With a 2-6 slide since mid-October, the Bucs saw their 5-1 start turn into a 7-7 mark through 14 games. But despite that run of losing, they still found themselves in a decent spot heading into the final three-game stretch of the season. Two wins over the final three weeks would net Tampa Bay its fifth straight NFC South title and a sixth consecutive playoff appearance.

That stretch began Sunday afternoon in Charlotte against the 7-7 Panthers, who came in looking to get a leg up in the race and put themselves in a good position for their first division title since 2015. Carolina had more work to do coming into Sunday given the tiebreaker situation, but a win would go a long way in its hopes of breaking its playoff drought.

The Panthers went up 3-0 quickly, but the Bucs responded and took control with a six-and-a-half-minute touchdown drive and a seven-minute field goal drive. With that, they carried a 10-6 lead into the late stages of the first half. But after the offense went nowhere following the two-minute warning, the Panthers struck with a 22-yard touchdown from Bryce Young to Tetairoa McMillan to take a 13-10 lead into halftime.

Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan – Photo by: IMAGN – Jim Dedmon

The two sides traded long touchdown drives in the third quarter, which left Carolina up 20-17 heading into a do-or-die fourth quarter. A 50-yard field goal from Chase McLaughlin tied the game at 20, but Ryan Fitzgerald later responded with a 48-yard field goal for a 23-20 lead with 2:20 to go.

That set the offense up with a chance at some late-game heroics, and things looked good after the Bucs got the ball into Panther territory with plenty of time left. At the very least, it looked like Tampa Bay could get another McLaughlin field goal and send the game to overtime. Instead, Baker Mayfield threw an interception to Lathan Ransom, sealing the deal for the Panthers and giving them a one-game lead in the NFC South with two weeks to go.

Here’s a recap of all the action from Sunday’s loss at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC that dropped Tampa Bay to 7-8 on the season:

Panthers 23, Bucs 20

The Panthers got the ball to open the game and went right down the field, converting on an early third down before Jimmy Horn Jr. broke loose for a 25-yard run on an end-around. But a big tackle for loss credited to Chris Braswell on a third-and-short situation inside the 10-yard line forced a field goal try that Ryan Fitzgerald converted from 27 yards out. With that, Carolina took an early 3-0 lead.

Tampa Bay had a strong response, starting with a 37-yard kick return by Kameron Johnson to the 47-yard line. A couple of 6-yard runs by Bucky Irving got the drive going, then Mike Evans got in on the action with a 13-yard catch. From there, a third-down conversion by Jalen McMillan and a 12-yard run by Bucky Irving set up a 1-yard touchdown pass from Baker Mayfield to Evans.

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: IMAGN – Bob Donnan

The 10-play, 53-yard drive gave the Bucs a 7-3 lead, which they then carried into the second quarter after a defensive stop that was fueled by a SirVocea Dennis sack.

On the other side of the quarter break, Rachaad White broke free for a 39-yard run to set the Bucs up with a chance to add to their lead. Chase McLaughlin eventually came on to drill a 48-yard field goal, but an unnecessary roughness penalty extended the drive and the offense got inside the 5-yard line only to eventually settle for a 23-yard field goal anyway. Still, the 14-play, 85-yard drive took 7:12 and the visitors extended their lead to 10-7.

The two sides traded punts from there, but with a short punt from Riley Dixon, the Panthers took over in Buccaneer territory with just about four and a half minutes left in the first half. But the defense stepped up once again, forcing a 41-yard Fitzgerald field goal. That brought Carolina within 10-6, but it gave Tampa Bay a chance to double up with possessions at the end of the second quarter and the start of the third.

That chance turned into nothing, though, with the offense going three-and-out in 43 seconds before punting the ball away right back to the Panthers, who took over at their 38 with 1:06 to go before halftime.

