There were two different points when the Bucs looked like they were headed for a damaging loss to the 3-8 Panthers in Carolina.

But some late-game heroics by Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans and Chase McLaughlin forced overtime, then the defense made a play when it needed it most with the Panthers already in field goal range in overtime. After the key turnover, the offense got two explosive plays and set McLaughlin up for a game-winning field goal.

Here’s who and and what was most impressive in Tampa Bay’s 26-23 overtime win.

Mike Evans

After dropping a tipped pass earlier on the Bucs’ second drive, Evans made an incredible one-handed catch on a goal line fade for the first score of the game.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME, MIKE EVANS?!

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— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) December 1, 2024

In the second quarter, Evans would make a fantastic sliding catch for 18 yards on 2nd and 18 and follow that with a 27-yard catch and run off over the middle to put the Bucs down on the Panthers’ 21 after the drive looked all but dead two plays prior.

Evans went on to make several more catches throughout the game and get his quest for an 11th straight season with 1,000 receiving yards or more back on track after missing several games with a hamstring injury. He was largely the Bucs entire passing offense as few others could find consistency with quarterback Baker Mayfield.

He finished the game with eight catches for 118 yards and a touchdown.

Antoine Winfield Jr.

Panthers WR Xavier Legette and Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr. – Photo by: USA Today

Antoine Winfield Jr. made his presence felt early with two big third-down stops in the first quarter. The first came on Carolina’s second possession when he was able to stop Panthers quarterback Bryce Young from climbing up the pocket and scrambling for a first down on third and three. Winfield, who was in on a blitz, was able to wrap up Young for just a two-yard gain and forced the Panthers to punt.

On the subsequent drive, he and Mike Edwards combined to stop running back Chuba Hubbard from converting on 3rd & 3 with a tackle for another two-yard gain that forced Carolina to kick a field goal and keep the Bucs in the lead at 7-3.

Bucs Run Defense

The Panthers offense is normally at their best when they get their run game going. But despite their best efforts, they were unable to do so against the Bucs defense.

Chuba Hubbard, who has been one of the best running backs in the NFL this year, was held to 34 yards on nine carries while Jonathan Brooks added 18 yards on six totes of his own.

This was most important late in the third quarter when the Panthers were set up in the red zone by a Baker Mayfield interception. The Bucs run defense would hold down at the goal line and force the Panthers’ fourth field goal attempt of the game.

On that drive, the Panthers ran the ball three times for just 11 yards and the defense kept the team in the game at 16-10 in favor of the Panthers.

Bucs Offensive Line

Despite some shaky moments early, the Bucs offensive line rounded into form and played well, especially down the stretch. In the fourth quarter, the Bucs ran the ball 14 times for 99 yards, averaging 7.1 yards per carry en route to 10 points and the lead.

Graham Barton and Ben Bredeson allowed some early penetration, but the group largely stood on its head for most of the game in both pass protection and especially late as run blockers creating lanes for Bucky Irving.

Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke were both excellent on the outside. Especially Wirfs, considering he was playing on a not fully healed MCL sprain just three weeks after sustaining the injury. Cody Mauch was also exceptional on the inside, stoning Carolina defensive linemen on play after play.

RB Bucky Irving

Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Photo by: USA Today

Irving was questionable to return to the game early in the second half after sustaining a hip injury returning kickoffs. It did not appear to slow him down at all as he was transcendant late in the game with run after run after run.

Irving’s 43-yard run on Tampa Bay’s penultimate drive was one for the ages.

#NFL
Rookie Bucky Irving for me is on that short list of most creative running backs
Ja Gibbs
Saquan#WeAreTheKrewe

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— Global Utopia Sports (@GL8BAL_SPORTS) December 2, 2024

After getting an initial good run because of the great blocking up front by the offensive line, Irving stiff armed safety Xavier Woods, juked Mike Jackson while he was being blocked by Trey Palmer and then tried to outrun the Panthers defense to the goal line. He almost made it too, getting dragged down at the Carolina 11, setting up an eventual go-ahead field goal by Chase McLaughlin.

The Bucs had a 44% success rate running the ball on the game and converted a 1st down on 26% of their runs. That was largely due to Irving’s efforts with his legs.

Irving would finish the game with 25 carries for 152 yards, averaging 6.1 yards per carry and a touchdown while adding three catches for 33 yards in his best game as a pro.

K Chase McLaughlin

McLaughlin was nails as has become his motus operandi since joining Tampa Bay last year. He made all three of his field goal tries in regulation, including from 27 and 26 yards out before nailing a 51-yarder to send the game into overtime at 23-all. Those kicks brought him to 35 of 37 on the season for a conversion rate of 94.6%.

When the team needed him to make just one more in overtime from 54 yards he was just off, missing wide left. Despite the miss from a non-automatic, deep distance, he would be given an opportunity for redemption. After a Yaya Diaby fumble recovery the Bucs would drive deep into Carolina territory and McLaughlin would hit the game winner from 30 yards out.

McLaughlin has been as close to automatic as kickers get for the last 31 games, vaulting his name up there with the likes of Super Bowl champions Martin Gramatica and Ryan Succop.

Anthony Nelson And Yaya Diaby

Tampa Bay’s defense didn’t bring down Carolina quarterback Bryce Young with any regularity, but it did get some pressure on the young quarterback. Both Anthony Nelson and Yaya Diaby were key in applying that pressure, with Nelson finishing with four pressures and two quarterback hits while Diaby finished with three and two, respectively.

But the most memorable moment of the performance from these two outside linebackers came in overtime. After the Panthers converted a third down and got into range for a game-winning field goal, Nelson made what might prove to be one of the biggest plays of the Bucs’ season. He tackled the football, not Carolina running back Chuba Hubbard, and it resulted in a fumble that Diaby scrambled to recover.

It was that play that gave the Bucs new life and set up what ended up being the game-winning field goal drive. It was that type of turnover that Tampa Bay’s defense wasn’t able to produce in previous overtime losses to Atlanta and Kansas City, but Nelson and Diaby teamed up for it this time.

Rachaad White

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: USA Today

White has become RB2 in Tampa Bay as Irving is undoubtedly special. But that doesn’t mean White isn’t still producing at a high level for this Buccaneer offense this season. His stat line won’t pop as much as Irving’s will this week, but he played a major hand in the victory as the rookie dealt with some injuries at different points in the game.

White had an 11-yard run early, then he converted a 4th & 1 on a drive that eventually ended in the game’s first touchdown. He continued to spell Irving throughout the game and despite getting dropped for a big loss on a key 3rd & 1 inside the Panthers’ 10 late in the game, he later got his redemption.

It was White’s 38-yard run in overtime that set up McLaughlin’s game-winning field goal. Overall, the third-year running back ran 11 times for 76 yards, averaging a strong 6.9 yards per carry.