The Buccaneers wasted no time setting the tone in both halves against the Panthers on Sunday, and their second-half opener was a statement drive that put them back on top.
After jumping out with a touchdown on their first possession of the game, Tampa Bay mirrored that energy to start the third quarter. This time, it was rookie running back Sean Tucker who finished the job, punching it in from a yard out to give the Bucs a 17-13 lead with just over six minutes to play in the third.
The drive itself was a grind-it-out, 14-play, 66-yard march that showcased a mix of poise, physicality, and timely execution. Quarterback Baker Mayfield, under heavy pressure from a Carolina blitz, came up with one of the game’s key plays-a 23-yard scramble that moved the chains and kept the drive alive. That moment wasn’t just about athleticism; it was about awareness and guts, two things Mayfield has shown in spurts all season.
Inside the red zone, the Bucs leaned on their top target, Mike Evans, twice from the 1-yard line. While neither pass connected, Evans drew a critical pass interference flag on the second attempt, resetting the downs and setting up Tucker’s score. It was a classic Evans sequence-drawing attention, creating mismatches, and forcing defenders into mistakes.
But while the offense did its part, the defense took a hit. Edge rusher Anthony Nelson was ruled out with a knee injury, a blow to a front seven that’s already had to shuffle pieces this season. With Nelson sidelined, the rest of the unit will need to tighten up and protect the lead if Tampa Bay wants to finish the day atop the NFC South.
It’s the kind of moment that defines December football-gritty drives, key injuries, and division standings hanging in the balance. The Bucs just threw the first punch of the second half. Now, it’s up to the defense to land the last one.