by Some NFL games are forgettable. Others become instant classics that fans talk about for years.
Then some games perfectly capture where two teams stand at a crucial moment in the season.
Games that reveal strengths, expose weaknesses, and set the tone for what comes next.
When the Carolina Panthers traveled to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in late December, both teams had entirely different motivations.
One was fighting desperately to keep playoff dreams alive. The other was playing with pride, trying to build momentum for the future.
The atmosphere was electric. Fans filled the stadium knowing this matchup would answer important questions about both franchises.
What unfolded over the next three hours was a masterclass in football fundamentals.
There were incredible individual performances, strategic adjustments, and moments that shifted the entire game’s momentum.
Carolina Panthers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers Match Player Stats
Today, we’re breaking down the carolina panthers vs tampa bay buccaneers match player stats in complete detail.
You’ll understand every key play, every crucial statistic, and every decision that shaped the outcome.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan of either team or simply love analyzing great football, this comprehensive breakdown will give you the full story.
Let’s dive into the numbers, the narratives, and the moments that mattered most!
Also Check: Philadelphia Eagles vs Los Angeles Rams Match Player Stats
Game Overview: The Basic Facts
Let me give you the quick facts first so you understand what happened!
Quick Game Information
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Final Score | Buccaneers 48, Panthers 14 |
| Date | December 29, 2024 |
| Location | Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida |
| Weather | Perfect! 76°F, light wind |
| Attendance | 64,434 fans |
| Game Duration | 2 hours and 55 minutes |
Score by Quarter
| Quarter | Panthers | Buccaneers |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 7 | 10 |
| 2nd | 7 | 17 |
| 3rd | 0 | 14 |
| 4th | 0 | 7 |
| Final | 14 | 48 |
What happened? The game was actually pretty close at halftime! The score was 27-14. Carolina was hanging in there!
But then the second half started, and Tampa Bay completely took over. They scored 21 more points while Carolina scored zero!
The Carolina panthers vs tampa bay buccaneers match player stats today showed a complete beatdown in the second half. Let’s find out why!
Also Check: Cleveland Browns vs Denver Broncos Match Player Stats
First Half Action: Panthers Keeping Hope Alive
The game didn’t start as a blowout. Both teams were actually scoring in the first half!
Early Scores
The Buccaneers scored first with a field goal and a touchdown. They jumped out to a 10-7 lead.
But Carolina didn’t panic! Their young quarterback Bryce Young threw a touchdown pass to veteran receiver Adam Thielen. Game on!
Tampa Bay kept scoring, though. Baker Mayfield (the Bucs quarterback) was throwing perfect passes. Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan were catching touchdowns.
By halftime, Tampa Bay led 27-14. That’s a 13-point lead — pretty big, but not impossible to overcome!
Key First Half Stats
Tampa Bay’s First Half:
- 17 points in the second quarter alone
- Baker Mayfield already had 3 touchdown passes
- Their offense looked unstoppable
Carolina’s First Half:
- Adam Thielen caught a beautiful 40-yard touchdown right before halftime
- Bryce Young was fighting hard despite constant pressure
- The defense was trying, but couldn’t stop Tampa’s offense
Panthers fans still had hope at halftime. Their team was losin,g but not out of it yet!
Second Half Breakout: Tampa Bay Goes Crazy
Then came the second half, and everything changed!
Tampa Bay came out like a completely different team. They were faster, stronger, and more aggressive.
Carolina’s offense couldn’t do anything. They went three-and-out (failed to get a first down) over and over again.
The Buccaneers scored 14 points in the third quarter and 7 more in the fourth. Meanwhile, Carolina scored nothing!
What Changed?
Why Tampa Bay dominated:
- Their offensive line gave Baker Mayfield tons of time to throw
- Bucky Irving (running back) was breaking tackles and gaining big yards
- Their defense started sacking Bryce Young constantly
Why Carolina collapsed:
- Their best running back (Chuba Hubbard) was injured and couldn’t play
- Bryce Young was under pressure on almost 70% of his throws! That’s insane!
- The defense got tired of being on the field too much
By the time the fourth quarter ended, it was 48-14. Total domination!
Top Player Stats: Tampa Bay’s Stars Shine Bright
Let’s talk about the individual players who made this game special!
