Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Carolina Panthers Match Player Stats: A Full Breakdown

Introduction

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers faced the Carolina Panthers in a tight NFC South battle on January 3, 2026, at Raymond James Stadium. This Week 18 matchup carried high stakes, with both teams fighting to stay in the playoff race. The Buccaneers came out on top with a 16-14 victory, thanks to strong field goal kicking and key defensive stops. Player stats from this game show a mix of solid quarterback play, effective rushing by Tampa Bay, and timely receptions on both sides. This close score highlights how small plays made big differences. Fans saw Baker Mayfield manage the game well for the Buccaneers, while Bryce Young kept the Panthers in it until the end. Overall, the match focused on defense and special teams more than high-scoring offense.

The game started with Tampa Bay taking an early lead. They scored a touchdown and a field goal in the first quarter, putting pressure on Carolina. The Panthers responded in the second quarter with a touchdown, but the Buccaneers added another field goal before halftime. No points came in the third quarter, keeping things tense. In the fourth, Tampa Bay extended their lead with a long field goal, and Carolina fought back with a late touchdown. However, it was not enough to overcome the deficit. This result improved the Buccaneers’ record to 8-9 and kept their division title hopes alive.

Game Overview

Tampa Bay dominated time of possession and rushing yards, which helped control the pace. The Buccaneers ran 42 rushing attempts compared to Carolina’s 14, wearing down the Panthers’ defense. Passing yards were close, with Carolina at 266 and Tampa Bay at 203. Turnovers played a role, with three for the Panthers and two for the Buccaneers. Penalties were minimal, allowing for a clean game focused on execution. The scoring summary shows field goals were crucial for Tampa Bay’s win. Chase McLaughlin hit three out of four attempts, including a 48-yarder. For Carolina, Ryan Fitzgerald missed his only field goal try but made both extra points.

Key moments included Tampa Bay’s opening drive touchdown to Cade Otton and Carolina’s response with Tommy Tremble’s score. The halftime score was 13-7 in favor of the Buccaneers. The third quarter featured strong defenses, with no scores. In the final period, McLaughlin’s kick made it 16-7, but Young connected with Jalen Coker for a touchdown to close the gap. A blocked field goal attempt by Carolina late in the game sealed their fate. This matchup underlined the importance of reliable kicking in low-scoring affairs.

Team Statistics Comparison

Looking at total yards, Tampa Bay had a slight edge with more balanced offense. They gained 343 total yards, combining 203 passing and 140 rushing. Carolina managed 285 yards, with 266 passing but only 19 rushing. This disparity in rushing shows how the Buccaneers controlled the ground game. First downs were even at around 18 each, but Tampa Bay converted more third downs at 53% versus Carolina’s 13%. Fourth-down attempts saw Carolina succeed on one of three, while Tampa Bay avoided them. Time of possession favored the Buccaneers at about 35 minutes, limiting Carolina’s opportunities.

Turnovers hurt Carolina more, with three including two fumbles lost and one interception. Tampa Bay had two turnovers, one interception and one fumble not lost. Sacks were two on Mayfield for five yards, while Young avoided any. Punts were three each, with similar averages around 45 yards. These stats reveal Tampa Bay’s efficiency in sustaining drives and protecting the ball better. Carolina’s passing kept them competitive, but weak rushing and turnovers proved costly. This comparison helps explain the narrow victory.

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Passing Performance

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Passing Stats

Baker Mayfield led the Buccaneers’ passing attack with 16 completions out of 22 attempts for 203 yards. He threw one touchdown and one interception, earning a quarterback rating of 97.3. Mayfield faced two sacks for a loss of five yards, but his average of 9.2 yards per attempt showed good decision-making. His longest pass went for 22 yards, often targeting tight end Cade Otton. This performance was steady, focusing on short to medium gains to keep drives alive. Mayfield also added 31 rushing yards, showing mobility when needed. Overall, his play avoided big mistakes in a game where points were hard to come by.

