It was a record-setting game for the Bucs and their players in the team’s 41-17 win over the Carolina Panthers. Tom Brady threw for over 5,000 passing yards on the season just the second time in his career. Mike Evans went over 1,000 yards for the eighth straight season and broke his own franchise record for touchdowns in a single season with 14. Meanwhile, Rob Gronkowski secured the record for most 100-yard games for a tight end in NFL history.

Brady was 29-37 for 326 yards and three touchdowns on the day. Scotty Miller finished as the team’s leading rusher with 43 yards and a score. Ke’Shawn Vaughn had 29 yards and a touchdown. Gronkowski led all receivers with 7 receptions for 137 yards. Evans posted six catches 89 yards and two scores himself.  The defense also turned it up a notch in the second half, finishing with two sacks, a forced fumble and recovery, and an interception.

Bucs Come Out Stagnant Again

Winning the coin toss, the Bucs elected to defer until the second half. Carolina struck first on a 2-yard touchdown pass. The Panthers marched 75 yards down the field, taking over seven-and-a-half minutes off the clock. After a sack on first down, the offense would be forced to punt going three-and-out.

The Panthers managed another extended drive of 10 plays, before a failed fourth down conversion gave the ball back to Brady and the offense. The Bucs offense moved into Carolina territory, but couldn’t convert just outside of the red zone, settling for a field goal. On the Panthers next possession they were able to move the ball all the way down to the Bucs 2-yard line. However, a failed fourth down conversion attempt gave the Bucs offense the ball back.

Unable to capitalize on the turnover-on-downs, the Tampa Bay punted after three plays and just 5 yards. The defense returned the favor, forcing a punt. They gave Brady the ball back with just over a minute-and-a-half left. And Brady lives for those moments, capping off a 92-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown pass to Le’Veon Bell.

Second Half Scoring Explosion

The offense came out with a purpose after halftime. Two big completions to Gronkowski for 42 and 19 yards helped set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Ke’Shawn Vaughn. The score gave the Bucs their first lead of the game. A trade of punts transpired over the next two possessions before the Panthers would knock in a field goal to bring the score to 17-10. Brady and the offense answered right back, finding Mike Evans from three yards out to increase their lead to 14.

The Panthers answered with a scoring drive of their own. Robby Anderson made a difficult touchdown reception to cut the Bucs lead to seven. Matching the score, a big reception from Gronkowski helped get the drive started. Evans finished it with a 20-yard TD grab from Brady. A fumble caused by Rakeem Nunez-Roches and recovered by Antoine Winfield set Tampa Bay up with great field position at the 27-yard line. Failing to get a first down, Ryan Succop knocked in the field goal to make it 34-17.

A turnover-on-downs by Carolina put the Bucs offense back on the field. It took one play for Tampa Bay to find the end zone. Scotty Miller scored on a 33-yard end around to increase the Bucs lead by 24 points. On the Panthers first play of the ensuing drive, Andrew Adams sealed the game with an interception off Sam Darnold.