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Once again, the NFC South division title will come down to the wire for the four teams involved, meaning a win for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – the leaders entering Week 17 – was key on Sunday.
Baker Mayfield was up to the task.
Mayfield threw five touchdown passes, including two to a reliable receiver Mike Evanslead the Bucs over the Carolina Panthers, 48-14, at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield drops a pass against the Carolina Panthers in the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)
The Bucs improved to 9-7 on the season and will be watching “Sunday Night Football” closely as the Atlanta Falcons, who are behind them in the division at 8-7, visit the Commanders from Washington.
Mayfield had one of those days where it seemed like no matter where the ball needed to be for his receivers, he got it there with supreme accuracy and power.
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He was 27 of 32 through the air for 359 yards with his five touchdown passes starting immediately when Evans stopped the opening drive with a rush in the end zone for six points. Evans had eight catches for 97 yards to lead the Bucs through the air.
But Mayfield also found rookie Jalen McMillan for two second-half touchdowns as he continues to prove in this back half of the season that his quarterback can trust him in his inaugural season. He had five catches for 51 yards with two scores.
And finally, Payne Durham, one of the tight ends filling in for the injured Cade Otton, found dirt with one of his two catches on the day.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield throws the ball against the Carolina Panthers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. (Photos by Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn)
Nobody got on the field for the Bucs, but Bucky Irving led the charge with 113 yards on 20 carries to set the tone.
The day also saw some special teams magic as the Bucs blocked a Panthers punt that JJ Russell picked up and ran for a touchdown as part of Tampa Bay’s 21-0 second half rout of their division foe.
Bryce Young and the Panthers initially matched the Bucs’ firepower to start the game, as Adam Thielen caught a touchdown pass on their opening drive to tie the game at 7-7. Thielen would get another from Young later in the game as part of his five-catch, 110-yard day.
However, Tampa Bay’s defense turned it around in the second half, stopping any attempt by the Panthers to get back into the game.
Overall, Young finished 15-of-28 through the air for 203 yards with his two touchdowns at Thielen.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield punts against the Carolina Panthers during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. (Photos by Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn)
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The Bucs head into Week 18 to face a weakened New Orleans Saints team, and will be hoping the Falcons can pick up the slack sometime in the next two weeks with Atlanta owning the season tiebreaker over them.
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