The team’s passing totaled 198 net yards after sacks, with the same stats as Mayfield since he was the only passer. This efficiency helped convert key third downs. Compared to past games, Mayfield’s completion rate of 72.7% was above his season average, aiding the win. Insights from this show how he managed pressure well, especially in the red zone for the touchdown pass. No other players attempted passes, keeping the strategy simple and effective.

Carolina Panthers Passing Stats

Bryce Young handled all passing for the Panthers, completing 24 of 35 attempts for 266 yards. He tossed two touchdowns and one interception, with a rating of 98.0. Young avoided sacks entirely, allowing him to stay in rhythm. His average was 7.6 yards per completion, with a long of 40 yards to Tetairoa McMillan. This output kept Carolina in the game, especially on the late touchdown drive. Young’s QBR of 45.0 reflects some inefficiency under pressure, but his arm talent shone through. He also had two rushes for -1 yard, focusing more on pocket presence.

Team passing mirrored Young’s numbers, as no backups played. This reliance on him worked for yardage but not enough scores. His touchdowns went to Tommy Tremble and Jalen Coker, showing trust in young receivers. Analysis indicates Young’s interception came from a tipped pass, not a poor read. Improving protection could boost his numbers in future games. This performance builds on his season, where he threw 23 touchdowns against 11 interceptions.

Rushing Performance

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Rushing Stats

Bucky Irving carried the load with 26 rushes for 85 yards, averaging 3.3 yards per carry. His longest run was nine yards, providing consistent gains. Baker Mayfield added four rushes for 31 yards, including an 11-yard scamper. Rachaad White contributed seven carries for 23 yards, with a max of seven. Tez Johnson had one rush for five yards, and Sean Tucker four for -4 yards. The team totaled 42 carries for 140 yards, averaging 3.3 per attempt. This volume wore down Carolina’s defense, controlling the clock effectively.

Insights reveal Irving’s role as the primary back, handling most touches. His style focused on north-south running, avoiding negative plays. Mayfield’s mobility extended plays, adding unpredictability. White’s efforts complemented Irving, keeping legs fresh. Tucker’s negative yards came from stuffed runs, but overall, this ground game was the foundation of the win. Compared to Carolina, Tampa Bay’s rushing dominated, forcing the Panthers to stack the box at times.

Carolina Panthers Rushing Stats

Rico Dowdle led with seven carries for 10 yards, averaging 1.4 per attempt. His longest was four yards. Chuba Hubbard had five rushes for 10 yards, averaging 2.0 with a five-yard max. Bryce Young added two kneels for -1 yard. The team managed only 14 carries for 19 yards, averaging 1.4 per try. This weak output limited offensive options, putting more pressure on passing. Factors like strong Tampa Bay tackling contributed to these low numbers.

Analysis shows the Panthers struggled to establish the run early, leading to abandonment. Dowdle and Hubbard split carries but found little room. Young’s negative yards were from clock management. Improving blocking could help in rematches. This performance contrasts their season averages, where rushing was more effective. The low volume suggests a pass-heavy plan, but it didn’t yield enough balance for victory.

Receiving Performance

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Receiving Stats

Cade Otton stood out with seven catches for 94 yards and one touchdown, averaging 13.4 yards per reception. His longest was 22 yards on nine targets. Mike Evans grabbed two for 34 yards, with a 21-yard long. Rachaad White had two for 18 yards. Bucky Irving one for 13, Jalen McMillan one for 11, Chris Godwin one for eight, and Emeka Egbuka one for eight. Tez Johnson caught one for 17 yards. The team had 16 receptions for 203 yards, averaging 12.7 per catch.

Otton’s production was key, serving as Mayfield’s go-to option. His touchdown came on an 18-yard pass. Evans’ limited catches still made impacts with big gains. The running backs’ receptions added versatility. Fewer targets overall reflect the run-focused approach. This group converted crucial downs, supporting the field position battle.

Carolina Panthers Receiving Stats

Tetairoa McMillan led with four receptions for 85 yards, averaging 21.3 on six targets. His 40-yard long stretched the field. Jalen Coker had six catches for 47 yards and one touchdown. Tommy Tremble three for 38 yards and a score. Brycen Tremayne two for 27, Xavier Legette three for 22, Rico Dowdle two for 20, Jimmy Horn one for 15, Chuba Hubbard two for seven, and Mitchell Evans one for five. Team totals: 24 catches for 266 yards, averaging 11.1.

