Introduction: Carolina Panthers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers Player Stats
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Carolina Panthers 16–14 at Raymond James Stadium in Week 18 of the 2025 NFL season. Bryce Young had the bigger passing day with 266 yards and two touchdowns. Tampa Bay won with a 42-carry run game, three Chase McLaughlin field goals and a 3–1 turnover edge.
The game kicked off at 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 3, 2026. Some stat sites list it as January 4 because of time-zone conversion, so both dates point to the same game. The Panthers needed a win to clinch the NFC South. The Buccaneers needed a win and help from the Falcons–Saints game the next day.
Who Led Each Category?
| Category | Leader | Line |
|---|---|---|
| Passing yards | Bryce Young (CAR) | 24/35, 266 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT |
| Rushing yards | Bucky Irving (TB) | 26 carries, 85 yds |
| Receiving yards | Cade Otton (TB) | 7 rec, 94 yds, 1 TD |
| Tackles | Derrick Brown (CAR) | 13 (5 solo, 8 assisted) |
| Kicking | Chase McLaughlin (TB) | 3/4 FG, 1/1 XP |
How the Scoring Unfolded
- Q1: Cade Otton 18-yard touchdown from Baker Mayfield, then a McLaughlin 29-yard field goal (TB 10–0)
- Q2: Tommy Tremble 8-yard touchdown from Bryce Young; McLaughlin 36-yard field goal as time expired (TB 13–7)
- Q4: McLaughlin 48-yard field goal (TB 16–7); Jalen Coker 8-yard touchdown from Young with 2:27 left (TB 16–14)
Carolina scored only on those two 8-yard passes. The Bucs scored one touchdown all day.
Quarterback Stats: Who Played Better?
| Comp/Att | Yards | TD | INT | Sacks taken | Rating | Rushing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryce Young | 24/35 | 266 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 98.0 | 2 for −1 |
| Baker Mayfield | 16/22 | 203 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 97.3 | 4 for 31 |
Baker Mayfield
Mayfield was efficient but rarely asked to do much. He averaged 9.2 yards per attempt on only 22 throws, and his longest completion went for 22 yards. His 18-yard touchdown to Otton capped a drive built on a Mike Evans out route, an Irving run and another Otton catch. The Panthers’ Christian Rozeboom intercepted him in Tampa Bay territory. He also used his legs, with 31 yards on four carries, including an 11-yard run.
Bryce Young
Young was more productive but less decisive. He threw 35 passes, was never sacked and hit a 40-yard completion. Both Carolina touchdowns came in the red zone, and the second cut the deficit to two with 2:27 left. His interception and the team’s rushing struggles kept the offense from getting there sooner.
Rushing Stats: How Tampa Bay Controlled the Ground
The rushing numbers were the widest gap in the game.
| Tampa Bay | Carries | Yards | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bucky Irving | 26 | 85 | 3.3 |
| Rachaad White | 7 | 23 | 3.3 |
| Baker Mayfield | 4 | 31 | 7.8 |
| Tez Johnson | 1 | 5 | 5.0 |
| Sean Tucker | 4 | −4 | −1.0 |
| Team | 42 | 140 | 3.3 |
| Carolina | Carries | Yards | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rico Dowdle | 7 | 10 | 1.4 |
| Chuba Hubbard | 5 | 10 | 2.0 |
| Bryce Young | 2 | −1 | −0.5 |
| Team | 14 | 19 | 1.4 |
Irving did not break big plays (his long was 9 yards), but 26 carries kept Tampa Bay’s defense rested and the clock moving. The Bucs held Carolina to 19 yards on 14 carries and allowed just one rushing first down, their fewest in a game that season.
Receiving Stats
| Tampa Bay | Targets | Rec | Yards | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cade Otton | 9 | 7 | 94 | 1 |
| Mike Evans | 2 | 2 | 34 | 0 |
| Rachaad White | 2 | 2 | 18 | 0 |
| Tez Johnson | 1 | 1 | 17 | 0 |
| Carolina | Targets | Rec | Yards | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tetairoa McMillan | 6 | 4 | 85 | 0 |
| Jalen Coker | 7 | 6 | 47 | 1 |
| Tommy Tremble | 4 | 3 | 38 | 1 |
| Brycen Tremayne | 2 | 2 | 27 | 0 |
| Xavier Legette | 4 | 3 | 22 | 0 |
Otton was the game’s most productive pass catcher by both receptions and yards. McMillan had the longest play of the day, a 40-yard catch, and the highest yards per catch (21.3). Mike Evans saw only two targets.
