Former Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield hugs Bryce Young and talks following their game at Bank of America Stadium.
Courtesy of Carolina Blitz
A monumental 23-20 win over divisional opponent Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Dec. 21 positioned the Carolina Panthers (8-7) atop the NFC South with two games left in the NFL season. Now, can the Panthers hold their position to secure their first playoff berth since 2017?
A four-quarter battle
This game featured a lead change in each quarter—yet, the Panthers had the last laugh with a field goal by rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald and a game-ending interception by rookie safety Lathan Ransom.
The Panthers struck first with a field goal by Fitzgerald within the first five minutes of the game to go up 3-0. After two straight punts for the Panthers and two scoring drives by Tampa Bay kicker Chase McLaughlin and receiver Mike Evans, the Panthers were down 10-3 with less than five minutes in the first half.
Another Fitzgerald field goal kept Carolina in the first half 10-6, but a shocking touchdown catch by rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan put 10 unanswered points on the board before halftime, giving the Panthers a 13-10 lead.
Rookie wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan points up while hyping up the crowd after his touchdown against Tampa Bay on Dec. 21.
Courtesy of Carolina Blitz
To start the second half, the Buccaneers flipped the scoreboard again with a Sean Tucker one-yard rushing touchdown. The Panthers answered back immediately with a touchdown drive ending in a Ja’Tavion Sanders catch to end the third quarter—his first score this season.
The matchup was a defensive battle, as McLaughlin kicked a field goal for the Bucs. The teams each had two punts down the field, and later, with five minutes left in the game, the score was tied at 20-20.
Bryce Young and the Panthers attempted to seal the game with a touchdown, but all they could muster was a field goal. The tight game left the Buccaneers with a chance to win with 2:20 left on the game clock. The former Panther, Baker Mayfield, led the Buccaneers down the field through the air and on the ground.
Forty-nine seconds remained, and Mayfield attempted to connect with Evans, but a miscommunication during a scramble drill led to Mayfield throwing the game-ending interception, giving Ransom his first career interception.
The importance of divisional matchups
Despite having a better record than the Buccaneers, Tampa still holds the tie-breaker over the Panthers because of their winning percentages against common opponents.
The Panthers are 5-6, compared to Tampa Bay’s 6-5 against opponents they share, which makes the Panthers’ two losses this season to a 5-10 New Orleans Saints squad even more important than it ever was. But sweeping Atlanta is Carolina’s saving grace.
Divisions in the NFL are often a topic of contention among fans, but in this case, these games are must-wins for a team like Carolina, which needs as many factors as possible to go in their favor.
The route to the playoffs
A win over the favored Tampa Bay Buccaneers has given the Panthers a one-game lead over the division foe and control of their playoff destiny.
Carolina has two games remaining, one against the Seattle Seahawks at home and a rematch with the Buccaneers on the road in Florida.
A win against Seattle and a loss for the Buccaneers against the Miami Dolphins would secure Carolina’s spot in the playoffs after a seven-year drought.
The most challenging path for Carolina is a loss to the Seahawks. A playoff berth is still in play, but a win at Tampa Bay in the regular-season finale is required.
The last time the Panthers defeated the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay was in 2019, with a roster that was unfamiliar compared to today’s.
Up next
Carolina will host the Seahawks (12-3) in their final home game of the regular season at Bank of America Stadium. The game is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 28. The game will be broadcast on CBS, and radio coverage options are WRFC 99.7 The FOX and SiriusXM channel 228.