Baker Mayfield — The Perfect Quarterback Performance
Baker Mayfield had one of the best games of his entire career. Seriously, he was almost perfect!
Baker Mayfield’s Stats:
| Stat | Number |
|---|---|
| Passes Completed | 27 out of 32 |
| Completion Percentage | 84.4% |
| Passing Yards | 359 yards |
| Touchdowns | 5 |
| Interceptions | 0 |
| Passer Rating | 153.0 (almost perfect!) |
What does this mean? Mayfield only had 5 incomplete passes the entire game. He also threw 5 touchdown passes. Same number!
That’s incredibly rare. Most quarterbacks who throw 5 touchdowns also have way more incomplete passes.
His 153.0 passer rating was a season high. Anything over 100 is excellent. He was on fire!
Fun fact: Mayfield completed all 12 passes when Carolina tried to blitz (send extra defenders). He threw 5 touchdowns against pressure! That’s championship-level play!
Bucky Irving — The Rookie Running Back Reaches 1,000 Yards
Bucky Irving is a rookie (first-year player) for Tampa Bay. He had a monster game!
Bucky Irving’s Stats:
| Category | Total |
|---|---|
| Rushing Attempts | 20 |
| Rushing Yards | 113 |
| Yards Per Carry | 5.7 |
| Receptions | 4 |
| Receiving Yards | 77 |
| Total Yards | 190 |
What’s so special? During this game, Irving crossed 1,000 rushing yards for the season! That’s a huge milestone!
He became the first Tampa Bay Buccaneer to reach 1,000 yards since 2015. And he’s the first rookie to do it since 2012!
His longest run was 34 yards. His longest catch was 42 yards (which set up a touchdown).
Tampa Bay fans were chanting “Buck-Y! Buck-Y!” when he made big plays. He’s becoming a fan favorite!
Mike Evans — Chasing NFL History
Mike Evans is a veteran receiver who’s been great for years. He caught 8 passes for 97 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Both his touchdowns were short (1 and 2 yards), but that’s what makes Mike special. In the red zone (close to the end zone), he’s almost impossible to stop!
Mike Evans’ Stats:
| Stat | Total |
|---|---|
| Receptions | 8 |
| Yards | 97 |
| Touchdowns | 2 |
| Average per catch | 12.1 yards |
Why this matters: Evans entered the game needing 85 more yards to tie Jerry Rice’s NFL record of 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons!
He didn’t quite get there in this game (only 97 yards). But the next week against New Orleans, he reached 1,004 yards and tied the record! Amazing!
Jalen McMillan — The Hot Rookie Receiver
Jalen McMillan is another rookie, and he’s been on fire lately! He caught 5 passes for 51 yards and 2 touchdowns.
This was his fourth straight game with a touchdown! For a rookie, that’s incredible!
Fun fact: Only three rookies in NFL history have had longer touchdown streaks than McMillan’s four games. Those players? Randy Moss, Lee Evans, and Chris Sanders — all legends!
Top Player Stats: Carolina’s Fighters
Now let’s talk about the Panthers players who tried their best despite losing badly.
Bryce Young — Under Constant Attack
Bryce Young is Carolina’s young quarterback. He’s only in his second year in the NFL, and this game was brutal for him.
Bryce Young’s Stats:
| Stat | Number |
|---|---|
| Passes Completed | 15 out of 28 |
| Completion Percentage | 53.6% |
| Passing Yards | 203 (165 after sacks) |
| Touchdowns | 2 |
| Interceptions | 0 |
| Times Sacked | 5 times (lost 38 yards!) |
| Passer Rating | 100.7 |
The big problem: Young was pressured on 68.6% of his dropbacks! That means on almost 7 out of every 10 passes, a defender was in his face!
This was the HIGHEST pressure rate for any quarterback in a single game during the entire 2024 season! That’s not Young’s fault — his offensive line couldn’t protect him!
Despite all that pressure, Young still threw 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. He’s tough and didn’t give up!
Adam Thielen — The Lone Bright Spot
Adam Thielen is a veteran receiver who’s been in the NFL for years. He was Carolina’s only consistent weapon.
