The Tampa Bay Buccaneers faced a tough defeat against the Carolina Panthers, losing 23-20 at Bank of America Stadium. Both teams entered the game tied at the top of the NFC South, but the Panthers exited with a one-game lead.
Rookie K Ryan Fitzgerald made a critical 48-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter, driving the Panthers to victory. The Buccaneers’ last effort to score ended with an interception from rookie S Lathan Ransom, sealing their fate with just 42 seconds left.
This loss dropped the Buccaneers to 7-8, while the Panthers improved to 8-7, marking their third win in five weeks. Quarterback Baker Mayfield highlighted the team’s need to finish strong, sharing, “We’ve got to win out to win the division and get in the playoffs. It sucks that we couldn’t take care of business today.” He pointed out issues with penalties and red-zone conversions, stating, “Too many penalties on offense today. We just keep shooting ourselves in the foot.”
Coach Todd Bowles noted that the final interception was a result of miscommunication between Mayfield and WR Mike Evans. Mayfield had run the ball effectively throughout the game, including a significant 26-yard run that ignited the final drive. Yet, it wasn’t enough to secure a win.
The Buccaneers managed a solid rushing attack, gaining 169 yards at an average of 5.1 yards per carry. However, the passing game struggled. Mayfield threw for only 145 yards, with a notable 40-yard completion to rookie WR Emeka Egbuka that set up an earlier scoring opportunity. That potential was quickly lost when the drive stalled outside of field goal range.
This game marked the Buccaneers’ third consecutive loss by just four points after close defeats to the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons in previous weeks. Starting the season at 6-2, they’ve since lost six of their last seven games.
One positive note was the performance of WR Kameron Johnson, who provided crucial field position with kickoff returns of 39 and 43 yards. These helped set up ten points, including a record-breaking 50-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin. This was his 11th successful attempt from that range this season, making him the record holder for consecutive 50+-yard field goals.
Yet, not everything went smoothly for the Buccaneers; a damaging sequence in special teams later forced them to start a critical possession at their own 10-yard line. A personal foul added to the struggles, making their offensive task even more daunting.
Defensively, the Buccaneers did well by limiting the Panthers to 275 total yards. However, they missed crucial moments, like letting rookie WR Tetairoa McMillan slip past the defense for a touchdown just before halftime. Bowles remarked, “No timeouts – they have to throw it inbounds, and they have to throw it out of the end zone. He should have been back and made that play.”
As the season approaches its conclusion, the Buccaneers’ hopes for a fifth straight division title remain alive. They have two games left, including a rematch with the Panthers. The stakes are high, and the team knows they need to focus on execution to turn their fortunes around.
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Featured,Postgame Report,Week 16 2025 Panthers,Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers (2025-REG-16)
