Buccaneers 26, Panthers 23 (OT)
December 1st, 2024Damn, this game took years off Joe’s life.
Wow!
No style points for the Bucs today, but what a special day for electric rookie running back Bucky Irving, Mike Evans, money kicker Chase McLaughlin and game hero Anthony Nelson, whose overtime forced fumble might have saved the season.
Irving hammered away in the second half to rack up 24 carries for 158 yards and a touchdown in regulation. It’s about damn time the Bucs freed him up for true bellcow work.
But with a chance to put the game away late in the fourth quarter, the Bucs went with handing off to Rachaad White. What???
It turned out to be a recipe for a Bucs field goal that led to the Panthers exposing the Bucs’ Charmin-soft pass defense. But Baker Mayfield got the ball back down three points with 30 seconds remaining and three timeouts. He executed beautifully, franchise-quarterback stuff, to set up the 51-yard overtime-forcing field goal by McLauglin.
White, however, was the overtime dagger with a big run to set up the game-winning field goal. Good for him.
Too-often lifeless and mistake-prone was the Bucs offense, though, with Mayfield throwing two brutal interceptions that would have cost the Bucs if they were playing a decent team.
But they were not playing a good team, which has been a theme of the past month.
The Bucs were to close the season with a pumpkin-pie-soft schedule that included the sad Panthers twice. Carolina simply does not have the necessary talent, as evidenced today.
Still, the Panthers hung with the Bucs, which was embarrassing.
But a win is a win, and the Bucs are tied for the NFC South lead at 6-6 with the Falcons.
Wow. Just wow.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:47 pm
Todd still š© the bed
December 1st, 2024 at 7:47 pm
The scarecrow, Bowles, still needs to go.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:47 pm
Anthony Nelson saved the season!
December 1st, 2024 at 7:47 pm
Oh my God š±š±š±
December 1st, 2024 at 7:47 pm
Bu-cky Bu-cky Bu-cky!
December 1st, 2024 at 7:48 pm
Way to find a way defense. Bucky is a beast
December 1st, 2024 at 7:48 pm
A win is a win! Some Bucs fans seemed like they wanted to lose so they could complain all week about Bowles lol
December 1st, 2024 at 7:48 pm
LOL at the Bowels hatersā¦.mad cause hes about the win the NFC south 3 years in a row
December 1st, 2024 at 7:48 pm
Bowles willed us to victory.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:48 pm
Blah, underwhelming that the lead for the division is a .500 recordā¦pathetic and the ONLY reason we have ANY chance at playoffsā¦sad
December 1st, 2024 at 7:48 pm
Todd needs to be replaced … immediately
December 1st, 2024 at 7:48 pm
BENCH MAYFIELD.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:48 pm
Mayfield turning into prime Winston
December 1st, 2024 at 7:49 pm
Bowles DEFENSE is HORRIBLE!
I have ZERO faith in the defense.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:49 pm
I just hope Bucky is ok.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:49 pm
Are you not watching the games? The panthers suck? The Bucs are just as bad. Don’t bet on bowles
December 1st, 2024 at 7:49 pm
I still don’t understate why the he!! R White is in the game at the most crucial moments, but that was a nice 38-yd run though at the end, so kudos.
But Bucky is RB1 and WHERE IS SEAN TUCKER???!???
December 1st, 2024 at 7:49 pm
Someone needs to get fired tomorrow. Or at least have them walk home from Carolina. It won’t be Bowles unfortunately…maybe the special teams coach.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:49 pm
What a game! Lfg defense stood up when it needed to everything spelled doom for us…Adam Thielen made some clutch catches gotta tip my hat to dude. We are 6-6 like Atlanta yaaay
December 1st, 2024 at 7:49 pm
The game day thread is so toxic. Hundreds of comments saying game over. Bunch of idiots and fake fans. Games like this? Aren’t that unusual. He played to the last snap. Idiotic fans.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:49 pm
*understand
December 1st, 2024 at 7:50 pm
Dale Mabry will be named Anthony Nelson after today
The legend of Bucky Irving is for real
Go Bucs!!!!
December 1st, 2024 at 7:50 pm
Crazy game! Offense looked flat but Iāll take the win by the skin of our teeth. Still not sure how we pulled that off. Go Bucs!
