The Tampa Bay Buccaneers entered Week 18 with slim playoff hopes. They needed to defeat the Carolina Panthers and then hope for the New Orleans Saints to defeat the Atlanta Falcons in order to clinch the NFC South title.
The Buccaneers did their part with a 16-14 victory over Carolina, but the Saints failed to come through, eliminating the Buccaneers from playoff contention. If nothing else, Tampa Bay can hold their heads high knowing they ended the season with a win and sent Lavonte David into retirement as a winner in front of the home crowd.
A few players had particularly strong performances, building much-needed positive momentum heading into the offseason.
4 winners (and 1 big loser) from Buccaneers' Week 18 win over Panthers
Winner: Cade Otton
Otton had his best game of the year when the Buccaneers needed him most.
He finished with seven receptions for 94 yards and caught his first touchdown of the season. His biggest play came right before the two-minute warning, when he went for 20 yards on third-and-4 to keep the offense on the field and allow Tampa Bay to run critical time off the clock.
Otton will be a free agent at the end of the season, but if he can be the security blanket he was against the Panthers, the Bucs would love to keep him around as a valuable part of the offense.
Winner: Bucs run defense
The Panthers have one of the most potent rushing attacks in the NFL, so shutting that down was a key to victory heading into the game.
Tampa Bay did just that, and the run defense was stout from start to finish.
Rico Dowdle and Chubba Hubbard combined for only 20 yards on 12 rushing attempts — under 2 yards per carry. The Bucs completely stifled the Panthers’ game plan, forcing them to commit to the passing game in brutal rainy conditions. When the Bucs can shut down the run like that, they’re a tough defense to line up against.
Loser: Offensive play calling
The Buccaneers went down the field and scored a touchdown on their opening drive, but it would be their only touchdown of the afternoon.
The team became too conservative after jumping out to a 10-0 lead, and it almost cost them the game. Tampa Bay grew far too predictable by running on first downs and failed to create opportunities for its best playmakers.
Mike Evans was targeted just twice, the second-lowest total of his career. Chris Godwin Jr. and Jalen McMillan, both coming off 100-yard games against the Dolphins, were each targeted only once. Emeka Egbuka, who was once the runaway favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year, was targeted just three times.
The Bucs’ greatest strength lies in their elite depth at wide receiver. It’s puzzling why Josh Grizzard remains so reluctant to embrace that strength and lean into a dynamic passing attack, instead staying overly committed to the run game. The underperformance of the offense could prompt Tampa Bay to look for a new play caller this offseason.
Winner: Riley Dixon
As a punter, Dixon’s performance might fly under the radar, but the Bucs simply wouldn’t have won without his gutsy performance against the Panthers.
All three of his punts pinned Carolina back inside the 20-yard line, and two of them were downed inside the 10. His best punt came with less than a minute remaining. Tampa Bay had to punt the ball back to Carolina in the final seconds, where a field goal got Carolina would win them the game.
Dixon ensured that wouldn’t happen on his watch, delivering a perfect punt that hung in the air and ticked crucial seconds off the clock, and pinned the Panthers all the way back at their own 3-yard line. Dixon was the unlikely hero that the Bucs needed to escape with a victory.
Winner: Chase McLaughlin
McLaughlin has been ole reliable all season, so it’s not surprising to see him deliver another clutch performance in the regular-season finale.
McLaughlin drilled his first three field goal attempts in rainy, windy conditions. His final attempt in the fourth quarter was blocked, but that’s hardly on McLaughlin.
The 9 points he put on the board were essential, as the Bucs escaped with a 16-14 victory, and the Bucs can take comfort in knowing they have one of the league's best kickers on their side.