The Buccaneers moved back into the lead on their first possession of the third quarter, but they weren’t on top for long.
Bryce Young wriggled away from pressure on a third down and stayed alive long enough to flip a six-yard pass to a wide-open Ja’Tavion Sanders in the end zone. The tight end’s score made it 20-17 with eight seconds to play in the third quarter.
It wasn’t the only time that Young used his legs on the drive. He had three runs for 21 yards to go with a pair of passes to rookie wideout Tetairoa McMillan as the Panthers moved 65 yards in 11 plays.
The Bucs will have to answer or the Panthers will move into Week 17 with the inside track on the division title in the NFC South.
The Buccaneers scored a touchdown on their first offensive possession of Sunday’s game against the Panthers and they’re back in the lead after doing the same to start the second half.
Running back Sean Tucker scored from a yard out and the Buccaneers now lead 17-13 with 6:41 to play in the third quarter.
The Bucs tried a pair of passes to wide receiver Mike Evans from the 1-yard line and Evans drew a pass interference flag on the second one to give them a fresh set of downs. Tucker’s score capped a 14-play, 66-yard drive that saw Baker Mayfield pick up a key first down with a 23-yard scramble against a Carolina blitz.
The Bucs have ruled edge rusher Anthony Nelson out with a knee injury, so the rest of the defense will have to make the lead stand up if the Bucs are going to end the day in first place in the NFC South.
The Panthers needed most of the first half to find their way to the end zone, but getting there was enough to send them into halftime with a lead over the Buccaneers.
Quarterback Bryce Young and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan hooked up for a 22-yard score with seven seconds left in the first half to give the Panthers a 13-10 lead in the battle for first place in the NFC South.
The touchdown capped a strong final drive for Young. He was 6-of-7 to lead the Panthers 63 yards and finished the half 12-of-20 for 107 yards. McMillan has four catches for 57 yards and the touchdown was the seventh of the first-round pick’s rookie season.
Baker Mayfield opened Tampa’s scoring with a one-yard touchdown to Mike Evans and the Bucs drove for a field goal on their second possession, but back-to-back three-and-outs left the door open for the Panthers to move into the lead. Mayfield has only thrown 10 passes through 30 minutes and opening things up in the second half may be a must if the Bucs want to win this one.
They’ll get the ball to kick off the second half, so we’ll find out soon if that’s an adjustment they make in the locker room.
The Panthers opened Sunday’s home game against the Buccaneers with a field goal, but they’re down 7-3 before the end of the first quarter.
After a Bucky Irving run set the Bucs up on the 1-yard line, Baker Mayfield found wide receiver Mike Evans in single coverage for a touchdown. The score put the Bucs in the lead with 4:01 to play in the first quarter.
Tampa only had to drive 53 yards for the score thanks to a long kickoff return by Kameron Johnson. Irving ran for 25 yards on five carries and Mayfield also picked up first downs on throws to Evans and Jalen McMillan.
The Panthers had a nine-play, 56-yard drive to open the game, but had to settle for a field goal after Chuba Hubbard lost three yards on a third down run.
The Bills will try to wrap up a playoff berth without the help of wide receiver Keon Coleman on Sunday.
Coleman is inactive for Buffalo’s game in Cleveland. Coleman was not on the injury report at all this week, but will miss his third game of the season. Coleman was scratched for disciplinary reasons earlier this year, but Cameron Wolfe of NFL Media reports Sunday’s deactivation is solely a coach’s decision. Coleman was a 2024 second-round pick and he has 36 catches for 355 yards and four touchdowns this season.
Mecole Hardman, who was activated from injured reserve this week, is active.
The Bills need a win and a loss by either the Texans or Colts in order to book a playoff berth. A win will also help their chances of ending the season as the AFC East champs for the sixth straight season.
Bills at Browns
Bills: WR Keon Coleman, WR Gabe Davis, DT Jordan Phillips, K Matt Prater, OL Tylan Grable, DB Darnell Savage, DT Larry Ogunjobi
Browns: CB Denzel Ward, RB Dylan Sampson, DT Mike Hall Jr., G Wyatt Teller, WR Jamari Thrash, TE David Njoku, DT Sam Kamara
Buccaneers at Panthers
Buccaneers: QB Connor Bazelak, TE Devin Culp, G Elijah Klein, WR Sterling Shepard, DL Elijah Simmons, LB Anthony Walker, S Rashad Wisdom
Panthers: WR Hunter Renfrow, LB Trevin Wallace, S Demani Richardson, DT Jared Harrison-Hunte, OT Ikem Ekwonu, TE James Mitchell, DT Tershawn Wharton
Jets at Saints
Jets: QB Justin Fields, TE Mason Taylor, DT Mazi Smith, LB Kiko Mauigoa, DT Payton Page, DE Eric Watts
Saints: RB Alvin Kamara, OL Cesar Ruiz, OL Asim Richards, TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden, S Ugo Amadi, CB Rejzohn Wright, DT Khristian Boyd
Chiefs at Titans
Chiefs: WR Rashee Rice, CB Trent McDuffie, OT Jaylon Moore, WR Tyquan Thornton, RB Dameon Pierce, OL CJ Hanson, DT Derrick Nnadi
Titans: OL Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, OL Garrett Dellinger, OL Drew Moss, DL Cam Horsley, LB Cedric Gray, S Erick Hallett
Chargers at Cowboys
Chargers: WR Derius Davis, S RJ Mickens, EDGE Bud Dupree, OL Branson Taylor, OT Trey Pipkins, TE Tyler Conklin
Cowboys: DT Quinnen Williams, WR Jalen Tolbert, CB Caelen Carson, RB Jaydon Blue, DT Jay Toia, OT Tyler Guyton
Vikings at Giants
Vikings: LB Austin Keys, DT Javon Hargrave, OT Walter Rouse, QB John Wolford
Giants: LB Caleb Murphy, WR Ryan Miller, WR Jalin Hyatt, LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, G Jon Runyan, DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches, QB Russell Wilson
Bengals at Dolphins
Bengals: QB Jake Browning, WR Charlie Jones, DB Brayln Lux, S P.J. Jules, DE Joseph Ossai, TE Noah Fant, DT Jordan Jefferson
Dolphins: S Minkah Fitzpatrick, WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, CB Isaiah Johnson, T Kendall Lamm, WR Tahj Washington, DT Matthew Butler, QB Tua Tagovailoa
