Bucs Let Another One Slip, Fall to Panthers in Costly NFC South Setback
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a chance to slam the door shut on the NFC South. Instead, they left it wide open - again.
In a game that felt like it was theirs to win on multiple occasions, the Bucs coughed up two separate leads and dropped a 23-20 heartbreaker to the Carolina Panthers. It was the kind of loss that doesn’t just sting in the moment - it lingers. And with the playoff picture still unsettled, it could come back to haunt them.
Let’s be clear: Tampa Bay still controls its own destiny. But the margin for error is now razor-thin. If the Panthers pull off an upset over the NFC’s top-seeded Seahawks next weekend and the Bucs fall to the Dolphins, Tampa Bay would miss the postseason for the first time since 2019.
That’s a tough pill to swallow for a team that has had multiple chances to wrap up the division but can’t seem to get out of its own way.
A Game of Missed Chances and Mental Errors
The Bucs came in trying to mask recent defensive struggles by leaning on the ground game and time of possession. The strategy made sense on paper - keep the defense off the field, control the clock, and grind out a win. But between drive-killing penalties and protection breakdowns, the offense couldn’t stay on schedule.
And when it mattered most, the defense - again - couldn’t come up with a stop.
Carolina marched 43 yards to set up a 48-yard field goal by Ryan Fitzgerald with 2:20 left, giving the Panthers a late lead. Tampa Bay still had a shot to tie it, but a costly personal foul on the kickoff return pinned them at their own 10-yard line. That mistake - a dead-ball foul by backup linebacker John Bullock - changed the entire complexion of the final drive.
The Bucs managed to push the ball into Panthers territory, but with the game on the line, Baker Mayfield threw an interception on second-and-9 from the Carolina 42. That was the dagger.
First-Half Breakdown Sets the Tone
The problems started well before the final whistle. Late in the first half, Tampa Bay had a chance to kill the clock and head into the locker room with a lead. Instead, they gave the ball back to Carolina with just enough time to do damage.
The Panthers didn’t waste the opportunity. They moved quickly into field goal range - and then head coach Todd Bowles made a decision that will be second-guessed all week. With 12 seconds left and Carolina sitting at the Bucs’ 22-yard line with no timeouts, Bowles dialed up a zero blitz.
That aggressive call left cornerback Jamel Dean in single coverage - and he got beat. Rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan hauled in the go-ahead touchdown, giving Carolina a 13-10 lead going into halftime. It was a backbreaker, and it swung momentum Carolina’s way.
Defensive Woes Continue, Despite Bright Spots
The Bucs’ defense has been an issue for weeks, and Sunday was no exception. While there were flashes - Lavonte David racked up 10 tackles and teamed up with SirVocea Dennis on a sack - the unit once again faltered when it mattered most.
The pass rush continues to be a major concern. Re-signing veteran Jason Pierre-Paul was a move made out of necessity, but it hasn’t moved the needle. And the lack of pressure off the edge is putting too much strain on the secondary.
Tampa Bay needs someone - anyone - to step up in the pass-rushing department. Right now, it’s just not happening.
What’s Next: A Must-Win Stretch
Here’s where things stand: if the Panthers lose to Seattle next week, the Bucs can clinch the division by beating Carolina in the season finale. But if Carolina pulls off the upset and Tampa Bay loses to Miami, the Bucs are done.
That makes next week’s game against the Dolphins the most meaningful Bucs-Dolphins matchup in at least a quarter-century - at least from Tampa Bay’s perspective. Miami has its own motivations, possibly playing for head coach Mike McDaniel’s job, so don’t expect any favors.
The Bucs have been living on the edge for weeks, and now the rope is starting to fray. There’s still a path to the playoffs, but they’ve made it far harder than it needed to be.
Now it’s time to find out what this team is really made of.