Overview
- Tampa Bay fell from a 6-2 start to 7-9 and hosts the Panthers on Saturday at 4:25 p.m. ET with playoff hopes on the line.
- Baker Mayfield blamed penalties, false starts and missed pressure pickups, saying recent losses were about execution rather than being outmatched.
- Coach Todd Bowles said the team needs better play at quarterback, and the offense has been held to 20 points or fewer in five of six games since Week 12, per NFL.com.
- Four of the Buccaneers’ past five one-score games ended in defeat, underscoring a run of narrow losses late in the season.
- Carolina’s Bryce Young has produced four fourth-quarter comebacks and six game-winning drives and went 21-of-32 for 191 yards and two touchdowns in the Week 16 win over Tampa Bay.