Tampa Bay Buccaneers Beat the Carolina Panthers 9-0: FINAL

It’s win or go home for the Buccaneers. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers face off against the Carolina Panthers for a chance to clinch the NFC South and make the playoffs.

PREGAME:

- Bucs Inactives: LB K.J. Britt, WR Rakim Jarrett, OL Brandon Walton, OLB Markees Watts, QB John Wolford

Inactives for Week 1️⃣8️⃣ pic.twitter.com/kvDWsmPeSS

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) January 7, 2024

- Panthers Inactives: K Eddy Piñeiro, CB Shaquill Griffin, T Ricky Lee, G Cade Mays, G Ilm Manning, WR Mike Strachan, OLB Marquis Haynes

Through The Spyglass: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers

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

How to Watch Buccaneers at Panthers: Kickoff Time, TV Channel and Odds

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