Bucs Nation
Tampa Bay began Saturday’s must-win contest with the ball and their offense put their best foot forward. Baker Mayfield stormed down Raymond James Stadium’s rainy field. A drive that began as most 2025 Buccaneer drives do, with a Bucky Irving run up the middle, ended in the end zone with a Cade Otton touchdown reception. 7-0, Bucs.
Tampa’s defense kept that same energy, coming out stingy on Carolina’s first drive. After a frivolous penalty on the game’s opening snap, Todd Bowles’ crew brought the clamps out. One Carolina punt later and the Buccaneers were back on the attack. The pewter pirates drove quickly into striking distance before a Payne Durham drop in the end zone stalled the team’s progress. 10-0, Bucs on a short Chase McLaughlin kick.
The second quarter began with a Carolina Panther third down and long and a Tet McMillan drop.
Third drive of the day for Tampa Bay’s offense would be a backed up drive where the Bucs would work their way off the goal line but into deeper trouble. A forced third down and long pass over the middle of the field for giftwrapped interception. Nothing can jumpstart momentum for a struggling offense like short field touchdowns and Tampa made sure to give Carolina that. Mayfield’s interception handed the Panthers a wide open touchdown. 10-7, Buccaneers.
The Bucs had a near crisis on the ensuing kick off— a fumble that luckily Tampa managed to get back on top of it. That fumble would be a sign of things to come as the Bucs’ drive would be mired in mediocrity. Tackle by Baker Mayfield on his own running back, a contactless fumble, and just general slop led to Riley Dixon punt.
Monsoon games, like the one Tampa found themselves Saturday, often feature sloppy play, ugliness, and poor execution. On their next drive, Carolina came out firing— Looking like a fighter that had survived his opponent’s early borage and came back swinging with the realization he was facing a puncher without knock-out power. That confidence had Dave Canales calling Bryce Young’s number, with great frequency— Bad service on the other end of that line though. Young was late and inside on a out-breaking route tossing a layup of and interception and evening the turnover battle at one 1-1.
The Buccaneers, bleeding the remainder of the clock, finished up the half with another Chase McLaughlin. 13-7, Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Carolina opened up the second half with movement but a missed field goal and no points scored. The Buccaneers’ offense could not take advantage of the field position and opted to opt on a fourth down and two, a play that drew quite a negative reaction to those fans who chose to brave the elements to watch their team.
As the third quarter slipped past the six-minute mark, Carolina looked to have converted their first third down of the game. Bryce Young hurled a down field strike to Tet McMillian...
