It’s Victory Monday again across Tampa Bay as the Bucs pulled off a 26-23 win over the Panthers in overtime. It was a toss-up on who would win down to the very end, but outside linebacker Anthony Nelson’s forced fumble that outside linebacker Yaya Diaby recovered helped set up kicker Chase McLaughlin to knock a 30-yard field goal through the uprights which brought the team back to .500 at 6-6.

There is still plenty of work to do over the last five games of the season, although the Bucs’ playoff chances look more promising after a win and with the Falcons losing 17-13 to the Chargers. Things had not gone the team’s way late in games this season, including two tough overtime losses to the Falcons and Chiefs.

The third time proved to be the charm, and head coach Todd Bowles was all smiles after the game saying, “Hey, we finally won one at the end.”

Todd Bowles Awards Anthony “Baby Face” Nelson The Game Ball

Bucs OLB Anthony Nelson – Photo by: USA Today

After the game, Todd Bowles addressed his team, but it started by acknowledging Anthony Nelson. The veteran pass rusher had an impressive game, finishing with four pressures and two quarterback hits on Panthers quarterback Bryce Young.

But it was Nelson’s game-saving and potentially season-saving play that secured a win over a division rival and had the team fired up afterward.

Bowles waved him up to the middle of the locker room and when he stood next to his coach, “NELLY! NELLY! NELLY!” chants broke out.

Bowles then broke the team down.

“We wouldn’t have won this in the first half of the season,” Bowles said. “We learned how to finish, we learned how to finish right? By any means necessary, by any means necessary. We’ve got a guy that just had a baby, and we’ve got a guy that made the game-sealing play! Not only does he get the game ball, but he gets to break it down and say, ‘See you Wednesday.'”

Speaking to the media on Monday afternoon, Tampa Bay’s head coach and defensive play caller noted that the now father of two has a baby face of his own.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“It was huge,” Bowles said about Nelson. “He always plays under control. He plays calm but he plays tough and he plays smart. He doesn’t have the build of a natural, muscular defensive lineman and he has a babyface. ‘Baby Face Nelson’, if you will. At the same time, he’s extremely smart, he’s extremely strong, he’s extremely active when he’s on [the field].

“He understands how to use his hands because he played inside so much in college. He understands that part of the game as well. When he’s in there, he doesn’t start but he gets starter plays. He will play more and he had a heck of a ballgame for us.”

With the “Baby Face Assassin” nickname already reserved for NBA superstar Stephen Curry, the “Baby Face Nelson” nickname will have to do for now.

Going back to the locker room after the game, Bowles turned the group to Nelson, who gathered the team around him before dispersing them with the good news that they would next meet on Wednesday for practice.

“Hey, good s–t today,” Nelson said. “Way to fight until the last minute. All right, let’s go. See you Wednesday! Family on three.”

You can watch Todd Bowles’ postgame victory speech in its entirety below.