Updated Jan. 3, 2026, 7:25 p.m. ET
The Carolina Panthers, with a chance to clinch their first NFC South title since 2015, came up short.
Here are the top highlights from Saturday’s 16-14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . . .
On a third-and-4, Mayfield connects with Otton on a 20-yard gain. The reception allows Tampa to bleed out much of the remaining clock and pin the Panthers back to their own 3-yard line with 18 seconds.
The Panthers are unable to get anything and the Bucs secure a 16-14 win.
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A 40-yard catch by McMillan on a fourth-and-8 helps set up an 8-yard touchdown connection between Young and Jalen Coker.
Panthers trail 16-14 with 2:27 left.
Panthers rookie defensive lineman Cam Jackson blocks a 38-yard field goal attempt.
Carolina, down 16-7 with 5:12 left, regains possession at Tampa’s 28.
Dowdle, from the Tampa Bay 20-yard line, slips up on a flea flicker and loses the ball. Bucs linebacker Lavonte David recovers the fumble at the 29.
Tampa leads 16-7 with 11:07 left in the game.
McLaughlin nails a 48-yard field goal to extend Tampa’s lead to 16-7. 14:12 remains.
Rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald comes up short on a 54-yard field goal.
The Bucs, up 13-7, take over from their own 44-yard line with 10:27 left in the third quarter.
Bucs tack on another FG – TB 13, CAR 7
McLaughlin hits a 36-yard field goal to give the Bucs a 13-7 lead with two seconds left in the first half.
Young, in trying to find wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, is picked off by cornerback Jacob Parrish.
Bucs, up 10-7 with 1:51 left in the first half, take back possession from their own 42.
Panthers hit the end zone – TB 10, CAR 7
Quarterback Bryce Young, off the Rozeboom interception, finds tight end Tommy Tremble for an 8-yard touchdown.
Panthers trail 10-7 with 10:50 left in the second quarter.
Linebacker Christian Rozeboom picks off Mayfield on a third-and-7. Panthers, down 10-0, take over on the Bucs’ 19-yard line.
A 69-yard drive from Tampa Bay stalls after Mayfield can’t connect with rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka in the end zone off a third-and-8 from Carolina’s 11-yard line.
Buccaneers settle for a 29-yard field goal by kicker Chase McLaughlin to extend their lead to 10-0 with 1:57 remaining in the first quarter.
Panthers punt their opening touch
Carolina fails to respond to Tampa’s touchdown after quarterback Bryce Young can’t find wide receiver Xavier Legette on a third-and-10 from midfield. The Panthers punt after a four-play, 15-yard drive and the Bucs, up 7-0, take over.
Bucs strike first – TB 7, CAR 0
Tampa Bay treks down the field on a nine-play, 74-yard touchdown drive on the game’s opening possession. The touch ends on an 18-yard connection between quarterback Baker Mayfield and tight end Cade Otton.
Bucs lead 7-0 with 9:31 left in the first quarter.
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