5 notes against the Panthers

1. The Buccaneers surpassed the 40-point threshold for the third time in 2024 – posting the second-most such games of any team this season (behind Detroit with five). Tampa Bay generated 551 net yards of offense in the win over Carolina, the second-most in a game this season and the sixth-most in a single game in franchise history. The Bucs have accumulated over 500 yards of offense in three games this season, the most of any team in the NFL this year. The Buccaneers recorded 20 first downs in the first half alone – tying them for the second-most first-half losses in franchise history, trailing only Detroit (21) in Week 16 of the 2020 season.

2. The Buccaneers accumulated 202 rushing yards on the day, their fourth game in 2024 with over 200 yards on the ground – the fourth-highest such performance by a team this season. Sunday’s performance against the Panthers was the seventh straight game in which Tampa Bay exceeded 100 rushing yards in a game and was the 13th such game this season. Tampa Bay’s seven straight games with over 100 yards on the ground is the second-longest active streak in the NFL, trailing only Philadelphia (16). Sunday’s contest marked the third time in team history that the Bucs rushed for 200 or more yards and threw five or more passing touchdowns in the same game, bringing together Week 16 of the 2010 season against Seattle and Week 11 of the 2015 season against the Philadelphia Eagles. Tampa Bay became the second team, joining the Baltimore Ravens, to achieve this feat this season.

3. Baker Mayfield completed 27 of 32 passes (84.4%) for 359 passing yards and five touchdowns, a career-high, compared to zero interceptions, to earn a passer rating of 153.0 – his highest mark in the Year 2024 and the second best mark in 2024. highest number of his career. Mayfield’s completion percentage of 84.4 is tied for his fourth-highest mark in a game during his NFL tenure. Among quarterbacks with more than 25 pass attempts in a game, Mayfield became the first quarterback to have the same number of incompletions as passing touchdowns since Josh Allen did so against the Miami Dolphins in Week 4 of the 2023 season (four each). Overall, Mayfield is the fourth player to achieve this feat since the start of the 2020 season, joining Allen, Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson. According to Elias Sports, Mayfield became the fifth player ever with more than 350 passing yards, five or more touchdown passes, a passer rating of 150.0 or more and a completion percentage of 80.0 or more in a game, joining Tom Brady (twice ). Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger and Deshaun Watson.

4. Running back Bucky Irving posted a season-high 190 yards from scrimmage, including 20 carries for 113 yards and four receptions for a season-high 77 receiving yards. With his 113 yards on the ground, Irving reached the 1,000-yard rushing milestone, becoming the first Tampa Bay player to accomplish the feat since Doug Martin in 2015. Irving became the first Bucs rookie to achieve this distinction since Martin in 2012. Over the last five seasons, only five rookies in the entire league have reached 1,000 rushing yards: Tyler Allgeier (2022), Kenneth Walker (2022), Najee Harris (2021), James Robinson (2020) and Johnathan Taylor (2020). Irving also recorded a season-high 111 yards after contact, the 10th most of any player in a game this season.

5. Mike Evans surpassed 60 catches in Sunday’s win, his 11th consecutive season with 60-plus catches – the longest such streak early in a player’s career. Evans tied Jerry Rice, Derrick Mason and Travis Kelce (11) for the fourth-most consecutive seasons with 60 catches in NFL history. Evans’ two touchdown grabs on Sunday marked the 24th multi-touchdown reception performance of his career – the sixth-most such games in NFL history.