Defensive Stats: Who Made the Plays?
| Player | Team | Key line |
|---|---|---|
| Derrick Brown | CAR | 13 tackles |
| Christian Rozeboom | CAR | 8 tackles, 1 INT, 2 passes defended |
| Tre’von Moehrig | CAR | 6 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for loss |
| Lavonte David | TB | 6 tackles, 1 fumble recovery |
| Jacob Parrish | TB | 3 tackles, 1 INT |
| Benjamin Morrison | TB | 2 tackles, 1 fumble recovery |
| Vita Vea | TB | 3 tackles, 1 tackle for loss |
Carolina’s front produced more disruption by the numbers: two sacks, five tackles for loss and four quarterback hits, against Tampa Bay’s zero sacks, three tackles for loss and one hit. Calijah Kancey returned for Tampa Bay after a 14-game absence. Tampa Bay’s defense made its mark through turnovers instead. David and Morrison each recovered a fumble, and Parrish picked off Young.
Team Stats Comparison
| Stat | Buccaneers | Panthers |
|---|---|---|
| Net passing yards | 198 | 266 |
| Rushing yards | 140 | 19 |
| Total net yards* | 338 | 285 |
| Offensive plays* | 66 | 49 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Field goals | 3/4 | 0/1 |
*Calculated from the passing, rushing and sack figures in the box score.
Carolina converted just 1 of 8 third downs, and Tampa Bay won the turnover battle 3–1. The three Carolina giveaways were Young’s interception and lost fumbles by Dowdle and Tetairoa McMillan. Punt and kick return data was not consistently available across the sources, so this article leaves return stats out.
What the Stats Say About the Game
Carolina out-gained Tampa Bay through the air by 68 net yards and still lost by two points, which points to three factors:
- Volume. Tampa Bay ran 66 plays to Carolina’s 49. Forty-two rushes kept the Panthers’ offense on the sideline.
- Turnovers. Carolina’s lost fumbles came in a game decided by two points. According to NFL.com’s recap, Dowdle’s fumble on a toss play preserved Tampa Bay’s 16–7 lead in the fourth quarter.
- Third downs. One conversion in eight tries meant stalled drives and few chances to flip field position.
The Buccaneers’ offense was not dominant. It scored one touchdown, and McLaughlin kicked the other 9 points. But the Buccaneers’ defense allowed only 14 points, the second-fewest it gave up all season.
What Happened Next
The loss did not end Carolina’s season. Atlanta beat New Orleans 19–17 the next day, creating a three-way tie at 8–9, and the Panthers won the NFC South on a three-way tiebreaker because they had swept the Falcons. That cost Tampa Bay a fifth straight division title. The Panthers then lost their first playoff game in eight years, 34–31 to the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card round.
FAQs
Who won the Buccaneers vs. Panthers game?
Tampa Bay won 16–14 on January 3, 2026, at Raymond James Stadium.
What was the score of the Buccaneers vs. Panthers game?
The final score was Buccaneers 16, Panthers 14. Tampa Bay led 10–0 after the first quarter and 13–7 at halftime.
Did the Carolina Panthers win today?
Not in this game. The Panthers lost 16–14 to the Buccaneers on January 3, 2026. If you are asking about a current game, check a live scoreboard, since the 2026 season is under way.
What happens if the Panthers beat the Bucs?
A Panthers win in that Week 18 game would have clinched the NFC South outright. They lost, so they needed Atlanta to beat New Orleans, which the Falcons did. Carolina then took the division on a tiebreaker.
Is the Panthers out of the playoffs?
For the 2025 season, yes. Carolina was eliminated on January 10, 2026, with a 34–31 Wild Card loss to the Rams. I did not research the 2026 standings, so check the current NFL standings for this season.
Who had the most passing yards?
Bryce Young led all passers with 266 yards on 24-of-35 passing. Baker Mayfield threw for 203 yards.
Who was Tampa Bay’s leading rusher?
Bucky Irving, with 26 carries for 85 yards.
Who was the leading receiver?
Cade Otton led all players with 7 catches for 94 yards and a touchdown. Tetairoa McMillan led Carolina with 85 yards on four catches.
Which team had more rushing yards?
Tampa Bay had 140 rushing yards on 42 carries, against Carolina’s 19 yards on 14 carries.
Author Bio: Hamid Ali is a sports writer who covers NFL games, player performances, team statistics, and key matchups. He focuses on clear, accurate, and easy-to-understand analysis for football fans.
Author Name: Hamid Ali
Email: johanharwen314@gmail.com
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