Buccaneers Beat Panthers 43-13 as Mayfield Throws 200th Career Touchdown in Return

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Carolina Panthers 43-13 on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Baker Mayfield threw the 200th touchdown pass of his career in his return.

Mayfield returned as starting quarterback after missing three games with a dislocated right thumb. Tampa Bay entered 1-5, Carolina 3-2. The win was Tampa Bay's first divisional victory of the season and moved the Buccaneers to 2-5.

Ground game sets the tone

Bucky Irving opened the scoring with a 4-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, finishing a 14-play, 70-yard drive. Irving ran 24 times for 106 yards and scored twice, with his second touchdown on a 1-yard run in the second quarter.

Tampa Bay rushed for 258 yards on 49 carries. Kenny Gainwell added 88 yards on 14 carries, and Sean Tucker scored on a 46-yard run in the fourth quarter. Mayfield finished 7 of 11 for 64 yards, with 1 touchdown and no interceptions.

A wild second quarter

Bryce Young lost a fumble on a strip sack by Al-Quadin Muhammad in the second quarter, and Calijah Kancey returned the ball 32 yards for a Tampa Bay touchdown.

Young answered with a 50-yard touchdown pass to Darren Waller. The extra point try then went wrong for Carolina. Ryan Fitzgerald had his kick blocked by Tykee Smith, and Zyon McCollum returned it for a defensive two-point conversion, making the score 19-6. It was the first defensive two-point conversion in the NFL this season.

McCollum intercepted Young just before halftime, his first interception of the season and the fourth of his career. Mayfield used the short field and threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Tez Johnson with four seconds left in the quarter. The eight-play, 32-yard drive made it 33-6 at halftime. It was the 200th touchdown pass of Mayfield's career. The 33 first-half points are the third most in franchise history and the most since 2021.

Second half

Tykee Smith intercepted Young early in the third quarter, the fourth turnover of the game for Carolina. The Panthers finished with four turnovers, two interceptions and two lost fumbles. Tampa Bay had none.

Chase McLaughlin kicked field goals of 22 and 44 yards and made all five extra point tries. Carolina lost starting right tackle Taylor Moton in the second half. He was carted away with an apparent leg injury on the first sack of the half.

Young finished 14 of 27 for 163 yards, with 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions and 1 lost fumble. Kenny Pickett replaced him late, completed 3 of 4 passes for 47 yards, and led an eight-play, 71-yard drive that ended with a 12-yard touchdown run by Anthony Tyus III with 5:28 left. It was the first touchdown of Tyus's NFL career.

Tampa Bay held the ball for 35 minutes and 57 seconds, against 24 minutes and 3 seconds for Carolina. The Buccaneers led in total yards 322 to 266 and in first downs 21 to 15. Tampa Bay recorded five sacks, Carolina none.