Carolina Panthers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers Match Player Stats (Dec 29, 2024)

Tampa Bay crushed Carolina 48-14 at Raymond James Stadium on December 29, 2024. The Buccaneers needed a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Panthers were playing out the string at 3-12, missing their top running back Chuba Hubbard after placing him on injured reserve the day before.

This wasn’t close after halftime. Carolina hung around through two quarters, trailing just 27-14. Then Tampa Bay shut them out completely over the final 30 minutes, piling on 21 unanswered points.

---

---

Game Summary

Top Performers:

• Baker Mayfield: 27/32, 359 yards, 5 TDs, 153.0 rating
• Bucky Irving: 113 rushing yards, crossed 1,000-yard milestone
• Adam Thielen: 5 catches, 110 yards, 2 TDs (Carolina)
• Bryce Young: Pressured on 68.6% of dropbacks (highest in NFL all season)

Score by Quarter

Team Stats

Tampa Bay controlled the ball for over 41 minutes while Carolina’s offense only had possession for 18:49, according to Pro Football Reference’s detailed game log. The 347-yard difference in total offense came from getting beat everywhere. Tampa averaged 7.4 yards per play compared to Carolina’s 4.4. The Buccaneers picked up 33 first downs while limiting the Panthers to just 13.

Baker Mayfield’s Five-Touchdown Day

Mayfield put together one of his best games as a pro. He completed 27 of 32 passes for 359 yards and five touchdowns without throwing an interception. His 84.4% completion rate and 153.0 passer rating were both season highs, as ESPN’s game analysis noted.

Get this: Mayfield had five incompletions and five touchdown passes. Same number of each. Among quarterbacks with 25-plus attempts in a game, he became the first to do that since Josh Allen in Week 4 of 2023.

Next Gen Stats tracked Mayfield completing all 12 passes against the blitz for 90 yards and five touchdowns. His five scoring passes against pressure tied the most in a single game since Patrick Mahomes did it in Week 1 of 2022.

He spread targets across nine different receivers. Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan each hauled in two touchdowns. The 11.2 yards per attempt came from throwing downfield consistently and beating Carolina’s secondary.

This game pushed Mayfield’s season totals to 4,279 yards and 39 touchdowns, both career highs at that point. His completion percentage (71.7%) and passer rating (107.6%) were also tracking as personal bests. These numbers placed him third in Tampa Bay franchise history for passing touchdowns in a single season, trailing only Tom Brady’s 2021 (43) and 2020 (40) campaigns.

Bucky Irving Hits 1,000 Yards

The rookie running back racked up 190 total yards from scrimmage. Irving carried 20 times for 113 yards and caught four passes for 77 more yards.

Irving crossed 1,000 rushing yards for the season during the second quarter, becoming the first Buccaneer to hit that mark since Doug Martin in 2015. He’s also the first Tampa Bay rookie to reach 1,000 yards since Martin did it 12 years earlier in 2012, according to CBS Sports’ game coverage.

His final 2024 total reached 1,033 yards, placing him third in franchise history among rookie rushers behind Martin (1,454 in 2012) and Cadillac Williams (1,178 in 2005).

Irving recorded 111 yards after contact against Carolina. That ranked 10th among all NFL players that week. His longest run went 34 yards, with tackle Tristan Wirfs getting to the second level for a key block.

His biggest catch of the day went for 42 yards. Irving took a quick pass from Mayfield and ran upfield, getting Tampa Bay to the one-yard line. The Raymond James Stadium crowd erupted with “Buck-Y” chants.

Defenses can’t solve Tampa’s offense when Irving runs this well. Commit too many defenders to stopping the run? Mayfield picks apart the secondary. Drop into coverage? Irving finds running lanes. That balance makes the Buccaneers dangerous.

Mike Evans Chases History

Evans hauled in eight of nine targets for 97 yards and two touchdowns. Both scores came from short range (2 yards and 1 yard), classic red zone Mike Evans using his size and back-shoulder technique.

