Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-7) – Carolina Panthers (1-11): 21-18
There are 3 minutes left to play when the Panthers get the ball for the last time in the game. Then trailing by 3 points (21-18), the visitors are hoping for a miracle from their attack.
Unfortunately, Brice Young (15/31, 178 yards, 1INT) was intercepted on 3rd attempt. The rookie quarterback is slow to pass to Adam Thielen and asks him to push his route. A choice too easily readable for Antoine Winfield who just has to emerge to intercept the ball.
Behind, a reception from Mike Evans (7 recs, 162 yards, 1TD) and a run from Rachaad White (20 races, 84 yards, 1TD) will give the Buccaneers another first attempt to confirm the victory.
Tampa Bay can once again thank its talented players including Mike Evans. The veteran receiver was again decisive with 1 touchdown and receptions at key moments. With his 162 yards this evening, he also passed the 1000 yards mark this season. The 10th time in 10 season. Impressive.
A complicated start to the match
The first half saw both attacks in great difficulty. If the heavy rain necessarily affects the rendering, we also see that these attacks are still struggling to find their rhythm.
Tampa Bay does score a touchdown on its second series thanks to receptions from Mike Evans and White at the conclusion (7-0), but that's about it… The locals score 4 punts and Baker Mayfield (14/29, 202 yards, 1TD, 1INT) is intercepted once.
The advantage for Tampa and its defense is that on the other side it's not much better. As since the start of the season, Brice Young and his attack went through the meeting like lost souls.
To score a “simple” field goal (7-3), Carolina rows. This arrives after an offensive series of 8 minutes where the men of Carolina. Otherwise, the Panthers see 4 of their series end in punts. Depressing.
Mike Evans makes the difference
The match finally got out of hand at the end of the 3rd quarter. After 4 punts, it was the Panthers who struck first.
The visitors finally manage to string together positive actions in attack. A reception from Jonathan Mingo (6 rec, 69 yards) places the Panthers within 10 opposing yards. Behind, it is Chuba Hubbard (25 races, 104 yards, 2TD) who concludes with a race. Carolina takes the lead and leads 10 to 7.
Except that Tampa responds tit for tat. On the first action that followed, Mayfield found Evans for a reception transformed into a 75-yard touchdown (14-10).
After new punt exchanges, the Buccaneers can once again count on a “flash of genius” in attack to take off. This time, it's Marquise Godwin who transforms an overturned run into a 19-yard touchdown (21-10).
But the Panthers' offense was better in the second half. Young manages to lead a series of 11 actions and 7 minutes for 75 yards gained. It is once again Hubbard who enters the endzone with the ball. Young himself converted the 2-point conversion to bring his team to 21-18.
A tight end to the match that the Panthers were unable to break with Young's interception. A hard blow for the rookie but we have to see positives in the Panthers' second half.
Florida can thank the talent of some of their offensive players. It was these few individual actions that made the difference this evening. With this victory, Tampa remains in the race for the NFC South title and qualification for the playoffs.