McMillan’s deep threat opened opportunities for others. Coker’s touchdown was an eight-yarder, showing red-zone reliability. Tremble’s eight-yard score tied the game briefly. The backs’ involvement screened well. High catch rate indicates Young’s accuracy. This unit performed despite run struggles, but turnovers hampered drives.

Defensive Highlights

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive Stats

Lavonte David topped tackles with six, five solo. Tykee Smith had five, four solo. Yaya Diaby four with one tackle for loss. Vita Vea three with one TFL. Jacob Parrish three tackles, one pass defended, and one interception. Antoine Winfield Jr. three tackles, one PD. Others like J.T. Gray, Christian Izien, and SirVocea Dennis added two each. Haason Reddick had two tackles. The team recorded no sacks but forced three turnovers, including two fumble recoveries.

David’s leadership anchored the run defense, limiting Carolina to 19 yards. Parrish’s interception stalled a drive. Winfield’s PD broke up a potential score. Diaby and Vea disrupted plays in the backfield. This effort held the Panthers to 14 points, with key stops in the red zone. Their pressure forced Young’s lone pick, proving effective without many sacks.

Carolina Panthers Defensive Stats

Derrick Brown led with 13 tackles, five solo. Nick Scott nine, six solo. Christian Rozeboom eight, six solo, two PD. Mike Jackson seven, four solo. Tre’von Moehrig six, four solo, one sack, two TFL. Krys Barnes six, two solo, 0.5 sack. D.J. Wonnum five, four solo. Nic Scourton five, two solo, 0.5 sack. A’Shawn Robinson five, one solo. Others contributed minimally. Team: two sacks, five TFL, three PD.

Brown’s dominance clogged lanes, aiding the run stop. Moehrig’s sack pressured Mayfield. Rozeboom’s PDs prevented big plays. The front seven generated hits, but couldn’t stop the ground game fully. This unit forced two turnovers, including an interception. Their effort kept the score low, but fatigue from long possessions showed late.

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Special Teams Contributions

Chase McLaughlin was pivotal for Tampa Bay, making three of four field goals, longest 48 yards, and one extra point for 10 points. Riley Dixon punted three times for 130 yards, averaging 43.3, with three inside the 20. Sean Tucker returned three kicks for 57 yards, averaging 19. No punt returns. This group flipped field position and scored most points.

For Carolina, Ryan Fitzgerald missed his field goal but made two extra points. Sam Martin punted three for 139 yards, averaging 46.3, one inside 20. Trevor Etienne returned one punt for three yards, Brycen Tremayne one for zero. No kick returns. Special teams struggled with the missed kick, costing potential points in a close game.

Standout Players

Baker Mayfield earned praise for his efficient passing and rushing contributions. His 203 yards and touchdown pass, plus 31 rush yards, showed versatility. Despite one interception, he avoided costly errors. Cade Otton shone as top receiver with 94 yards and the game’s first score. On defense, Jacob Parrish’s interception was a turning point. For Carolina, Bryce Young impressed with 266 yards and two touchdowns. Tetairoa McMillan’s 85 yards stretched defenses. Derrick Brown’s 13 tackles anchored the line.

These players influenced the outcome through key plays. Mayfield’s management suited the run-heavy plan. Otton’s reliability in traffic helped sustain drives. Young’s resilience kept hopes alive. McMillan’s speed created mismatches. Brown’s tackles limited gains. Recognizing these efforts provides lessons for team strategies.

Conclusion

This Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Carolina Panthers match player stats reveal a defensive struggle won by small margins. Tampa Bay’s rushing and kicking edged out Carolina’s passing prowess. The 16-14 score reflects balanced teams with room for growth. Fans can learn from these numbers how ground control and turnover management decide games. Looking ahead, both squads aim to build on strengths for playoffs. This analysis covers every angle, offering clear insights into performances.