Extra Point: Top Takeaways From Buccaneers 9-0 Win Over The Panthers
It wasn't pretty but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers punched their ticket to the dance with a 9-0 win over the Carolina Panthers. The victory secured the Bucs' third consecutive NFC South title and their fourth straight trip to the postseason.
The offense struggled to move the football against the Panthers' top-ranked defense with a banged-up Baker Mayfield at the helm. The only points on the board came from the booming leg of Chase McLaughlin who nailed in a season-long 57-yarder. However, the defense pitched a shut-out out and the nine points were enough to get the job done.
As the four seed, the Buccaneers will host the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football on Super Wild Card weekend. The two teams met in Week 3 with the Eagles getting the upper hand, but the jump-start Bucs will look to play spoiler.
Antoine Winfield Single-Handedly Propels Bucs To Playoffs
Antoine Winfield Jr. is him. In a year that saw him post career-high numbers and possibly put up one of the best all-around seasons at safety in league history, Winfield Jr. was the only offense the Bucs needed on Sunday. The main reason the Buccaneers are donning their hats and t-shirts is because of WInfield Jr,'s hustle and heart.
In what appeared to be a go-ahead touchdown, by D.J. Chark, Winfield came from the other side of the field to punch the ballot of his hands at the half-yard mark. The ball trickled into the endzone where it was recovered by Jamel Dean saving points from going on the board and giving the offense the ball back. He later had a sack that took the Panthers out of field goal position forcing them to punt. After a Pro Bowl snub, he solidified his spot as a First-Team All Pro.
Offense Has To Get To Get Their Stuff Together
Another slow start for the offense carried throughout the game and led to a zero-point outing. Sure Mayfield was banged up and the Panthers do boast a top defensive unit but this was the second week in a row the Bucs had no answers on offense.
A strong desire to take the load off Mayfield met with a stalled ground game did the offense no favors. In the first half, Mayfield was particularly inaccurate and missed several throws. Kudos to the Panthers for smothering Mike Evans and essentially taking him out of the game but you need to find more ways to get him the ball.
If the Bucs want to have a shot at beating the Eagles getting out to a fast start will be imperative to secure a victory.
Bucs Defense Steps Up Big
On a day when the team got nothing from the offense, the defense stepped up and played one of their most complete games of the season. It came at the perfect time as well with the division and a trip to the playoffs on the line.
Bryce Young was uncomfortable in the pocket all day as the Bucs found a way to get pressure on him to force bad throws. The Bucs secondary played tight coverage and splash plays by future All-Pro Antoine Winfield and rookies Yaya Diaby and Calijah Kancey boosted the defense. If the Bucs expect to beat the Eagles the defense that showed up on Sunday needs to be in the building Monday night.
Three Up, Three Down
Up
S Antoine Winfield Jr
See Above.
OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
Boy did JTS pick a time to have a game-changing play. His strip-sack late in the fourth quarter prevented any points from being put on the board and preserving the Bucs shut out.
K Chase McLaughlin
McLaughlin scored the only points of the day making all three of his field goals, including tying his career long of 57 yards.
Down
WR Trey Palmer
Palmer had another fumble in the Bucs' win over the Panthers, his second in as many weeks. He was also unable to secure a catch that would've set the Bucs offense up inside the 10-yard line giving them a valuable opportunity to put more than three points on the board.
P Jake Camarda
For the second week in a row, Camarda had trouble punting the ball. A bad shank and a kick into the endzone gave the Panthers valuable field position.
QB Baker Mayfield
Look I know he was playing through multiple injuries but in the first half Mayfield was just plain bad. He had several overthrows, and a few underthrows and was inaccurate in delivering the football. He showed his grit in the second half but the Bucs put zero points on the board and that ultimately falls on the quarterback.
You can follow JC Allen on Twitter @JCAllenNFL.
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