December 1st, 2024 at 7:50 pm
Panthers are playing good football lately. They usually play us close
December 1st, 2024 at 7:51 pm
get on the plane and get the hell out of there Bucs stole this one. finally.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:51 pm
Team wins and loser fans can only talk about Bowles
Pathetic
December 1st, 2024 at 7:51 pm
They had Rachael white in the game because Bucky was hurt he came out and never went back in.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:51 pm
Bowles almost cost this team another game
December 1st, 2024 at 7:51 pm
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December 1st, 2024 at 7:51 pm
Whew! Ugly game glad they won. But hard to feel good about it.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:51 pm
Baker was off the whole game aside from that last drive in regulation, we’re no chance if he continues to play like this. Wondering if the family lawsuit is proving to be a distraction?
December 1st, 2024 at 7:52 pm
IDGAF how you win an NFL football game. A win is a win in the national foot football league.
Its not college football people.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:52 pm
Bucs never win games like this, so this is a great ending to a piss poor game.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:52 pm
Offense appeared to be the biggest issue today. So many opportunities to put the game away were blown. Felt like we should have ran it way more
December 1st, 2024 at 7:52 pm
Why are my comments not posting??
December 1st, 2024 at 7:53 pm
A win is a win sissies. Aināt no style points in the NFL.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:53 pm
Iām still trying to figure out how they beat Detroit in Detroit!? That was this season? Correct?
December 1st, 2024 at 7:53 pm
This exactly the type of game you want to see from your franchise quarterbackā¦..
Baker Mayfield clearly didnt have his fastball today but he was able to still make plays and grind out a W. Great job.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:53 pm
Epic win. Iconic. Miraculous.
Baker Mayfield and Bucky Irving, sure.
But Mike Evans!!!!!!! Wow!!!! What a finish.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:53 pm
Hope Bucky is ok for next week.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:53 pm
Yet another game where the opposing QB has a career day, i Know Young was looking better lately, but just look at how Cousins looks washed against everyone else but looks like a superstar in his prime against us!
December 1st, 2024 at 7:54 pm
Canāt even say this win is something you can build on
December 1st, 2024 at 7:54 pm
So much for that blow out to team that is just terrible right joes? This defense is terrible change needs to be made should have never been that close. Players may like Todd but they damn sure ain’t inspired by him with all the mistakes giving up on plays instead of swarming missed tackles it’s wild.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:54 pm
If the refs don’t blow the Thielen TD and Piniero doesn’t miss kicks that he never misses, we lose by 2 scores.
Fire Toad NOW!
December 1st, 2024 at 7:54 pm
A win is a win!!! Our Bucs Fought Hard !!! 6-6 Baby !!!! Go Bucs !!! Win out !!!!
December 1st, 2024 at 7:54 pm
A win is a win. Weāll take it. Baker was off, the defense was horrible. Coaching bad, special teams sucked. But itās a win. On to next week.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:54 pm
Pmike. But at the same time it was the offense that went down the field to get the game tying field goal after the defense left the middle of the field wide open for a touchdown down. Defense made the fumble which they desperately needed, both sides need to be better next week, but offense won the game
December 1st, 2024 at 7:54 pm
The Bucs are no longer a passing offense.
They are a physical running offense now.
The coaching staff needs to see this and stop purposely going away from the run game.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:55 pm
Radios 14 yards off the ball defense blew another lead late in the fourth
December 1st, 2024 at 7:55 pm
Hard to win in the NFL on the road and in your own divsion! We found way thatās all that matters. Horrific game by Cohen today we literally didnāt have to throw a pass we create our own mistakes. Either way we control our own destiny now! Hopefully in playoffs we realize Bucky is as good as any running back in nfl and we ride him as far as he and Baker can take us.
Our defense is struggling but we are 6-6 we have beat the best teams in the nfl we took the best teams in nfl to the end!
Once we get in we are as dangerous as anybody!
Raiders next week at Home! Atlanta plays Vikings Washington has a bye
December 1st, 2024 at 7:55 pm
Brutal fan game for us today..yikes! We’ll take that pile of crap on the plane home with us.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:56 pm
There are no easy divisional games in the NFL.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:56 pm
Like Camarda last year, Nelson saved the season in a game we should have lost to a bad team. Still, itās a W.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:56 pm
It’s sad the defense has to rely on a fumble to win a game .
The panthers should have won the game going away.
The offense was uninspired except for 13″ and 7″ .
