The Tampa Bay Buccaneers just made the ultimate statement, going on the road and beating the Carolina Panthers 43-13.
The Bucs were well-aware that this was a must-win game if they wanted to keep their season alive, and they answered the bell.
Tampa Bay remains down, but not out. Taking down the division rival Panthers was a step in the right direction as they look to claw their way back into the NFC South race.
6 immediate reactions after Buccaneers' dominant win over Panthers
1. The Buccaneers’ rushing attack was simply unstoppable, racking up 258 yards on the ground, and everybody got involved. Bucky Irving led the way with 106 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries. Kenny Gainwell had his best game as a Buc with 88 yards on 14 carries, and Sean Tucker had 52 yards and a touchdown on seven carries.
2. Baker Mayfield returned from injury after missing three games, and his teammates gave him the perfect opportunity to settle back in. Mayfield wasn’t asked to do much, finishing with just 11 pass attempts. The best part of his performance was that he protected himself and also protected the football — avoiding turning the ball over for the first time this season.
3. Todd Bowles’ defense has been one of the NFL’s best this season, and the Buccaneers proved that reputation isn’t a fluke. The Panthers entered Week 7 with the NFL’s No. 2 offense, including the No. 1 passing offense and the No. 4 scoring offense. The Buccaneers completely shut them down, forcing four turnovers, recording five sacks, and even holding star wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan to just 40 yards.
4. The Buccaneers' pass rush was dominant. Yaya Diaby finally broke out with a three-sack performance. Vita Vea added a sack, and Al-Quadin Muhammad had a strip-sack that led to a defensive touchdown.
5. The Buccaneers' special teams were special indeed. Danny Smith’s unit recovered a muffed punt and also blocked an extra point, returning it for a touchdown. Tez Johnson had a 22-yard punt return to contribute to an impressive day on special teams. The cherry on top was Chase McLaughlin, who remains perfect on the season, going 2-for-2 on field goals and 5-for-5 on extra points.
6. Zyon McCollum continues to play at an All-Pro level. He finally caught his first interception of the season, and also added a special teams touchdown following the blocked extra point. The Buccaneers were counting on a breakout year from the fifth-year cornerback, and he’s delivering in a big way with a career year.
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