The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Carolina Panthers, 26-23, on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium, marking the team's first overtime victory since December 25, 2022, when it nipped the Arizona Cardinals, 19-16. The Buccaneers are now 20-26-1 all-time in overtime affairs.
It was the third overtime game of the 2024 season for Tampa Bay, which also lost 36-30 in Atlanta in Week Five and 30-24 in Kansas City in Week Nine. In both of those contests, the opposing team won the overtime coin flip and took the opening possession in for a game-ending touchdown without the Bucs' offense seeing the field. On Sunday in Charlotte, the Buccaneers won the coin toss, ended their first drive with a missed field goal and then got the ball back on a Chuba Hubbard fumble that was forced by outside linebacker Anthony Nelson and recovered by outside linebacker Yaya Diaby. Chase McLaughlin then ended the game with a 30-yard field goal.
The win pushed the Buccaneers record in road games this season to 4-2; only the Chiefs (5-1) and Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) have won more games away from home this season. The Buccaneers have yet to be trailing at the end of regulation in a road game this season, with both losses coming in the aforementioned overtime contests.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield engineered the six-play, 30-second drive that set up McLaughlin's 51-yard field goal to send the game into overtime. Mayfield finished the game with 21 completions in 33 attempts for 235 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He led the Buccaneers to scores on four of their five drives in the fourth quarter and overtime, in that span completing 11 of 12 passes for 114 yards.
Mayfield's two-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mike Evans in the first quarter opened the game's scoring and gave him 25 scoring tosses on the season. After setting a career high with 28 touchdown passes last season in his first year in Tampa, Mayfield is now just the second quarterback in franchise history to post consecutive seasons with 25-plus touchdown passes. He joins Tom Brady, who did it for three consecutive seasons from 2020-22. Prior to 2020, the Buccaneers had a quarterback throw for 25 or more times in a season just five times; Brady and Mayfield have since combined to do it in five straight seasons.
Mayfield ranks third in the NFL in touchdown passes, as well as in completion percentage.
Most Passing Touchdowns, NFL, 2024
- Joe Burrow, Bengals: 30
- Lamar Jackson, Ravens: 29
- Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers: 25
- Sam Darnold, Vikings: 23
- Jared Goff, Lions: 22
Highest Completion Percentage, NFL, 2024
- Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins: 74.5%
- Jared Goff, Lions: 71.8%
- Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers: 70.8%
- Jayden Daniels, Commanders: 69.6%
- Geno Smith, Seahawks: 68.8%
Evans' touchdown catch was his seventh of the season and he is tied for fifth in the NFL in that category despite missing three-and-a-half games with a hamstring injury. It was also the 101st touchdown reception of Evans' illustrious career, which moved him into sole possession of first place in that category in NFL history.
Most Career Touchdown Receptions, NFL History
| Player | Team(s) | Seasons | TD Recs. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jerry Rice+ | 49ers, Raiders, Seahawks | 1985-2004 | 197 |
| Randy Moss+ | five teams* | 1998-2012 | 156 |
| Terrell Owens+ | five teams** | 1996-2010 | 153 |
| Cris Carter+ | Eagles, Vikings, Dolphins | 1987-2002 | 130 |
| Marvin Harrison+ | Colts | 1996-2008 | 128 |
| Larry Fitzgerald | Cardinals | 2004-20 | 121 |
| Antonio Gates | Chargers | 2003-18 | 116 |
| Tony Gonzalez+ | Chiefs, Falcons | 1997-2013 | 111 |
| Mike Evans | Buccaneers | 2014-24 | 101 |
| Tim Brown+ | Raiders, Buccaneers | 1988-2004 | 100 |
| Steve Largent+ | Seahawks | 1976-89 | 100 |
(+ Member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
* Moss played for Vikings, Raiders, Patriots, Titans and 49ers
** Owens played for the 49ers, Eagles, Cowboys, Bills and Bengals)
Evans finished the game with eight catches for 118 yards, marking his first 100-yard receiving game of the season but the 41st of his career, including four in the postseason. His 41 such performances across the regular season and postseason are fourth among all active players in the NFL.
