CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers gave Tampa Bay far too many gifts on Sunday in Charlotte, and the Buccaneers cashed them in for a 43-13 blowout that dropped Carolina to 3-3.
Quarterback Bryce Young, who came in leading the league in passing yards per game, was held to 163 yards on 14 completions in 27 tries. Tampa Bay sacked him five times, picked him off twice and forced a fumble that Calijah Kancey carried 32 yards for a touchdown after Al-Quadin Muhammad knocked the ball loose.
The kicking game hurt too. David Moore muffed a punt that the Bucs recovered, and when Young connected with Darren Waller on a 50-yard touchdown to pull within 17-6, Tampa Bay blocked the extra point and Zyon McCollum raced 70 yards with it for two points. Carolina trailed 33-6 at halftime.
The run defense never found an answer. The Bucs carried 49 times for 258 yards, with Bucky Irving gaining 106 and scoring twice. That let Baker Mayfield, back from a dislocated thumb, throw just 11 passes.
Tampa Bay set the tone right away. The Bucs took the opening kickoff and went 70 yards in 14 plays, finishing with a short Irving touchdown run. Mayfield is now 7-1 in his career against Carolina, with six of those wins coming since he joined Tampa Bay.
Head coach Dave Canales called the loss very disappointing and said mistakes in every phase put his team in a deep hole. Young took the blame for the turnovers afterward.
There was one bright spot for the home crowd. Former linebacker Luke Kuechly received his Hall of Fame ring at halftime and banged the team’s drum before kickoff.
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