Updated Jan. 3, 2026, 7:25 p.m. ET<\/p>\n
The Carolina Panthers<\/a>, with a chance to clinch their first NFC South title since 2015, came up short.<\/p>\n Here are the top highlights from Saturday’s 16-14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/a> . . .<\/p>\n Bucs bleed the clock<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The Panthers are unable to get anything and the Bucs secure a 16-14 win.<\/p>\n Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!<\/a> Panthers stay alive with a score – TB 16, CAR 14<\/p>\n A 40-yard catch by McMillan on a fourth-and-8 helps set up an 8-yard touchdown connection between Young and Jalen Coker.<\/p>\n Panthers trail 16-14 with 2:27 left.<\/p>\n Panthers block a FG<\/p>\n Panthers rookie defensive lineman Cam Jackson blocks a 38-yard field goal attempt.<\/p>\n Carolina, down 16-7 with 5:12 left, regains possession at Tampa’s 28.<\/p>\n Panthers fumble the ball away<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Tampa leads 16-7 with 11:07 left in the game.<\/p>\n Bucs add on – TB 16, CAR 7<\/p>\n McLaughlin nails a 48-yard field goal to extend Tampa’s lead to 16-7. 14:12 remains.<\/p>\n Panthers miss a FG<\/p>\n Rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald comes up short on a 54-yard field goal.<\/p>\n The Bucs, up 13-7, take over from their own 44-yard line with 10:27 left in the third quarter.<\/p>\n Bucs tack on another FG – TB 13, CAR 7<\/p>\n McLaughlin hits a 36-yard field goal to give the Bucs a 13-7 lead with two seconds left in the first half.<\/p>\n Bryce Young is picked<\/p>\n Young, in trying to find wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, is picked off by cornerback Jacob Parrish.<\/p>\n Bucs, up 10-7 with 1:51 left in the first half, take back possession from their own 42.<\/p>\n Panthers hit the end zone – TB 10, CAR 7<\/p>\n Quarterback Bryce Young, off the Rozeboom interception, finds tight end Tommy Tremble for an 8-yard touchdown.<\/p>\n Panthers trail 10-7 with 10:50 left in the second quarter.<\/p>\n Panthers pick it off<\/p>\n Linebacker Christian Rozeboom picks off Mayfield on a third-and-7. Panthers, down 10-0, take over on the Bucs’ 19-yard line.<\/p>\n Bucs add a FG – TB 10, CAR 0<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Panthers punt their opening touch<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n