Most 100-Yard Receiving Games, Postseason Included, Active NFL Players
- Davante Adams, Jets: 47
- Travis Kelce, Chiefs: 46
- DeAndre Hopkins, Chiefs: 43
- Mike Evans, Buccaneers: 41
- Stefon Diggs, Texans: 40
Rookie running back Bucky Irving scored the Buccaneers' other touchdown against Carolina, giving his team a 17-16 lead in the fourth quarter on a seven-yard dash to the end zone. It was his sixth rushing touchdown of the season, which is tied for the most among all NFL rookies and is the top mark among rookie running backs.
Most Rushing Touchdowns, NFL Rookies, 2024
1t. RB Bucky Irving, Buccaneers: 6
1t. QB Jayden Daniels, Commanders: 6
3t. QB Bo Nix, Broncos: 4
3t. RB Tyrone Tracy, Giants: 4
5. RB Ray Davis, Bills: 3
Irving had his most productive game yet, setting new personal highs in carries (25), rushing yards (152) and yards from scrimmage (185). It was the second time this season he has surpassed 150 yards from a scrimmage in a game, and he owns two of the top three outings in that category by rookies in 2024. His other 150-yard outing came against the New York Giants in Week 12, making him the first NFL rookie to post consecutive 150-yard games since the Eagles' Miles Sanders in 2019.
Most Yards from Scrimmage in a Game, NFL Rookies, 2024
| Player | Team | Opp. | Date | Yards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bucky Irving | Buccaneers | Panthers | 12/1/24 | 185 |
| Bucky Irving | Buccaneers | Giants | 11/24/24 | 152 |
| Ray Davis | Bills | Jets | 10/14/24 | 152 |
| Tyrone Tracy | Giants | Steelers | 10/28/24 | 150 |
| Brock Bowers | Raiders | Chiefs | 11/29/24 | 142 |
Not surprisingly, Irving is also the season-long leader among rookies in yards from scrimmage, and he leads first-year players in rushing yards, as well. Irving is just the sixth rookie in Buccaneers history to surpass 1,000 yards from scrimmage.
Most Yards from Scrimmage, NFL Rookies, 2024
- Bucky Irving, Buccaneers: 1,017
- Brock Bowers, Raiders: 895
- Ladd McConkey, Chargers: 815
- Tyrone Tracy, Giants: 797
- Brian Thomas, Jaguars: 795
Most Rushing Yards, NFL Rookies, 2024
- Bucky Irving, Buccaneers: 732
- Tyrone Tracy, Giants: 619
- Jayden Daniels, Commanders: 590
- Caleb Williams, Bears: 378
- Drake Maye, Patriots: 345
Irving is now averaging 5.5 yards per carry, which is not only first among NFL rookies but ranks fifth among all NFL players.
Highest Yards Per Carry Average, NFL, 2024
(Among qualifying leaders)
- QB Lamar Jackson, Ravens: 6.11
- RB Saquon Barkley, Eagles: 6.09
- RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions: 5.97
- RB Derrick Henry, Ravens: 5.86
- RB Bucky Irving, Buccaneers: 5.50
Combining his rushes and receptions (168 total touches), Irving also ranks fourth among all NFL players with 6.1 yards per touch.
Highest Yards Per Touch Average, NFL, 2024
(Among qualifying leaders)
- Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions: 6.6
- Saquon Barkley, Giants: 6.4
- Derrick Henry, Ravens: 6.1
- Bucky Irving, Buccaneers: 6.1
- Tyrone Tracy, Giants: 5.3
Running back Rachaad White added 76 yards on 11 carries against Carolina, including the 38-yard rumble that put the Bucs in position for McLaughlin's game-winning field goal. Overall, the team rushed for 236 yards, the eighth-highest single-game total in Buccaneers history. Tampa Bay has surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark in nine of its 12 games this season and currently ranks eighth in the NFL in rushing yards per game (137.2) and fourth in yards per carry (5.08). Overall, the Buccaneers generated 445 yards of offense on Sunday, marking the sixth time they have surpassed 400 this season. That's tied for the second-most such outings in the NFL this season with the Ravens and 49ers. Only the Commanders, with seven, have more.