Baker looked horrible in the passing game .Being shown up bye a rookie that truly outplayed baker and the bucs.
Todd Bowles defense got amazingly lucky because Chuba Hubbard doesn’t put the ball on the ground often.
But a win is a win .
Injuries hit again today so let’s see what happens from here.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:56 pm
You Mayfield haters are a problem. Are you Bucs fans or qb fans? I rooted for the success of every suckin qb weāve ever had including Winston, Glennon , McGown, Freeman, Garcia, etc. Not to mention the crappy QBs we had in the mid to late 80s.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:57 pm
Gotta love the run game. Need to clean up the sacks and intās. Defense was what you would expect of a Bowles defense against a mediocre offense with a promising rookie quarterback. Anthony Nelson and McGlachlen were the difference makers.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:57 pm
Darin – You do know the Chiefs needed last second FG a week ago to beat the Panthers 27-24. I am not saying Panthers are great, but they have been playing much better.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:57 pm
Fire Bowles Yesterday! I honestly think that if the Bucs lost, Bowles would have been Monday.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:58 pm
ā Canāt even say this win is something you can build onā
What in the world are you talking about?
The Bucs are now heading back for a home game with playoff stakesā¦.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:58 pm
This defensive scheme is pure GARBAGEā¦..
We were given an early Christmas gift š ā¦.
Iām DONE With Jamel Deanā¦ā¦
Iāll take anyone else out there at cornerā¦
Heās a weak pillow-soft player..
December 1st, 2024 at 7:59 pm
DanFan – Baker completed 80% of his passes last week for well over 200 yards. He had his worst game of the season and they still won.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:59 pm
Of course you can build on this win
December 1st, 2024 at 7:59 pm
If Carolinaās kicker didnāt screw the pooch twice this would be a very different outcome
Luck, and enough players making plays.
And hell, Bryce Young may be a pretty good NFL QB after all
December 1st, 2024 at 7:59 pm
Having said that Cohen needs to pull in the reigns on short yardage situations and trust his backs and stop with the drop back bs!
December 1st, 2024 at 8:00 pm
All the haters will be watching Traskās screen pass highlight on repeat this evening
December 1st, 2024 at 8:00 pm
Any given Sunday! Bucs prevailed, Evans was money and both Backs were good, but Bucky is very special. We finally caught a break on the overtime coin toss, yeah Bucs can run the ball with the best of them now!
December 1st, 2024 at 8:00 pm
I dont care, Bowles still needs to be fired!
December 1st, 2024 at 8:00 pm
When was the last time an opponent needed to drive and had more than a minute on the clock and didn’t deliver? I can’t recall.
December 1st, 2024 at 8:00 pm
A won is a win. Look Bowles was not going to get launched on Monday with a loss, the Glazers do not roll like that. However, when the Glazers look at the season next month and determine if Todd has made progress, the answer is no and changes will have to be made. Progress is 10 regular season wins and/or a playoff run. This team can barely beat the Panthers and Bowles D made Young look like a decent qb.
December 1st, 2024 at 8:01 pm
Bowles defense also gave Bryce Young a CAREER HIGH productivity 1st half.
December 1st, 2024 at 8:01 pm
Some people are never satisfied with a Win. You can lose to any team, the Panthers had the Chiefs on the ropes. Iām glad Iām the dude excited with our Win!
December 1st, 2024 at 8:01 pm
FIRE BOWLES!!! AND TAKE THAT CHARMIN SOFT DEFENSE OF YOURS WITH YOU!! WE JUST PISSED AWAY A CHANCE TO PROMOTE LIAM. ITS DEPRESSING.
GO BUCS??
December 1st, 2024 at 8:01 pm
One sack makes no sense! please Joe make that make sense, I think our corners are playing so far off that Young was able to get the ball off easily every time.
December 1st, 2024 at 8:02 pm
C-spann3 Says:
December 1st, 2024 at 8:00 pm
I dont care, Bowles still needs to be fired!
Need an upgrade at QB too! Baker cant read defenses!
December 1st, 2024 at 8:04 pm
OK: Exactly HOW many names does TTTF post under?
December 1st, 2024 at 8:05 pm
THIS!!!
BucsBeast Says:
December 1st, 2024 at 8:01 pm
Bowles defense also gave Bryce Young a CAREER HIGH productivity 1st half.
