening drive when he threw the ball too late. Tampa Bay ended up punting, and the failed opening drive was the 17th game in a row that the Bucs were unable to score a touchdown on their opening drive. The third-longest streak in the NFL currently.
On the Panthers' opening possession, a huge sack by YaYa Diaby forced the Panthers to punt from their own side of the field. The early sack brought Diaby’s season total up to 7.5, which is second-best among all NFL rookies.
Both offenses continued to struggle throughout the first half, as they exchanged consecutive possessions resulting in punts back and forth.
On Tampa Bay’s third drive of the game, rookie receiver Trey Palmer fumbled when Bucs' center, Robert Hainsey, alertly hustled downfield to fall onto the ball and regain possession for his team. Then, on 3rd-and-9, Mayfield was sacked. Although he walked off the field very gingerly, and it clearly looked like he sustained some sort of injury to his right leg, he didn’t miss a snap.
On the Panthers' ensuing drive, Panthers’ quarterback, Bryce Young, scrambled to his left, and as he approached the line of scrimmage, Jamel Dean seemed to completely abandon his assignment, which is when Young casually lofted the ball over Dean’s head to his receiver, D.J. Chark, who then darted up the sideline. Chark dove for the pilon as he approached the goal line, just as Antoine Winfield Jr. made a fantastic diving tackle, which jarred the ball loose while both players were in mid-air.
The play was initially ruled a touchdown, but after being reviewed, it was overturned. Thankfully for the Bucs, Jamel Dean had recovered the fumble in the end zone, resulting in a touchback.
The tremendous play by Winfield not only prevented a surefire touchdown, but it gave the Buccaneers’ the ball back on their own 20-yard line. It was Winfield’s sixth forced fumble of the season, tying him for the league lead.
After both teams continued to exchange punts back and forth, the Buccaneers finally got something going. The drive was kickstarted by several nice runs by Rachaad White, highlighted by a 13-yard scamper that helped bring the Buccaneers into Carolina territory. A 20-yard catch and run by Cade Otton right after brought the Buccaneers to the Panthers 25-yard line.
The Bucs were unable to move the ball much further than that, and settled for a 36-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin — his sixteenth consecutive made FG — to finally put the Bucs on the scoreboard
Buccaneers 3, Panthers 0
Tampa Bay’s defense continued to stifle the Panthers’ unimpressive offense, forcing them to punt yet again. Then, when the Bucs got the ball back, things got chippy following a broken play where Baker Mayfield ran the ball up the gut himself.
Mayfield was sandwiched between multiple Panthers’ defensive linemen, which left tackle, Tristan Wirfs, took exception to.
Then, with just 19 seconds on the clock and the Buccaneers’ on the verge of field goal range, Canales called an off tackle run to Chase Edmunds which resulted in a six-yard loss. It was a perplexing decision, which set Bucs twitter ablaze with frustration. Thankfully, the Bucs’ trusty kicker, Chase McLaughlin, was able to ensure they still got some points on the board when he knocked a 57-yard field goal through the uprights with room to spare.
Buccaneers 6, Panthers 0
Par for the course, the Panthers' first offense drive of the third quarter resulted in a Johnny Hekker punt, which pinned the Bucs deep in their own end.
Dave Canales' offense continued to struggle, and the Bucs returned the favor by punting the ball right back to Carolina, giving the Panthers their best starting field position of the day.
After the Panthers managed to work their way up to the Buccaneers' 38-yard line, they converted a 4th-and-5 attempt when Bryce Young hit his most reliable target, Adam Thielen, on a slant over the middle.
Following the play, two Buccaneers defenders were left lying on the turf. Lavonte David, arguably the team's best player on that side of the ball, and standout rookie defensive tackle, Calijah Kancey, were both in quite a bit of pain. Thankfully, they were both able to walk off the field with some assistance from the medical staff.
Shortly thereafter, a huge sack on 3rd down by Antoine Winfield Jr., although Greg Gaines was in the mix as well, forced the Panthers to attempt a long field goal, which they missed.
Despite the fact that Carolina was unable to put any points on the board through three quarters, they did manage to control the clock in the third frame. The Panthers ran 19 plays in the third quarter, compared to just five offensive plays for Tampa Bay.
The Buccaneers started with possession to open the fourth quarter, and two key players, Rachaad White, and Baker Mayfield, were obviously both battling through injuries. In relief of White, a 22-yard run by Chase Edmunds helped the Bucs move the ball deep into Carolina territory. On third-and-4 from the 15-yard line, the pocket collapsed on Baker Mayfield, and he was unable to avoid the sack by Brian Burns.
Jan 7, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) drops back to pass against the Carolina Panthers during the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
The always reliable Chase McLaughlin had no problem following up the sack with an easy 39-yard field goal to extend Tampa Bay's lead.
Buccaneers 9, Panthers 0
On the Panthers ensuing possession, Bryce Young finally showed a little bit of life. Following a 4th down conversion around midfield, Young avoided two Tampa Bay defenders barrelling down on him, before scampering for a 20-yard gain.
On the very next play, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka burst past left tackle, Ickey Ekwonu, and used his speed to attack Bryce Young's blindside before the young quarterback had any idea he was there. JTS managed to strip the ball, which the Bucs recovered.
It was a huge play by Tryon-Shoyinka, who was desperate to make a big play for this team. Especially after losing so many snaps to talented rookie, YaYa Diaby, as this season has gone on.
The Panthers' final drive came up short, and they were officially shut out in their final game of the 2023 NFL season.
Buccaneers 9, Panthers 0
Final Thoughts
It wasn't pretty. In fact, it was far from it.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offense, just like their injured quarterback Baker Mayfield, limped their way past the finish line. Literally, and figuratively.
Although the Buccaneers' offense struggled mightily in this 'win or go home' game at Carolina, Todd Bowles' defense had no problem shutting down an extremely underwhelming Panthers offense.
In the end, much like myself in college, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did just enough to get by. That said, if they're going to have any hope of winning a playoff game next week at Raymond James Stadium, they're going to need to find a way to tighten up the offense and get their quarterback healthy, at the same time.
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