This game moved Evans past Hall of Famer Steve Largent (819) for 36th all-time in career receptions. His two touchdowns brought his career total to 106, passing Hall of Famers Tim Brown and Don Hutson for 21st all-time.

Evans entered this game with 915 receiving yards for the season. He needed 85 more in the Week 18 finale to tie Jerry Rice’s NFL record of 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to start a career.

One week later against New Orleans, Evans finished with nine receptions for 89 yards. That pushed his season total to 1,004 yards, tying Rice’s record. Tampa Bay beat the Saints 27-19 to clinch their fourth straight NFC South title.

Jalen McMillan Keeps Scoring

The rookie receiver extended his touchdown streak to four straight games. McMillan finished with five receptions for 51 yards and two scores (10 and 16 yards).

His four-game touchdown streak tied for fourth-longest by a rookie in NFL history. Only Randy Moss (seven games in 1998), Lee Evans (five in 2004), and Chris Sanders (five in 1995) had longer streaks.

During those four games, McMillan collected six touchdown receptions. He joined Davante Adams, Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Terry McLaurin as the only players in 2024 with at least four straight games of 4+ receptions, 50+ yards, and a touchdown.

Tampa Bay’s Receiving Options

Tight end Payne Durham scored his first career touchdown on a five-yard catch. Fellow tight end Devin Culp recorded his first career reception, finishing with three grabs for 52 yards.

The variety of weapons made it impossible for Carolina to focus their coverage. Mayfield had options at every level.

Bryce Young Under Constant Siege

While Mayfield threw from clean pockets, Young spent the afternoon running for his life. Next Gen Stats tracked Young facing pressure on 68.6% of his dropbacks. That’s 24 total pressures in the game.

This was the highest pressure rate any quarterback faced in a single game during the entire 2024 NFL season.

Eight different Buccaneers defenders had multiple pressures. The pass rush came from every angle. Carolina’s offensive line had zero answers.

Young took five sacks for 38 yards. Yaya Diaby, Anthony Nelson, Logan Hall, Calijah Kancey, and Chris Braswell each got one.

Despite the constant pressure, Young posted a 100.7 passer rating. He connected on both deep throws over 20 air yards, hitting Adam Thielen for touchdowns of 17 and 40 yards.

Young’s two touchdowns gave him 12 for the season, a career high. All four of his career deep touchdown passes came in his final five games of 2024. The game extended his touchdown streak to nine straight games, the longest of his career. He threw 12 touchdowns during that nine-game stretch.

The second-year quarterback had moments. But moments don’t win when your offensive line gets dominated and your running game puts up 39 total yards. Without complementary weapons beyond one veteran receiver, Carolina’s offense couldn’t sustain drives or control the clock.

Adam Thielen Stands Alone

The veteran receiver was Carolina’s only consistent offensive threat. Thielen caught five of six targets for 110 yards and both touchdowns. His 40-yard score just before halftime was his longest catch as a Panther.

Thielen averaged 22.0 yards per catch. His two-touchdown game was his first multi-score performance since Week 12 of 2021 with the Vikings.

He also reached 500 receiving yards for the season, his eighth consecutive year hitting that mark across nine NFL seasons. His five catches extended a streak to five straight games where he gave Young a reliable target.

Beyond Thielen’s 110 yards, no other Panthers receiver had more than 35 yards. Rookie Xavier Legette drew nine targets but converted just five for 28 yards. That’s 3.1 yards per target, brutal efficiency when you need help.

The gap between Thielen and everyone else on Carolina’s offense exposed a fundamental roster problem. One veteran can’t carry an entire passing attack, especially when the quarterback faces historic pressure rates.

Carolina’s Running Game Disappeared

Without injured starter Chuba Hubbard (placed on IR the day before with a calf strain), Carolina’s ground game ceased to exist.