December 1st, 2024 at 8:05 pm
Every game is going to be a fight here on out. Even games we should win easily because this defense is soft like Bowles. Even if we do make the playoffs it will be an early first round exit.
December 1st, 2024 at 8:06 pm
Honestly at this point,unless Bowles gets personell back id rather not see the bucs in the playoffs.
Without all their guys that have been injured are in there on defense .They are below avg enough to lose the game, but keep it close enough to torture the fans.
December 1st, 2024 at 8:06 pm
Let’s take the best player from either team off the field and run (unright toe tap white) that way we can try to lose. What a brilliant, ingenious, grand master chess level, strategic masterpiece of football glory to be remembered throughout all football history. Amazing š š š š Bravo sir š š š Bravo š š š š š
December 1st, 2024 at 8:07 pm
Itās a winā¦.but ugly on many fronts. Iām glad Baker didnāt call the overtime coin flip. He loves calling tales. Hard to watch at times, but overall entertaining
December 1st, 2024 at 8:08 pm
When youāre a horrible head coach and inept defensive coordinator, a good strategy is to find one worse than you. Canalwater out-Todded the Toddster today. Whoever is next – itāll take this kind of miracle. How many in the bag?
December 1st, 2024 at 8:11 pm
I missed most of the game. Got distracted today, and only remember with 5 left in regulation.
So I have no idea what I missed…but I thought overtime meant a loss. Color me surprised.
Going to have to do much better.
December 1st, 2024 at 8:19 pm
BAKER & BUCKY!!
December 1st, 2024 at 8:22 pm
Listen, Look, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Won the game !!! Baker Mayfield is the best quarterback the Bucs have had with the exception of TB 12. Bucs are 6-6, the Stinking Panthers are 3-9 !!! We will kick their butts in Tampa !!!
Go Bucs !!! Beat the Raiders !!!
December 1st, 2024 at 8:29 pm
More awful coverage by the defense. Made a bad team look real good today
December 1st, 2024 at 8:33 pm
The problem with the D is the “next man up” in the secondary aren’t very good… today it was Tavierre Thomas coming in relief of an injured Mike Edwards and was targeted frequently, before him Josh Hayes got lit up as a replacement starter and before him Tyrek Funderburk also in relief of the underappreciated Jamel Dean (who hasn’t given up a TD this season per advance defensive stats). My bet is Thomas and Winfield will have the worst qb ratings against vs the Panthers as one of them will be credited in giving up the Thielen TD catch and his big catch in OT was definitely on Tavierre Thomas. The Bucs will need both Edwards and Tykee Smith to get healthy soon as any more time that reserve safeties or corners will need to fill in will lead to more losses.
December 1st, 2024 at 8:36 pm
So Gil had a few bad punts ,, a suspect hold on the FG in OT , and the terrible kick off after we went up by 4 ,, other then that I like him š
December 1st, 2024 at 8:44 pm
Baker Mayfield was horrible today. Those two picks and a couple of near picks were just brutal. He was constantly throwing high or behind his receivers. The one late pass to Evans down the field could have easily gone for another bunch of yards had he not thrown behind Evans. He also needlessly took a couple of sacks. Pretty typical of this guy. We have enough talent around him, to win despite his performance, but we nearly had to ride Bucky into the ground to do it.
December 1st, 2024 at 8:44 pm
If team finishes 10-8 and wins a playoff game, Coach Bowles will get a contract extension. Most here wonāt like it, but you donāt fire a coach who wins his division 3 years in a row. There are going to be wholesale changes on defense next year. Most pressing need is a reliable EDGE and a LB or two with great speed. Todayās game was a clunker but offense moved the ball late when they had too. Baker had a mediocre game but was pressured most of the game. He made some great throws to ME when he needed too. Defense allowing touchdown with 30 seconds left is the same old story. Defense was determined to make Bryce Young look good and for the most part he did look good.
December 1st, 2024 at 8:48 pm
we’ve gotta be better…
the panthers are really playing for canales and playing much better…
we’ve gotta be better…
we snuck outta there with the W…
once again we’ve gotta be better…across the board
December 1st, 2024 at 9:03 pm
Stumbling, bumbling, fumbling all the way to mediocrity under Todd Bowles
He is a FG better than the rookie HC with a severely undermanned team
We are simply wasting time with Todd in charge
December 1st, 2024 at 9:09 pm
Falconrap Says:
December 1st, 2024 at 8:44 pm
Baker Mayfield was horrible today. Those two picks and a couple of near picks were just brutal.
