The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Carolina Panthers 43-13 at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, scoring on offense, defense and special teams. The win came after Tampa Bay opened the season 1-5 and followed 12 consecutive games decided by one score, a stretch in which the Buccaneers went 3-9. Quarterback Baker Mayfield returned after missing three games with a dislocated right thumb and viewed the performance as an internal statement about the team’s potential.
“I think it’s a statement internally for us, not to anybody else, but for us,” Mayfield said. “This is what it’s supposed to look like. No, it’s not always going to look like that, it’s the NFL, but operation-wise and when it comes to complementary football, this is what the potential for this team can have so it’s a statement within ourselves.” His comments followed a complete performance from Tampa Bay in all three phases. The Buccaneers also ended their run of one-score games with a 30-point victory.
Buccaneers control the game on the ground
Tampa Bay rushed for 258 yards and controlled the ball for almost 36 minutes. The production gave the Buccaneers a strong foundation while Mayfield handled a limited passing workload. Zac Robinson, the team’s new offensive coordinator, was part of the offensive adjustment Mayfield said had taken time.
“I think it’s just taken time,” he said. “We talked about earlier in the week, talked with you guys back in Tampa about the pass game not having the details and clicking on the same page where we want to be. Then, I think it’s just taken time for the guys up front and Z-Rob to get on the same page with what schemes are working. Sometimes, that happens. It takes time but when you’re able to lean on it like that and the confidence just keeps building, we just got to feed off that and keep going. It was the most important one because it was the next one. So, check that off the list and now we’re on to another division opponent.” Mayfield said the Buccaneers needed to build from the result. He also described the victory as important because it was the next game on the schedule.
Mayfield returns from thumb injury
Mayfield returned after missing three games because of a dislocated right thumb suffered against Minnesota in Week Three. He completed seven of 11 passes for 64 yards and one touchdown, with no interceptions. Mayfield said he felt no worse for wear after the game.
The handoffs tested Mayfield’s injured thumb more than his 11 pass attempts, as he gave the ball to the backs 49 times. “These handoffs, I don’t know,” Mayfield said with a smile. “My thumb might be pretty sore. It’s good form, though.” His passing line and Tampa Bay’s rushing production allowed the Buccaneers to control the game without asking him to throw frequently.
FSB Take
The Buccaneers’ performance showed the practical value of the complementary football Mayfield described. Tampa Bay paired 258 rushing yards with scoring in all three phases, while Mayfield protected the ball in his return. The combination gives the team a verified example of how its offense, defense and special teams can support one another after a 1-5 start.
Source: Original report