Baker Mayfield looks to lead Buccaneers to NFC South title against team that released him last year

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Baker Mayfield will be playing for an NFC South title on Sunday — and a shot at personal redemption against the team that released him last season.

Mayfield’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8) can secure the NFC South division title and the fourth seed in the playoffs with a win at Carolina. However, a loss would eliminate the Buccaneers from playoff contention and open the door for the Atlanta-New Orleans winner on Sunday to capture the division.

The Panthers acquired Mayfield in a trade before the 2022 season, but he struggled from the onset and went 1-5 as a starter before being benched and later released.

The often outspoken Mayfield has never been critical of the decision, but beating the Panthers on their home field to win a division title surely couldn’t help but be satisfying for a player who has gone from 2018 No. 1 draft pick to journeyman quarterback after having played for four teams in the last three seasons.

“My mentality playing against the Panthers — the guys in the locker room are great. For other reasons, I’ll be extremely motivated to play,” Mayfield said. “Obviously, the division is on the line. There’s many things. Everyone in our locker room should be motivated, not just me personally.”

Mayfield will be looking to reach the playoffs for only the second time in his NFL career (Cleveland, 2000) but will have to do it despite some sore ribs, the result of a hit sustained in last week's 23-13 loss to the Saints.

The Panthers (2-14) will finish a horribly disappointing season which included injuries to several key players, the firing of first-year head coach Frank Reich and a drink-throwing incident by owner David Tepper last Sunday that resulted in a $300,00 fine from the league.

TEPPER TANTRUM

It has been a bad week for Tepper, who has caught plenty of flack from an already disgruntled fan base over his embarrassing temper tantrum which went viral after he appeared to throw the contents of a drink on fans following Carolina's 26-0 loss at Jacksonville.

It's unclear if Tepper will be in his regular club suite for Sunday's game at Bank of America Stadium.

Tepper never issued an apology to fans, instead releasing a statement that read: “I am deeply passionate about this team and regret my behavior on Sunday. I should have let NFL stadium security handle any issues that arose. I respect the NFL’s code of conduct and accept the league’s discipline for my behavior.”

The Panthers are 31-67 since Tepper purchased the team in 2018 and have missed the playoffs six straight seasons, a source of frustration for fans. Carolina had gone to the playoffs — including a trip to Super Bowl 50 — three of the four seasons before Tepper's arrival.

SACK PARADE

There were questions about how Carolina's 5-foot-10, 204-pound rookie quarterback Bryce Young would hold up physically in the NFL, where players are much stronger and faster than in college. But Young has only missed one game despite being sacked 59 times in 15 starts.

Panthers interim head coach Chris Tabor said of Young's toughness: “It just says who he is.”

“He’s taken some shots, but he pops right back up, and he dusts himself off, and he goes," Tabor said. "So, to me, those narratives are just narratives. Obviously, he has shut those down, in my opinion.”

NO ASSUMPTIONS

Tampa Bay won the first meeting of the season between the division rivals 21-18 at home on Dec. 3. Even though they've won six of the past seven meetings, the Bucs insist they don’t take anything for granted against the Panthers.

“I know their record doesn’t show it, but they’re really scrappy, so we have to come with it,” Bucs receiver Mike Evans said.

Coach Todd Bowles said the Bucs can't take Carolina lightly.

“We were underdogs most of the year — we can’t afford to,” Bowles said. “They’re a lot like us – they’re tough. They’re very tough to play. They’ve got physical guys all the way around the board. We have physical guys all the way around the board. It’s who plays the smartest that’s going to win the ballgame.”

TOUGH MATCHUP

Once again, the Panthers figure to have their hands full trying to contain Mike Evans, who has 76 receptions for 1,233 yards and a NFL-leading 13 touchdowns.

He’s the only player in league history to begin a career with 10 consecutive seasons with more than 1,000 yards receiving. Last month, he joined Hall of Famers Jerry Rice, Terrell Owens, Marvin Harrison and Randy Moss as the only players who’ve had 12-plus TD receptions in a season five or more times.

In his last two games against the Panthers, Evans has 17 catches for 369 yards and four TDs — numbers that suggest he matches up extremely well against Carolina.

“They do run some different coverages to where he gets one-on-one situations. And he’s a guy that, when he’s 1-on-1, we’re going to take advantage of that,” Mayfield said. “We’re going to look for those shots to him."

DUBIOS STREAK AT STAKE

The Panthers could become the first team since at least 1991 to go an entire season without being in the lead for a single fourth-quarter play. Both of Carolina’s wins came on field goals by Eddy Pineiro as time expired when the Panthers were trailing before the kick.

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AP Sports Writer Fred Goodall contributed to this report.

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