=====================
Easily Baker worst game of the year but he still was 21-33 for 64% 235 yards and got the offense moving when he needed too in crunch time. Horrible is pretty strong unless you expect QB perfection. Sometimes you win ugly. Last week against Giants team won pretty. Relax, this team is not championship caliber, but they will win division for 4th straight year and possibly win first playoff game.
December 1st, 2024 at 9:29 pm
Bucky is doing great ,but we’re is Tucker to give bucky a breather ? Rotate are backs keep them fresh. We have 3 good ones.
December 1st, 2024 at 9:34 pm
Well Baker was out played by a rookie and the defense tried to give the game away yet he still brought us back never giving up. Kudos to him. Kind of proves what morons the Baker Lover Brigade are when they say Trask sucks and can’t play in the NFL because this rookie was benched and came out and played better than Baker did.
December 1st, 2024 at 9:40 pm
Yes, statistically Baker had a poor game. HOWEVER, he was almost never allowed to drop back to his spot and throw… there was pressure up the middle all day – not sure if it was Mauch, Barton, or Bredeson, but someone was getting their butt kicked in pass pro.
And for some reason, we got away from the short pass, screen, and play action/roll out in the first half… no clue why. We did better when we went back to it in 2nd half. BOTH of Baker’s INT’s were when he got pressured out of the pocket and tried to make something happen… that’s gonna happen with him sometimes.
NOW, I understand we’ve had a ton of injuries on defense, but the charmin-soft zone is not working, Todd. IF you’re gonna play blitz, you have to have man/press to compliment it.
December 1st, 2024 at 9:40 pm
Trashk completed one sideways screen pass. Baker led them to a tie game with 30 seconds left, dimes to Mike, and even Shep. The fact that coaches keep going to Baker even though heās on half of one foot out of two and half an arm tells everyone all they need to know about Glennon Jr.
The fact that they elevated Pratt is all we all need to know.
Bucs get a miracle win in spite of a bad game by an injured QB with the heart of a Lion, and āfansā are still pining for Glennon Jr.
Whatever.
December 1st, 2024 at 9:50 pm
Yeah Baker sucked for a large chunk of the game and there were other bad performances but as if anyone is gonna absolve Bowles of this debacle W out there today. He is the HC! He is the guy making a plan, running practices, you know preparing the team all week for the game.
What we see on the field is a reflection of him. Guys love him so they donāt give up, which is great, but they are also half asleep or executing poorly in 1/3 of games and the D couldnāt stop a game winning TD drive if you gave the opponents a balloon to throw.
Nelson saved the Bucs season and Bowles jobā¦ for now. His former OC is getting more out of a lot less.
December 1st, 2024 at 9:56 pm
Gipper and others talking Bowles extension if he wins another playoff game. I donāt see it and I will be upset if it happens because we will have a championship caliber roster next year and it will be wasted on him.
Today showed the Glazers what cannot happen. You cannot let another OC walk in order to keep Todd. Todd isnāt the only coach in the league that guys will play hard for. These are professionals, treat them right and with respect, they will do the same. Canales is proving it right now. Winning a couple games and taking better teams down to the wire, staying competitive. People liked bashing Dave but he is clearly doing good things in Carolina. No quit there.
December 1st, 2024 at 11:11 pm
“Still, the Panthers hung with the Bucs, which was embarrassing.”
i guess you missed last week when they hung with the chiefs?
December 1st, 2024 at 11:25 pm
tb “fans” are ridiculous. apparently no “good” qbs ever have a bad game or throw a bad interception…
except that this season baker has the same # of interceptions as mahomes, 6 more td passes, more yards, higher completion % – and thats with wr 1-3 out with injuries for several games and a tough 1st half schedule.
December 2nd, 2024 at 9:11 am
sunny Says:
December 1st, 2024 at 11:25 pm
tb āfansā are ridiculous. apparently no āgoodā qbs ever have a bad game or throw a bad interceptionā¦
———————-
Take it from an actual fan: These clowns are anything BUT! A lot of them are phony yahoos who love attention on a blog. I am thrilled Bucs won and beat the OT curse. BM is pushing his luck though, and I am concerned about him.