As soon as once more, the NFC South division title goes to come back all the way down to the wire for the 4 groups concerned, which means a win for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – the leaders getting into Week 17 – was essential on Sunday.
Baker Mayfield was as much as the duty.
Mayfield delivered 5 landing passes, together with two to trusty receiver Mike Evans, to steer 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 again to go towards the Carolina Panthers within the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Photographs)
The Bucs improved to 9-7 on the season, and they are going to be watching “Sunday Evening Soccer” intently because the Atlanta Falcons, who sit behind them within the division at 8-7, are on the street towards the Washington Commanders.
Mayfield was having a kind of days when it appeared irrespective of the place the ball wanted to be for his receivers, he bought it there with pinpoint accuracy and energy.
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He was 27-of-32 by way of the air for 359 yards along with his 5 landing passes that started instantly when Evans capped the opening drive with a fast slant in the long run zone for six factors. Evans had eight catches for 97 yards to steer the Bucs by way of the air.
However Mayfield additionally discovered rookie wideout Jalen McMillan for 2 second-half touchdowns, as he continues to show on this again half of the season that his quarterback can belief him in his inaugural season. He had 5 catches for 51 yards with the 2 scores.
And eventually, Payne Durham, one of many tight ends selecting up the slack for the injured Cade Otton, discovered pay grime with one among his two catches on the day.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield throws the ball towards the Carolina Panthers throughout the second half at Raymond James Stadium. (Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Photographs)
Nobody was capable of get in on the bottom for the Bucs, but it surely was Bucky Irving main the cost there with 113 yards on 20 carries to set the tone.
The day additionally noticed some particular groups magic because the Bucs blocked a Panthers punt that J.J. Russell scooped up and ran again for a landing as a part of Tampa Bay’s 21-0 second-half rout of their divisional foe.
Bryce Younger and the Panthers initially matched the Bucs’ firepower to start out the sport, as Adam Thielen caught a landing go on their opening drive to make it a 7-7 ballgame. Thielen would get one other from Younger later within the sport as a part of his five-catch, 110-yard day.
Nevertheless, Tampa Bay’s protection turned it up within the second half, stopping any try from the Panthers to get again into the sport.
General, Younger completed 15-of-28 by way of the air for 203 yards along with his two touchdowns to Thielen.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield drops again towards the Carolina Panthers throughout the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. (Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Photographs)
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The Bucs head into Week 18 to face a depleted New Orleans Saints staff, and they’ll hope the Falcons can choose up a loss someplace within the subsequent two weeks with Atlanta proudly owning the season tiebreaker over them.
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