Buccaneers crush Panthers 43-13 to claim NFC South lead
Tampa Bay's rushing attack set a franchise record while Baker Mayfield reached a career milestone in a dominant performance against Carolina.
By Jayden Sweiler ·
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Carolina Panthers 43-13 on Sunday, securing a position tied for first place in the NFC South.
The 30-point victory stands as the tenth-largest margin in franchise history. It extends Tampa Bay's winning streak against Carolina to 11 wins in the last 13 meetings since 2020.
The ground game carried the offense, with the Buccaneers rushing for 258 yards on 46 attempts. That total ranks as the fourth-most single-game rushing output in team history. Bucky Irving led the charge with 24 carries for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Kenny Gainwell added a season-high 88 rushing yards, and Sean Tucker scored on a 46-yard run.
Baker Mayfield returned from injury and completed seven of 11 passes for 64 yards. His single touchdown to Tez Johnson marked the 200th of his NFL career. Tampa Bay’s 11 pass attempts were the third-fewest in team history, making them the second NFL team since 1980 to score 40-plus points with under 65 passing yards.
The defense held Carolina to just 19 total yards in the first quarter. Yaya Diaby recorded his first career three-sack performance, and Al-Quadin Muhammad forced a strip-sack that Calijah Kancey returned 32 yards for a score. Zyon McCollum and Tykee Smith each picked off a pass.
Special teams added to the lead when McCollum returned a blocked extra point for two defensive points. Rookie Josiah Trotter finished with nine tackles, bringing his season total to 57 in his first six games.
Head coach Todd Bowles improved his record against former offensive coordinator Dave Canales to 4-1. The win caps a complete team effort that leaves Tampa Bay in a strong position within the division.
Source: WHBO
