Buccaneers 43, Panthers 13: Tampa Bay Wins on the Ground and Off Turnovers
Bucky Irving ran for 106 yards and two scores, and Tampa Bay's defense and special teams produced points in a lopsided win in Charlotte.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Carolina Panthers 43-13 on Sunday in Charlotte, ending a run of 12 consecutive one-score games, according to AP. Tampa Bay led 33-6 at halftime.
A running game and a defense that scored
The Buccaneers won the toss, chose to receive and opened with a 70-yard, 14-play drive that ended in a 4-yard Bucky Irving touchdown run. Irving finished with 106 rushing yards and two touchdowns, and Tampa Bay ran for 258 yards as a team on 49 carries. Kenny Gainwell had 14 carries for 88 yards, and Sean Tucker added a 46-yard touchdown run in the second half.
Baker Mayfield returned after missing three games with a thumb injury, wearing a protective glove on his throwing hand. He did not have to do much: he threw 11 passes, completing seven for 64 yards and a touchdown. Coach Todd Bowles said Mayfield "didn't need to make many." Mayfield is now 7-1 against Carolina, including 6-1 since joining Tampa Bay, per AP.
Turnovers and special teams
The Buccaneers forced four turnovers. Calijah Kancey returned a fumble 32 yards for a touchdown after Al-Quadin Muhammad stripped Bryce Young on a sack, and Tampa Bay recovered a muffed punt by David Moore. When Carolina cut the lead to 17-6 on a 50-yard touchdown pass from Young to Darren Waller, the Buccaneers blocked the extra point and Zyon McCollum returned it 70 yards for two points, so the Panthers netted only four points on the score.
Young finished 14 of 27 for 163 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, lost a fumble and was sacked five times. YaYa Diaby had three of Tampa Bay's five sacks. Young took responsibility afterwards, saying: "I can't turn the ball like that." Carolina coach Dave Canales pointed to "turnovers really in every phase."
Injury and ceremony
Carolina right tackle Taylor Moton was carted off in the third quarter with a left ankle/fibula injury and did not return. Per AP, he had missed the first four games of the season with blood clots in his lung. Gainwell left briefly with a hip injury and came back. At halftime, Luke Kuechly received his Hall of Fame ring.
What's next
Tampa Bay hosts Atlanta next Sunday. Carolina travels to Green Bay for Thursday night.