Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8) – Carolina Panthers (6-10): 30-24
The tension was present, the doubt was justified, but Tom Brady and his men were able to come back again in a badly embarked game and win to validate such a precious place in the playoffs. It would have been painful. The offensive line was overrun, the running game was laborious. But the GOAT was able to take advantage of an imperial Mike Evans and a decisive defense to come back in a game that gave the Panthers a lot of hope. In the meantime Tampa Bay is division champion.
For Carolina the defeat is a heartbreak. While everything seemed to be going well, cover was torn by a burning Evans, and the offense penalized by two fumbles and an interception. Despite a good run since the dismissal of Matt Rhule, the felines will not achieve the feat of qualifying for the January playoffs. However, there are positive points, since the group will be able to build next year around an effective running game, good defensive elements, and perhaps even a Sam Darnold in full redemption.
The Panthers bare their fangs
From the first series of the match, Carolina puts pressure on the Floridians. Without dwelling on their primary strength which is the ground game, the Panthers serve a balanced score which marks immediately. Sam Darnold (22/36, 316 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT) breaks through the cover and alerts Tommy Tremble (33 yards, 1 TD) in the paint to light up the scoreboard. And everything looks for the best when Chris Godwin (120 yards) releases a leather covered by the defense while Tampa Bay rode his attack to respond. 0-7 at the change of sides.
Tampa Bay tries to get back in the game, but lacks success. Despite a fourth attempt converted by Tom Brady (34/45, 432 yards, 3 TD) on a sneak, Ryan Succop (1/3 FG, 1/2 XP) lines up for a 53-yard field goal which is not not transformed. The Panthers sense their opportunity. Confident, constant, serene, the felines progress, involve their playmakers DJ Moore (117 yards, 1 TD) and Laviska Shenault (13 yards), and strike a second time. Darnold completes a gorgeous rainbow over the cover for Moore which escalates the mark. Even roughed up, the Buccs manage to catch their breath when Tom Brady finally finds the fault in the deep cover. While playing small from the start, the Florida quarterback lights the bomb and finds Mike Evans (207 yards, 3 TD) for a touchdown from 63 yards. The momentum even changes completely from the next action when Devin White (7 TKL) covers a fumble on snap from Darnold on the 13 blue yards. The Buccs snatch only 3 points on the opportunity, but the alert is clear: any wandering will be sanctioned. 10-14 at the whistle.
Comeback Brady
Back from the locker room, even if the Panthers were warned, they try. And lose. While they were building a series and could have played patience, Darnold tests the depth and is intercepted by Sean Murphy-Bunting. Now the Buccaneers are hot and Carolina is playing on their heels. However, this will not be enough. Reassembled, the Florida Pirates produce a lightning drive, which unfortunately fails when the field goal attempt is blocked on special teams. Tampa Bay will have to find a way to convert their opportunities if they want to contain their direct opponent. Especially since the blues react. A few penalties, a decisive DJ Moore, and Carolina is threatening to start the last round. 10-14.
Did Tom Brady’s men miss their chance? It’s to do. Because from the change of side the Panthers widen the gap. Darnold finds Shi Smith (70 yards, 1 TD) full center to add 7 points. What Brady responds with a cut-and-paste from the first quarter, finding Evans on a 57-yard bomb. The two formations mark each other on loan. Finally it is the Buccaneers who manage to take the lead for the first time in the game. Brady plays the rehearsal and offers a hat-trick to Evans on a pass from 30 yards. There are 6 minutes left and Carolina crumbles and sinks. Sam Darnold suffered a sack-fumble on his own 13 yards, and offered the leather to the Buccs who converted the opportunity with a final scramble from Brady. The Panthers are knocked out. In a few actions they seek the miracle. A quick field goal shortened the gap, but it all came down to an on-side kick. It will be a missed opportunity, since it is the Floridians who recover the ball and keep the clocks ticking. Carolina will only have 26 seconds for the action of the last chance… The players run everywhere, exchange the leather, but no Tampa Bay does not make a mistake. The victory will have been snatched in pain, but the qualification in the playoffs crowns the new comeback of Tom Brady’s men.
.@TomBrady to @MikeEvans13_ today
– 63-yard TD
– 57-yard TD
– 30-yard TD pic.twitter.com/n8bacnNONd— NFL (@NFL) January 1, 2023
