The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have kept their dreams of reaching the playoffs alive after taking down the Carolina Panthers in Week 17, 48-14.
It was a dominant day for Baker Mayfield through the air as he tied a Buccaneers franchise record with five passing touchdowns. The veteran quarterback led the Buccaneers to scoring drives on their first five possessions on the afternoon. That helped form a solid cushion over Carolina in the first half, but Bryce Young and Co. did hang around over the first two quarters, thanks to two touchdown throws to wideout Adam Thielen.
While the Bucs held a 27-14 lead at halftime, the third quarter was where Tampa Bay truly started to blow out the Panthers. It went on a 14-0 run over that stretch, which included linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka blocking a Carolina punt, which led to a scoop-and-score by fellow linebacker J.J. Russell.
Rookie running back Bucky Irving had his way with this Carolina run defense, with 113 yards on the ground on 20 carries. Mike Evans, who entered Sunday with 818 yards receiving on the season, is within range of yet another 1,000-yard season after finishing with 97 yards on eight catches to go with two touchdowns. Meanwhile, Mayfield finished his day with 359 yards passing to go with those five passing touchdowns as he completed 27 of his 32 pass attempts.
On the Carolina side, Bryce Young had 204 yards through the air and two touchdowns. Adam Thielen was his go-to target in the loss, catching five passes for 110 yards and two scores.
The Buccaneers needed to win this game in order to keep themselves in playoff contention. On top of winning in Week 18, Tampa Bay will need the Falcons to lose one of their two remaining regular-season games to win the NFC South. Meanwhile, if the Commanders -- who face Atlanta on Sunday night -- lose out, the Bucs could sneak into the playoffs as the No. 7 seed in the wild-card bracket.
Baker Mayfield wouldn't and couldn't be denied. The veteran quarterback could do essentially whatever he wanted in Week 17, throwing just five incompletions on the day. Just one of those came in the second half. He was the key catalyst in the Bucs piling up 551 yards of total offense on the afternoon, which helped them dominate time of possession, 41:11 to 18:49. The Tampa Bay offense was surgical throughout the day, scoring touchdowns on five of its eight red zone trips. As a team, they also controlled the ground game, rushing for 202 yards on a 5.1 yards per carry clip.
That explosion offensively made life easier for the Bucs defense as well, forcing Carolina into a pass-first game script. That allowed the pass rusher to tee off on Bryce Young for four second-half sacks. Of course, they also got some assistance in the scoring department from the special team unit (which you can read more about below).
The Panthers initially held their own as Bryce Young matched the Bucs opening drive touchdown with one of his own. However, the Carolina offense went silent after that, with three-straight three-and-outs that stretched most of the first half. Young was able to connect with Adam Thielen for a second touchdown just before halftime to keep the score respectable, but the unit again went silent over the final two quarters, where they didn't register a single point.
As has been the case throughout the season, stopping the run was a massive problem for the Panthers. Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving was an unstoppable force throughout the afternoon, rushing for 113 yards on 20 carries (5.7 yards per attempt). The defense also struggled mightily to get off the field on third down, allowing Tampa Bay to convert 10 of its 14 attempts.
BLOCKED FOR A TOUCHDOWN 😡
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) December 29, 2024
📺: #CARvsTB on CBS pic.twitter.com/7T3OtPWbSQ
Yes, the Bucs had a pretty commanding lead in this game at the half, but the third quarter was where they truly put their foot down. They went on a 14-0 run during the quarter and had a blocked punt returned for a touchdown that took all the air out of Carolina. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka swooped in to block the punt, and then it was J.J. Russell who scooped it up and returned it 23 yards for the score.
This was the Buccaneers first blocked punt returned for a touchdown since 2012, per CBS Research.
