Mayfield throws 5 TD passes and the Bucs keep the playoffs, NFC South hopes remain

TAMPA, Fla. – Baker Mayfield threw for 359 yards and five touchdowns to help the Tampa Bay Buccaneers keep their division and playoff hopes alive with a 48-14 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

Tampa Bay’s fifth win in the last six weeks gave the first-place Bucs (9-7) a half-game lead over Atlanta and the best record in the NFC South, with the Falcons playing later on Sunday night in Washington will play away.

Atlanta is in the tiebreaker in the division race and can end Tampa Bay’s three-year reign as NFC South champions by defeating the Commanders and winning again next week at home against the last-place Panthers (4-12).

Mayfield threw TD passes of 2 and 1 yards to Mike Evans, and Tampa Bay scored five straight possessions in the first half to build a 27-7 lead. Jalen McMillan scored on receptions of 10 and 16 yards, linebacker JJ Russell returned a blocked punt for a TD in the third quarter and rookie Bucky Irving had another big game against Carolina with 120 yards rushing on 20 carries and four receptions for 77 yards.

Irving managed more than 1,000 yards (1,033) this season despite being used primarily as a backup to Rachaad White. The fourth-round draft pick ran for 152 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries against the NFL’s 32nd-ranked run defense in Tampa Bay’s 26-23 overtime win at Carolina on Dec. 1.

Meanwhile, Mayfield improved to 4-0 against Carolina since his former team released him two years ago. He completed 27 of 32 passes without an interception.

The Panthers played without leading rusher Chuba Hubbard, who was placed on injured reserve Saturday. Without him, the offense was almost entirely dependent on quarterback Bryce Young, who threw two TD passes to Adam Thielen but completed just 15 of 28 passes for 203 yards.

The Bucs sacked Young five times and limited Carolina to 39 yards rushing. Thielen scored on receptions of 17 and 40 yards in the first half and finished the game with five catches for 110 yards.

Injuries

The Buccaneers played without S Antoine Winfield Jr (knee), TE Cade Otton (knee) and WR Sterling Shepard (hamstring/foot), who were inactive. … Buccaneers CB Jamel Dean left in the first half with a knee injury and did not return.

Next

Panthers: Finish the season in Atlanta.

Buccaneers: Host the New Orleans Saints.