Young and the Carolina offense dinked and dunked its way into field goal range with ease, and while they looked like they might be headed for a kick to cut the deficit to 10-9 at the break, it all got so much worse for Tampa Bay. Young found Tetairoa McMillan for a 22-yard touchdown with seven seconds left, with the rookie easily beating Jamel Dean to put the Panthers up 13-10 through 30 minutes.

Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan – Photo by: IMAGN – Jim Dedmon

The Bucs got the ball to start the third quarter, and they continued to control the time of possession in a big way. It helped that they converted third down after third down, with Mayfield running for 23 yards on 3rd & 7, Chris Godwin Jr. catching a 5-yard pass on 3rd & 4 and White picking up 13 yards on a catch and run on 3rd & 6.

That set up another 1st & Goal from the 1, and after Evans drew a defensive pass interference call, Sean Tucker easily found the end zone to put an end to a touchdown drive that took the first 8:19 off the clock in the third quarter. And with that touchdown drive, Tampa Bay was back in front by a score of 17-13.

The Bucs defense was back to playing with a lead during its first series of the second half, but you never would’ve guessed it. Bryce Young ran for 9 yards, Chuba Hubbard ran for 10 and Mitchell Evans caught a 10-yarder to get the drive going, then an 11-yard catch by McMillan on 3rd & 1 got the Panthers on the cusp of the red zone.

The Tampa Bay defense eventually got Carolina to a third down at the 6, but after an uncalled holding penalty that prevented a potential Yaya Diaby sack, Young escaped just enough to find Ja’Tavion Sanders for a touchdown. With a 6:33 drive, the home team went back up 20-17 with eight seconds left in the third quarter.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: IMAGN – Jim Dedmon

A 43-yard return by Kameron Johnson on the ensuing kickoff set the Bucs up with good field position at the Panthers’ 43 to start the fourth quarter, giving some momentum back to the visiting team. But that momentum was halted soon after, with Mayfield taking a bad sack on 3rd & 4 inside the 25. It pays to have Chase McLaughlin as your kicker, though, as Tampa Bay has seen time and again over the last three years. He came on to kick a 50-yard field goal, tying the game at 20 with 11:24 to go.

On the Panthers’ next drive, the Buccaneer defense finally showed some resistance. SirVocea Dennis and Lavonte David teamed up for a sack to put Young and the Carolina offense behind the sticks, and that was enough to get the stop.

Tampa Bay’s offense started its next drive backed up, but Emeka Egbuka finally got in on the action soon after with a 40-yard catch. The drive stalled after that, though, and a blatant roughing the punter penalty went uncalled. The Panthers took over from there with a chance to go down the field and win the game.

The Bucs forced the Panthers into a quick third down, but Young then found Jalen Coker for a 34-yard gain to the 33 to get into field goal range. Yaya Diaby got pressure on an eventual 3rd & 7, though, forcing an incompletion. But with a 48-yard field goal by Ryan Fitzgerald, Carolina took a 23-20 lead with 2:20 to go.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: IMAGN – Jim Dedmon

John Bullock was called for unnecessary roughness on the ensuing kickoff, setting the Bucs offense back to the 10-yard line to start their drive. Baker Mayfield scrambled for a 26-yard gain out to the 42-yard line just after the two-minute warning, then the offense kept the drive going as Mayfield completed passes to Evans, Cade Otton and Evans again.

But after an Egbuka false start backed the ball up to the 42, Mayfield threw an interception to end the game and send Tampa Bay to its third straight loss and its sixth loss in the last seven games.

Baker Mayfield finished the day 18-of-26 for just 145 yards, a touchdown and an interception. On the other side, Bryce Young went 21-of-32 for 191 yards and two scores to lead the way to one of the Panthers’ biggest wins in the last decade.

The Bucs (7-8) will now have to win at the Dolphins (6-9) and at home against the Panthers in the regular season finale to retain their NFC South crown. Kickoff for that Week 17 game in Miami is set for 1:00 p.m.