When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers went 4-6 before their bye week, their chances of making the playoffs seemed slim.
But they play in the NFC South, which keeps the door open.
The Atlanta Falcons could let the Buccaneers steal the division title. The Falcons lost to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, and then the Buccaneers had a 26-23 overtime victory over the Carolina Panthers, rallying in the final 30 seconds to tie it and then forcing a huge turnover in overtime. Panthers in field-goal range. The Buccaneers and Falcons are tied at 6-6 atop the NFC South.
Baker Mayfield briefly left the game in the third quarter after being stepped on following a sack, but returned and hit some huge passes late in the fourth quarter and again in overtime for the win. He was helped by rookie running back Bucky Irving, who had a breakout performance with 152 yards rushing.
The Buccaneers aren’t just alive in the NFC South. They look like the best team in the division, and someone has to win it.
Buccaneers get an injury scare
For a while, the Buccaneers’ dreams of winning the division were put off the field.
Carolina Panthers linebacker Jose Jewell sacked Mayfield, then stepped on him while he was on the ground. Mayfield walked slowly to the sideline, sat briefly on the bench and then limped badly to the medical tent.
Mayfield was replaced by backup quarterback Kyle Trask on Tampa Bay’s next drive.
The Buccaneers entered Sunday just a half game behind the Falcons for first place in the division. However, they trailed 13-10 in the third quarter when Mayfield went down with an injury.
Mayfield returned after Trask started the drive. Mayfield then threw an interception on his first play back.
The Panthers were playing well, with Bryce Young having one of his best days as a pro. Nothing was really working offensively or defensively for the Buccaneers.
But on a day when they weren’t necessarily at their best, the Buccaneers found a way, even in the final 30 seconds when it looked like a loss was inevitable.
Bucs take a late lead
The Buccaneers trailed at halftime but looked like they would find a way to win. The defense started to get some stops, and then the offense came up with its best drive of the game to take the lead.
Tampa Bay went on an 11-play, 69-yard drive that started in the third quarter and ended in the fourth quarter. Irving sealed the drive with a 6-yard touchdown run, giving the Buccaneers a 17-16 lead.
Carolina still had a shot, trailing 20-16 with minutes left. Panthers enter Buccaneers territory. Young continued to make plays, leading a 60-yard drive and then the Panthers took the lead with 30 seconds left on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Young to Adam Thielen.
The Buccaneers had a chance to answer, and did. Mayfield found Chase McLaughlin in position for a 51-yard field goal attempt by Tampa Bay, and he hit it to send the game into overtime.
The Buccaneers got the ball first in overtime, but a Mayfield sack pushed Tampa Bay back and the drive stalled. McLaughlin missed a 55-yard field goal attempt and the Panthers had a chance to win. The Panthers moved into field-goal range but Chuba Hubbard fumbled a run when stripped by lineman Anthony Nelson and Tampa Bay recovered. Mayfield hit Mike Evans for 21 yards and Rachad White had a 38-yard run to set up a short game-winning field goal.
The Buccaneers struggled to get a win against the Panthers. They’re back in a first-place tie with the Falcons, and they can look back on a gutsy win in Carolina as a big factor if they take the division.
