The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were lucky to win their second consecutive game on Sunday afternoon as they came from behind to beat the Carolina Panthers 26-23 in overtime.
Many Buccaneers fans thought Chase McLaughlin had lost the game when he missed a 29-yard game-winning field goal with 3:29 to go in the game before redeeming himself with a 59-yard field goal with 2:13 left in OT to help get the Buccaneers the win.
This game was also infuriating and fascinating at the same time.
Bucs kicker Chase McLaughlin went 4/5 on his field goals, and Carolina kicker Eddy Pineiro went 3/5.
As Baker Mayfield alluded to in his press conference, “The first half was sloppy. It was sloppy all over the first. Offensively, too many penalties, mental errors, things like that,” Mayfield said in a postgame news conference. “But to find a way to push it into overtime and get the win is big-time for us.”
With under two minutes to go in OT, Anthony Nelson stripped Carolina running back Chubba Hubbard of the ball, creating a Buccaneers turnover to propel them to the 26-23 win in OT following a Chase Mcclaughlin 59-yard field goal.
Bucky Irving had his coming-out party, totaling 185 yards from scrimmage, including 152 yards rushing, for an average of 6.1 yards per carry.
Baker Mayfield had this to say post-game about Bucky Irving. Bucky is a stud. Obviously, getting the ball in his hands is good for our offense. It goes for all of our backs. But the way Bucky played Sunday gave us all a spark we really needed when we weren’t doing too hot.”
Bucky Irving said more credit should be given to the offensive line for getting the job done. “We’ve got to start getting my O-line up there more. They don’t get enough credit. They’re the guys who are pretty much getting the job done.”
Baker Mayfield talked about fighting through a sloppy game to get the win in the end. “We found a way to win,” said Mayfield. “To be on the right side of things at the end there is good for us. We were sloppy at first all over. Offensively, too many penalties, mental errors, things like that, but to find a way to push it into overtime and get the win is big time for us.”
The Bucs will return home next Sunday after a two-week absence from Raymond James Stadium when the Las Vegas Raiders visit Tampa. The Raiders have lost eight in a row.
The Buccaneers are now tied with the Falcons atop the NFC South at 6-6, with the Falcons holding the tiebreaker.