Funviralpark The Tampa Bay Buccaneers recovered from a 14-0 hole, 21-10 fourth quarter deficit on Sunday to defeat the Carolina Panthers 30-24 to secure the NFC South 8-8. The win extends the current 14-year winning streak that saw the team receiving Brady’s quarterback make the playoffs. He can thank Mike Evans for helping seal his deal on Sunday.
The Bucks receiver scored three touchdowns in Tampa Bay on Sunday, all on long balls. His third score was a 36-yard strike off Brady to the right sideline to give the Bucks their first lead of the game in the fourth quarter.
The Panthers had no answer for Evans as cornerback Jaycee Horn started the sideline. In the process, he launched his career by extending his own amazing streak of 1,000 yards in his ninth straight season. Brady completed his 34 of his 45 passes with his 432 yards and he had three touchdowns. He added another late touchdown on the ground.
Panther Starts Strong, Breaks Down Slowly
The Panthers would have dominated the division and playoff passes with the win. For three quarters it seemed to be going well. Sam Darnold threw two first-half touchdowns to lead to a 14–0 lead as Tampa Bay struggled to move the ball.
The Bucks eventually got on the board with Evans’ first touchdown on a 63-yard pass from Brady late in the first half. Cornerback Keith Taylor Jr. couldn’t keep up with the four-time Pro Bowler, and Brady struck Evans in one shot.
The Bucks then had chances to control the game with Darnold turnovers on Carolina possessions at the end of the first half and the beginning of the second. But the Bucks managed just three points from a miscue and saw a 15-play 90-yard drive go empty when the Panthers blocked a Ryan Sacop field goal.
The Panthers capitalized on the ensuing possession when Darnold threw a 19-yard strike to Sea Smith for his third touchdown of the day, extending the lead to 21–10 early in the fourth quarter. But they couldn’t stop Evans.
The Bucks fought back on the next possession, this time with a 57-yard pass, Evans’ second score of the day. As with the other two scores, Evans ran straight down the right flank and past Carolina’s secondary, this time beating cornerback CJ Henderson.
Carolina had a chance to regain the lead late in the fourth quarter after forcing a Bucks punt with 2:39 remaining. However, Darnold’s second fumble on Anthony Nelson’s sack set up his sneak for a Brady touchdown, extending Tampa Bay’s lead to his 30–21. The Bucks averted disaster on the next possession when rookie punter Jake Kamalda collected a low snap and scrambled to scrimmage a punt near his line.
An ineligible receiver penalty ruled out the punt, but Kamalda pinned Carolina deep on the next play. Carolina’s final possession that started with 26 seconds left fell pretty short, and the Bucks secured the NFC South for the second straight season.
Darnold played well, completing 23 of 37 passes for 341 yards on 3 touchdowns. But two lost fumbles and an interception kept the Bucks close enough to clinch Brady’s 19th division title.
This isn’t a vintage Brady season and he may lose his record next week with a loss.