Adam Thielen’s Stats:
| Stat | Total |
|---|---|
| Receptions | 5 |
| Yards | 110 |
| Touchdowns | 2 |
| Average per catch | 22.0 yards |
Why he matters: Thielen caught both of Carolina’s touchdowns! One was a beautiful 40-yard catch right before halftime.
He averaged 22 yards per catch — that’s explosive! He was making big plays when no one else could.
The problem? After Thielen’s 110 yards, no other Panthers receiver had more than 35 yards. He was basically alone out there!
Carolina’s Running Game — Basically Disappeared
This is where Carolina really struggled. Without their injured starter, Chuba Hubbard, they couldn’t run the ball at all.
Carolina’s Rushing Stats:
| Player | Carries | Yards | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raheem Blackshear | 8 | 20 | 2.5 |
| Mike Boone | 2 | 11 | 5.5 |
| Bryce Young | 2 | 8 | 4.0 |
| Team Total | 13 | 39 | 3.0 |
What this means: Carolina ran the ball only 13 times for just 39 yards! That’s terrible!
Compare that to Tampa Bay: they ran 40 times for 202 yards. The difference was massive!
When you can’t run the ball, the defense knows you’re going to pass every time. That made it even easier for Tampa Bay to pressure Young!
Offense and Defense Highlights
Let’s compare how both teams’ offenses and defenses performed!
Tampa Bay’s Offense — Nearly Perfect
What made them so good:
- Baker Mayfield had tons of time to throw (only sacked twice)
- Multiple receivers caught touchdowns (Mike Evans, Jalen McMillan, Payne Durham)
- Bucky Irving ran for over 100 yards
- They converted 71.4% of their third downs! (More on this later)
Total Offense Stats:
| Category | Tampa Bay |
|---|---|
| Total Yards | 551 |
| Passing Yards | 349 |
| Rushing Yards | 202 |
| First Downs | 33 |
| Time of Possession | 41 minutes, 11 seconds |
They controlled the ball for over 41 minutes! That means Carolina’s offense was only on the field for about 19 minutes!
Carolina’s Offense — Constant Struggle
Why they struggled:
- Bryce Young was pressured on almost 70% of throws
- No running game (only 39 yards)
- Only Adam Thielen is making catches
- Went 2-for-9 on third down (22.2%)
Total Offense Stats:
| Category | Carolina |
|---|---|
| Total Yards | 204 |
| Passing Yards | 165 (after sacks) |
| Rushing Yards | 39 |
| First Downs | 13 |
| Time of Possession | 18 minutes, 49 seconds |
The Bucs vs panthers stats showed Tampa Bay gained 347 more yards! That’s like going almost 3.5 football fields further!
Defense Comparison
Tampa Bay’s Defense:
- Sacked Bryce Young 5 times
- Held Carolina to only 39 rushing yards
- Forced constant three-and-outs
- Five different players got sacks!
Carolina’s Defense:
- Played 77 snaps (way too many!)
- Got exhausted because the offense kept going three-and-out
- Chandler Wooten made 14 tackles (team leader)
- Xavier Woods made 12 tackles
Carolina’s defense tried hard, but they were on the field way too much. When your offense can’t sustain drives, your defense gets tired and eventually breaks!
Five Key Moments That Changed the Game
Let me tell you the five plays that decided this game!
1. Adam Thielen’s 40-Yard Touchdown Before Halftime
With seconds left in the first half, Bryce Young threw a bomb to Adam Thielen for 40 yards and a touchdown!
This kept Carolina within 27-14 instead of being blown out. It gave Panthers fans hope going into halftime.
But it was their last touchdown of the game!
2. Bucky Irving’s 42-Yard Reception
Early in the second half, Baker Mayfield threw a short pass to Bucky Irving. Irving caught it and took off running!
He gained 42 yards and got Tampa Bay to the 1-yard line. They scored a touchdown on the next play.
This play broke Carolina’s spirit. The Bucs offense looked unstoppable!
3. The Blocked Punt Returned for Touchdown
This was the knockout punch! With Tampa Bay already leading 34-14 in the third quarter, they blocked Carolina’s punt!
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (great name!) blocked the kick. J.J. Russell picked it up and ran 23 yards for a touchdown!
Score: 41-14. Game over!
Fun fact: This was Tampa Bay’s first blocked punt returned for a touchdown since 2012 — over 12 years ago!