J Mac's 4️⃣ straight games with a TD grab is tied for the fourth-longest streak by a rookie in NFL history 🤯
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) December 29, 2024
📺: #CARvsTB on CBS pic.twitter.com/VLhoVVfgUW
Baker Mayfield's second-quarter touchdown pass to Jalen McMillan might seem like an innocuous, run-of-the-mill passing score. However, it's the perfect example of how dialed in the Buccaneers quarterback was on the day. Mayfield's first read on the play appeared to be tight end Payne Durham. When that was bottled up, he then shifted his eyes all across the field to his other reads before coming back over the middle to hit McMillan for the score. That's textbook quarterback play when it comes to going through your progressions, so it's no surprise to see Mayfield light it up.
From here, the Buccaneers will host the New Orleans Saints in the regular-season finale. Meanwhile, the Panthers will wrap up the year in Atlanta, where they'll take on the Falcons.
That'll do it. The Buccaneers moved to 9-7 on the season with a 48-14 win over the Panthers (4-12). Now, they'll see how Sunday Night Football between the Commanders and Falcons unfold.
Kyle Trask is in at quarterback for the Buccaneers. Baker Mayfield's dominant day is done. He finishes with 359 yards and five touchdowns while completing 27 of his 32 pass attempts.
One of the more hilarious side-stories from this game:
As a reminder: The Buccaneers need to win this game and Week 18 to keep themselves in the playoff hunt. On top of that, they'd need the Falcons to lose one of their final two games to win the NFC South. Meanwhile, if the Commanders drop their final two games and the Bucs win out, Tampa Bay would sneak in as the No. 7 seed. So, all eyes will soon shift to Sunday Night Football.
Baker Mayfield: 5 pass TD ties a Buccaneers franchise record (Done 7 other times)
Most Pass TD in a Season
Buccaneers History
2021 Tom Brady 43
2020 Tom Brady 40
2024 Baker Mayfield 39
2019 Jameis Winston 33
This 48-point explosion is tied for the third most points scored in a game in franchise history for Tampa Bay.
That's five passing touchdowns for Baker Mayfield today! He's found rookie Jalen McMillan for his second score of the day to go along with his five receptions for 51 yards. Dominant.
Mike Evans is now up to 97 yards on eight catches today. Also has two receiving touchdowns.
That's the Buccaneers first blocked punt returned for a touchdown since 2012.
The Buccaneers have scored 40+ points in two of their last three games.
Dagger. J.J. Russell scoops up the blocked punt and returns it for a Buccaneers touchdown. It's now a 41-14 lead for Tampa Bay. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka got in there for the block.
Baker Mayfield has tied Lamar Jackson for the most four passing touchdown games this season with four.
That was Payne Durham's first career touchdown.
Buccaneers say CB Jamel Dean (knees) has been downgraded to OUT. Was initially listed as questionable to return.
That's four passing touchdowns for Baker Mayfield today. The Bucs QB has been surgical, completing 23 of his 27 pass attempts for 309 yards to go with those scores.
McMillan is going to be a good player for the Buccaneers. The rookie wideout has caught all three of his targets for 34 yards and a touchdown.
Mike Evans came into this game with 818 yards receiving on the season. He has 82 yards so far today, so he's again threatening for another 1,000-yard season.
The field seems to be slick at Raymond James Stadium. There have been several occasions when Bryce Young has slipped on his dropbacks, including that recent sack.
Bryce Young's knee looked down before releasing the ball. Should be ruled a sack.
Adam Thielen is the first Panthers player with 100+ receiving yards and two touchdowns in a first half since D.J. Moore in 2021.
Eddy Pineiro's kick is wide left and it's a 27-14 Buccaneers lead over the Panthers at the half.
Another fantastic throw from Young to Thielen and they are now on the doorstep of field goal range.
From CBS Research: The five passing touchdowns in this Bucs-Panthers game is tied for the most in a first half in any game this season.
What a throw from Bryce Young! He throws a rainbow to Adam Thielen for a 40-yard touchdown. Carolina is still hanging around.
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