The Panthers rushed 13 times for just 39 yards. Raheem Blackshear led with 20 yards on eight carries (2.5 average). Mike Boone added 11 yards on two attempts. Young scrambled twice for eight yards.

That’s it. That’s the entire ground game.

Tampa Bay rushed 40 times for 202 yards, outgaining Carolina by 163 on the ground. The Buccaneers ran 40 rushing plays to Carolina’s 13.

Without any run threat, Carolina’s offense became predictable. Tampa Bay’s defensive line pinned their ears back and attacked Young without worrying about play-action or run fakes. The inability to establish even a minimal running threat turned every passing down into a desperate situation.

Tampa Bay’s Five-Sack Performance

The Buccaneers got pressure from everyone. Five different players recorded sacks: Yaya Diaby, Anthony Nelson, Chris Braswell (his first career sack), Logan Hall, and Calijah Kancey.

The sack total doesn’t capture the full picture. Eight different defenders had multiple pressures throughout the game, creating constant chaos in Carolina’s backfield.

Tampa Bay held Carolina to 39 rushing yards. This marked the third consecutive game the Buccaneers held an opponent below 40 rushing yards, building a dominant late-season defensive trend.

Defensive back Zyon McCollum led the team with six tackles (five solo). The defense forced Carolina into constant third-and-long situations, holding them to 2-of-9 conversions on third down.

Carolina’s Defense Battles Fatigue

The Panthers’ defense played 77 snaps compared to just 47 offensive snaps. That massive workload took its toll as the game progressed. Linebacker Chandler Wooten made his first career start and led all defenders with 14 tackles (seven solo).

Safety Xavier Woods (12 tackles) and linebacker Jacoby Windmon (10 tackles) also reached double digits. Cornerback Mike Jackson had two tackles for loss.

Five Panthers defenders played every single snap: Mike Jackson, Demani Richardson, Chandler Wooten, Caleb Farley, and Xavier Woods. Woods played every defensive snap in every game during 2024, leading the entire NFL in defensive snaps.

The defense gave up 551 total yards, contributing to a franchise-worst 6,340 net yards allowed for the season. They allowed 33 first downs, tying a franchise record (previously set January 1, 2012 against New Orleans). The 202 rushing yards pushed Carolina’s season total to a franchise-worst 2,830.

Individual effort couldn’t fix the structural problems. When your offense goes 2-for-9 on third down and runs just 46 plays, even great defensive performances become meaningless. The defense spent too much time on the field against a balanced, efficient offense.

Blocked Punt Seals the Blowout

Special teams delivered the knockout blow midway through the third quarter. With Tampa leading 34-14, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka burst through and blocked Johnny Hekker’s punt. Linebacker J.J. Russell scooped it up at the Panthers’ 23-yard line and returned it for a touchdown.

That 23-yard return made it 41-14 and killed whatever hope Carolina had left. The play was Tampa Bay’s first blocked punt return for a touchdown since November 11, 2012 against San Diego, over 12 years earlier.

Chase McLaughlin went perfect: 2-for-2 on field goals (23 and 34 yards) and 6-for-6 on extra points. Eddy Piñeiro missed a 53-yarder at the end of the first half.

Hekker had three punts downed inside the 20-yard line, but the blocked punt overshadowed everything else he did.

Third Down: Where Games Get Won

Third-down conversion rates decided this game. Tampa Bay converted 10-of-14 (71.4%). Carolina went 2-of-9 (22.2%). That’s a 49.2 percentage point gap.

Tampa’s 71.4% rate was their second-highest in franchise history for games with 10-plus conversions. Only a Week 17 game against New Orleans in 2017 was better (72.2%).

The Buccaneers sustained drives, controlled the clock, and kept their defense fresh. The Panthers went three-and-out repeatedly, putting their exhausted defense back on the field.

Carolina’s two successful third-down conversions both came on their opening touchdown drive. After that, they went 1-for-8 on third down the rest of the way. That kind of inefficiency on money downs makes winning impossible.