4. Bryce Young Sacked 5 Times
This wasn’t one moment but five separate plays where Young got tackled behind the line.
Five different Tampa Bay defenders got sacks: Yaya Diaby, Anthony Nelson, Chris Braswell, Logan Hall, and Calijah Kancey.
Young lost 38 yards from these sacks. That destroyed Carolina’s offensive rhythm!
5. Tampa Bay’s 10-for-14 Third Down Conversions
On third down (the most important down), Tampa Bay converted 71.4% of the time!
That means when they needed to get a first down to keep the drive alive, they succeeded 10 out of 14 times!
Carolina? They went 2-for-9 (22.2%). That 49-point difference in third-down efficiency decided the game!
Team Stats Comparison: The Numbers Don’t Lie
Let’s put all the important stats side by side so you can see the full picture!
Complete Team Stats Table
| Category | Carolina | Tampa Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 204 | 551 |
| Yards Per Play | 4.4 | 7.4 |
| Total Plays | 46 | 74 |
| Passing Yards | 165 (net) | 349 (net) |
| Rushing Yards | 39 | 202 |
| First Downs | 13 | 33 |
| Third Down % | 22.2% | 71.4% |
| Red Zone TDs | 100% (1/1) | 62.5% (5/8) |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of Possession | 18:49 | 41:11 |
What jumps out?
- Tampa Bay had 347 more yards than Carolina!
- They ran 28 more plays (74 vs 46)
- They had 20 more first downs (33 vs 13)
- They held the ball for over 41 minutes out of 60!
The Carolina panthers vs tampa bay buccaneers match player stats all showed complete domination in every category!
Looking Ahead: What This Means for Both Teams
This game had major implications for both franchises going forward!
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7 Record)
This win moved Tampa Bay to 9 wins and 7 losses. More importantly, it kept their playoff hopes alive!
That same night, the Atlanta Falcons lost their game. This meant Tampa Bay took first place in their division!
One week later, the Buccaneers beat the New Orleans Saints 27-19 to clinch the NFC South division championship. That’s four division titles in a row!
What happened in the playoffs?
- Tampa Bay won its first playoff game (wild card round)
- They lost in the second round (divisional round)
- But they showed they could compete with anyone!
Baker Mayfield’s season: He finished with 4,279 yards and 39 touchdowns — both career highs! This game helped him achieve those numbers!
Mike Evans’ record: The next week, Evans got 89 more yards and finished with 1,004 for the season. He tied Jerry Rice’s record!
Carolina Panthers (Finished 3-13)
This loss dropped Carolina to 3 wins and 12 losses. They finished with a 3-13 record — one of the worst in the NFL.
But there’s a silver lining! Their terrible record gave them the 2nd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft!
What they need to fix:
- Offensive line (Bryce Young can’t succeed without protection!)
- Running backs (lost Chuba Hubbard to injury)
- More receivers to help Adam Thielen
- Defensive depth (they got tired too easily)
Bryce Young’s development: Despite the loss, Young showed toughness. He threw 2 TDs with no interceptions despite constant pressure. That’s a positive sign!
The Panthers used their high draft pick and offseason to rebuild. They focused heavily on offensive line help for Young!
Conclusion: Lessons from a Dominant Win
The Carolina Panthers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers match player stats tell the story of complete domination by one team!
Tampa Bay won 48-14 by doing everything right:
- Baker Mayfield threw 5 touchdowns with zero mistakes
- Bucky Irving ran for over 100 yards and became a 1,000-yard rusher
- The defense pressured Bryce Young on almost 70% of plays
- They converted 71% of third downs and controlled the ball for 41 minutes
Carolina fought hard but couldn’t overcome their problems:
- No running game (only 39 yards)
- Terrible offensive line protection
- Only one reliable receiver (Adam Thielen)
- Exhausted defense that spent too much time on the field
But here’s the beautiful thing about football: every game teaches lessons!
Tampa Bay learned they could dominate with a balanced offense. Carolina learned they needed major improvements, especially on the offensive line.
Both teams used these lessons going forward. Tampa made the playoffs. Carolina got a high draft pick to rebuild.
Football isn’t just about one game. It’s about learning, growing, and building for the future!
Remember: Stats tell the story, but heart writes the ending! 🏈
