Bucs vs. Panthers: Most Impressive In Week 18

Irving pitched in on the second drive with a 13-yard catch to pick up a critical first down that kept the offense on schedule en route to a field goal to go up 10-0. The efficiency was low as he averaged just 3.3 yards per carry, but Irving put together several runs and a catch that picked up a total of six first downs on the day.

Irving’s final line was 26 carries for 85 yards and one catch for 13 yards.

DTs Calijah Kancey, Vita Vea AND Logan Hall

In his first game back from a torn pectoral muscle, Calijah Kancey wasted no time getting involved, penetrating the line of scrimmage both rushing the passer and fitting the run. His gap-shooting style of play has been a missing element in the Bucs’ defensive front and was a welcome return. Kancey led the team in quarterback pressures with three.

Vea was his usual dominant self in run defense, plugging multiple gaps and giving the Carolina run game no room to get up field. Vea came up big late in the game, identifying and blowing up a screen play to Dowdle to set up a 2nd and 15.

One of the most under-discussed topics surrounding the Bucs this year has been Logan Hall’s emergence as one of the better and more consistent players on the defense. The bar has been low, but credit is due to the former second-round pick that he has cleared it. He was also instrumental in holding the line of scrimmage against the Panther’s run game and maintaining rush integrity to prevent Young from being able to find yards with his feet.

The trio finished the game with just four tackles. But their presence forced Carolina into a game script where the avoided the run entirely.

TE Cade Otton

Cade Otton was extremely productive early, catching three passes for 32 yards and a touchdown in the first half. His touchdown was a great grab on a seam route for 18 yards to put the Bucs up 7-0 after the first drive of the game.

Otton came up huge on the Bucs’ final drive of the first half, keeping himself open and available on a scramble drill from quarterback Baker Mayfield to field a duck of a throw and get up field for a 22-yard gain to the Panthers 31-yard line.

He was Mayfield’s favorite target on the day, as he regularly abused the Panthers’ linebackers and zone coverage. Otton made catches over the middle, in the screen game, on second reaction scramble drills and crucially in the flat off of play action just outside of the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter for a 20-yard gain into Carolina territory. He smartly wrapped the ball up with five points of contact as he rumbled down the field to ice the game.

Otton led the team with nine targets, seven catches, 94 yards and a touchdown.

P Riley Dixon

Dixon was a weapon in this game. He had three punts in the game. He stuck all three inside the 20. His first punt went to the Panthers’ 13 with just a 3-yard return. The second was even better, getting fair caught at the 7-yard line. But he saved his best for last. With less than a minute left in the game and up by just two points, Dixon planted a 41-yard beauty down at the Panthers’ 3-yard line.

That field position helped the defense kill all three ensuing drives. That was incredibly important to the team in the game. His final line was three punts, 130 yards, a 43.3 average and a 100% in-20 rate.

CB Jacob Parrish

With both of their starting cornerbacks out of the game due to injury, Tampa Bay needed one of their rookies playing in their place to step up. Parrish did that literally on a 3rd & 6 inside the two-minute warning in the first half.

With Panthers quarterback Bryce Young looking for his star wideout Tetairoa McMillan on an out route, Parrish clicked and closed on the route and stepped in front of the throw to pull down an interception, kill a Carolina scoring drive and set up a score for the offense before the half.

LB Lavonte David

In a season where his play has fallen off precipitously, it was nice to see some flashes of vintage Lavonte David. He was involved in several plays, racking up six tackles on the night. He helped bring back the stifling run defense of Bucs’ defenses of yesteryear. David led an inspired run defense that held Rico Dowdle and Chubba Hubbard to just 20 yards on 12 carries.

He also helped man the flats and middle of the field in a way that he has struggled to do this year, limiting the Panthers’ passing attack to speed outs and deep shots to rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan. The Panthers’ backs and tight ends combined for just six catches for 53 yards.

And when the Bucs needed their franchise player the most, he came up big. Down 16-7 in the fourth quarter, the Panthers were driving deep into Bucs’ territory. Carolina tried to get cute and called a flea-flicker, but running back Rico Dowdle slipped on the pitch back to Young. David came screaming in and dove on the ball before Young could fall on it. The play was a huge momentum turner and kept Tampa Bay’s playoff hopes alive for another day.

David also made some Bucs and NFL history in a game that very well could be his last in the NFL. With his six tackles, the veteran linebacker tied Buccaneer great and Pro Football Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks for sixth all-time in tackles recorded by Statspass with 1,714 (records date back to 1994). At the same time, David tied Brooks as Tampa Bay’s all-time leading tackler, per Statspass records.

And with his fumble recovery, David earned his 35th career takeaway and joined elite company in the process. David and Pro Football Hall of Famers Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher are the only players since 1982 with 40+ sacks and 35+ career takeaways.

Bucs Offensive Line

Yes, Baker Mayfield had to scramble on a few occasions. But most of those were late scrambles after fantastic pass protection where he just didn’t see a route he wanted to target. Mike Jordan, Dan Feeney and Graham Barton held up against the Panthers interior pass rush all game long, giving Mayfield plenty of time and lanes to run through.

Barton also had a fantastic block early in the game on a screen pass for a first down. Jordan, to me, had a really strong bounce-back game after successive poor performances, not allowing a pressure by my count.

The trio also helped open just enough lanes in the run game to keep the time of possession firmly in Tampa Bay’s favor. Their blocking helped the Bucs run the ball 38 times for 109 yards in the designed run game.

The tackles were equally as good with Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke holding down the edges and helping the run game find its best success on the edges. Baker was sacked just one time in this game and that wasn’t on the offensive line. It was a yeoman’s performance from the group in less than ideal conditions.

QB Baker Mayfield

I went back and forth on Mayfield’s inclusion on this list. His interception to Christian Rozeboom was about as bad as you’ll ever see and let the Panthers back in the game. But outside of that play, he was incredibly efficient, completing 16 of his 22 passes for 203 yards. He took what the defense gave him for most of the game and when he did look to scramble, he didn’t force bad throws or take back-breaking sacks.

His scrambling helped pick up several first downs early that helped get the Bucs their first 10 points of the game. In total he added 31 yards to Tampa Bay’s rushing total on just four carries.

In all he was a net positive, finding open receivers in the play action game and keeping the offense ahead of the sticks when he was called upon. His 0.35 EPA/play on 29 drop backs was a solid day at the office.