Five Plays That Decided the Game

1. Thielen’s 40-yard TD before halftime – Kept Carolina within 27-14 instead of letting Tampa pull away completely
2. Irving’s 42-yard reception – Set up Tampa at the one-yard line, building momentum
3. Russell’s blocked punt TD – Turned a manageable 34-14 deficit into an insurmountable 41-14 hole
4. Young sacked 5 times – Destroyed Carolina’s offensive rhythm and forced rushed decisions
5. Tampa’s 10-of-14 third downs – Controlled time of possession and kept Carolina’s defense on the field

Franchise Records Set

Tampa Bay’s Historic Performance

Tampa Bay tied or set multiple franchise marks in this dominant win:

Offensive Explosion:

• Tied franchise record for points in a home game (48)
• Third game of 2024 with 500-plus total yards (most in NFL that season)
• Third time in franchise history combining 200+ rushing yards AND 5+ passing TDs in the same game (also Week 16, 2010 vs Seattle; Week 11, 2015 vs Philadelphia)
• Only the fourth team since 2020 to accomplish 200 rush yards and 5 pass TDs in the same game

Sustained Excellence:

• Seventh consecutive game with 100+ rushing yards
• Second time in 2024 scoring 40+ points (tied for 2nd-most in NFL that season)
• 33 first downs tied for second-most in franchise history

The combination of dominant rushing (202 yards) and explosive passing (5 TDs) creates an offensive formula that few defenses can stop. When Tampa Bay executes both phases at this level, they’re nearly unbeatable.

Carolina’s Season-Long Struggles

The Panthers set multiple franchise worsts that had been building all season. These numbers weren’t just about one bad game but reflected systemic defensive failures throughout 2024:

Yards Allowed:

• 6,340 net yards allowed for season (previous record: 6,042 in 2011)
• 2,830 rushing yards allowed for season (previous record: 2,301 in 2001)
• 554 rushing attempts allowed for season (previous record: 521 in 2001)

Game Control Lost:

• 496 points allowed through 16 games (previous record: 470 in 2019)
• 41:11 time of possession allowed in single game (franchise record)
• 33 first downs allowed (tied franchise record with Jan. 1, 2012 vs New Orleans)

These records underscore how far Carolina’s roster had fallen behind competitive NFL teams. The inability to stop the run (2,830 yards allowed) and control the clock created a cycle where the defense faced more plays, got more tired, and gave up more yards.

Playoff Push and Beyond

This win moved Tampa Bay to 9-7. When Atlanta lost to Washington in overtime that same night, the Buccaneers took sole possession of first place in the NFC South.

One week later, Tampa Bay clinched the division with a 27-19 victory over New Orleans. Baker Mayfield threw for 221 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for a career-high 68 yards. Mike Evans finished with nine receptions for 89 yards, pushing his season total to 1,004 yards and tying Jerry Rice’s NFL record.

The Buccaneers won a wild card playoff game before losing in the divisional round. The momentum carried into 2025, when Tampa Bay opened with a 23-20 road win at Atlanta on September 7, 2025. Despite being outgained 358-260, Tampa converted 50% of third downs compared to Atlanta’s 40%. Rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka grabbed the game-winning touchdown with 59 seconds left.

Carolina’s collapse led to the second overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The franchise used it to address offensive line problems and made significant offseason changes, including front office restructuring and major roster renovation.

For Bryce Young, facing pressure on 68.6% of dropbacks hammered home a lesson: quarterback development requires protection. The Panthers focused their offseason on fixing the offensive line after games like this one exposed the problem. No quarterback can succeed when defenders reach him on nearly 70% of passing plays.

Common Questions

---

Game Info: December 29, 2024 at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL | Attendance: 64,434 | Duration: 2:55 | Weather: 76°F, 76% humidity, 8 mph wind, grass surface