5 Takeaways From Buccaneers’ Destruction of the Carolina Panthers

With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers needing a victory to keep their season alive, they walked into Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte and walked out with their second win of the season. The Bucs annihilated the Carolina Panthers, whose lead over Tampa in the NFC South is now only 1.5 games, 43-13.Tampa played its best game of the season, and possibly its best game of the Todd Bowles era. The Bucs dominated every facet of the game. They ran for three touchdowns, threw a touchdown, forced four turnovers, including a strip-sack scoop-and-score TD, and returned a blocked extra point all the way back for two points. After all of the issues Tampa had over the first six weeks, Sunday’s destruction of Carolina was a sight for sore eyes. Let’s check out my five biggest takeaways from the Bucs’ season-saving effort. 5 Biggest Takeaways 1. The Bucs have life: The Bucs’ season has looked lost on multiple occasions through the first six weeks, but playing in the NFC South means not only do they have life, but they might also be the favorite to win the division if they beat Atlanta next week. Amazingly, Tampa is the only team in the South with a positive point differential. The Panthers have had their moments this year, but were exposed on Sunday. The Falcons have had games where they've looked like the NFL’s worst team and games where they’ve looked like a juggernaut. The New Orleans Saints have lost four of five since opening the season a failed two-point conversion short of beating the Detroit Lions before knocking off the Baltimore Ravens on the road. At this point, any of the four teams could either win the division or finish last without it being a surprise. 2. The offensive line is the team’s engine: Despite not meeting expectations through six games, the dominant Tampa offensive line finally arrived. Against Carolina, the line kept Baker Mayfield clean and paved the way for the Bucs to rush for 258 yards, the third-most in team history. The line proved it is the engine that makes the entire offense go. It absolutely dominated the Panthers and did so without starting right tackle Luke Goedeke. 3. Bucky Irving is a star: Irving has two career games with multiple touchdowns, and they have both come in the last three weeks. Against the Panthers, Irving ran 24 times for 106 yards and the two scores. Irving struggled with injuries last season, but has returned to being the dynamic player he was as a rookie. He should continue to be the centerpiece of the offense. Irving has become a bona fide star.4. Tampa has an excellent pair of CBs: It seems like every week, Zyon McCollum and Jacob Parrish shut down an explosive passing attack. Tampa’s excellent pair of starting CBs have gotten the best of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in Week 1, Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison in Week 3, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens in Week 5, and just shut down Carolina’s top-ranked passing offense on Sunday. Heading into the game, the Panthers were averaging about 295 yards per game through the air. The Bucs held Bryce Young to only 163 yards and picked him off twice. Second-year star WR Tetairoa McMillan was held to four catches for 40 yards. Jalen Coker had one catch for nine yards. McCollum got one of Tampa’s interceptions and has played like an All-Pro all year. Parrish had two more PBUs, giving him 11 already this season (and he missed a game).The Bucs had a lot of problems in the first six games. Their cornerbacks were not one of them. 5. The pass rush is back: After only registering a total of six sacks over their first five games, the Bucs’ pass rush is officially back. One week after getting five sacks against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa had five more against Carolina. YaYa Diaby was a monster on Sunday, notching his first three sacks of the season. Vita Vea got on the board with his first, and Al-Quadin Muhammad recorded one for the second straight game. This is the type of fearsome pass rush the Bucs are known for. The defense has been terrific all year and has reached a new level, with 10 sacks in the last two games.