Late interception costs Panthers in Florida. Carolina falls to Tampa Bay, drops to 1-11

Sunday afternoon in Florida, the Carolina Panthers put together one of their best drives of what’s been an utterly frustrating 2023 football season.

Carolina was down four points, and Chuba Hubbard was running the ball well. Bryce Young threw a couple of pretty passes, giving a brief glimpse into why he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Hubbard polished off the drive with a touchdown and Carolina suddenly had a second-half 10-7 lead and a whole lot of momentum.

And then, they didn’t.

On the next offensive play for Tampa, former Carolina quarterback Baker Mayfield, who had struggled all game, hit known Carolina killer Mike Evans for a 75-yard catch-and-run touchdown that gave Tampa Bay the lead back, 14-10.

That play helped springboard the Buccaneers to a 21-18 win that, believe it or not, finally eliminated the 1-11 Panthers from playoff contention and kept the Bucs in the race to win the NFC South.

But, for a change, Carolina showed a lot of spunk.

After the big play to Evans, who passed 1,000 receiving yards for the season, Tampa scored again to push the lead to 21-10 in the fourth quarter. Down 11, Young put together another strong drive, punctuated by a 31-yard bullet to D.J. Chark on fourth and 6. That got Carolina into the red zone, where the Panthers eventually got a 1-yard run from Hubbard, who had his first two-touchdown game.

Young ran in the two-point conversion run and the Panthers were down, 21-18.

On defense, the Panthers — playing without star linebacker Brian Burns, who had been ejected for punching a Bucs’ lineman — got a stand and got the ball back. It was a real chance to get a second win this season and the first under interim coach Chris Tabor.

But on fourth and 1 at the 40 with 2:21 to play, Young was intercepted by Antoine Winfield Jr. Young was pressured and threw the ball late for Adam Thielen on a play that essentially ended the game.

STAT STUFFERS

Marquis Hayes, Panthers: Haynes had five solo tackles and tied Frankie Luvu for a team-high seven tackles overall. Haynes had two tackles for a loss and a sack.

Chuba Hubbard, Panthers: Hubbard had his first two-score game and finished with a career-high 25 carries for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Carolina noticeably went back to the type of a power run game it featured under last season’s interim coach Steve Wilks. That seemed to work.

Bryce Young, Panthers: Young was sacked four times and under heavy pressure all game, but he made some really nice throws and brought his team back from a two-score deficit in the second half. Young finished 15-of-31 for 178 yards, often trying to target receivers who could not create separation.

PHOTOS: Panthers at Bucs

The following were updates from earlier in the game:

Fourth-quarter updates

7:07 p.m.: Carolina tried two pass plays at the 40 on third and 1 and fourth and 1. Young was intercepted on the fourth-down pass, launching as he was being tackled. Tampa Bay then ran out the clock.

7:03 p.m.: Donte Jackson knocked down a third-down pass intended for Chris Godwin and the Bucs had to punt with 3:39 to play, up 21-18.

BUCS 21, PANTHERS 18: Solid drive, big pass, gets Panthers back into the game

6:54 p.m.: Chuba Hubbard’s 1-yard run got the Panthers back into the game with 5:02 to play. Carolina went for two points on the conversion to try to trim the lead to three. On the first attempt, Young was sacked, but Joe Tryon-Shoyinka was called for a face mask penalty. On the second try at the 1, Young ran it in, scrambling after a play-action pass was called.

6:52 p.m.: Carolina went for a fourth and 6 at the Tampa 39 with 6:34 to play, down 21-10. Young hit DJ Chark, who got behind Carlton Davis. The ball was slightly underthrown, but Chark made a nice adjustment and got the Panthers to the Bucs 8.

BUCS 21, PANTHERS 10: Tampa extends lead in the fourth

6:42 p.m.: After a penalty extended the drive, Tampa Bay receiver Chris Godwin took a reverse 19 yards around the right side for a touchdown and a two-score lead.

Third-quarter updates

6:27 p.m.: Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn, generally considered one of the team’s best defensive players, is no longer in the game. Horn isn’t showing any signs of injury, but he is coming off injured reserve, and a Panthers spokesman said Horn is being eased back into the rotation. He did start the game but was on a “pitch count,” Horn said afterward.

BRIAN BURNS EJECTED

6:21 p.m.: After the successful PAT to give Tampa Bay a 14-10 lead, Carolina defensive star Brian Burns was ejected after a brief scuffle broke out on the field and Burns threw an open-handed slap in the face of Tampa Bay offensive guard Cody Mauch.

BUCS 14, PANTHERS 10: Tampa has quick answer to regain lead

6:16 p.m.: Just one play after the Panthers grabbed the lead, Bucs receiver Mike Evans got behind the defense and caught a deep ball from Baker Mayfield for a 74-yard touchdown. It was the 11th touchdown Evans has scored against the Panthers. He’s scored more against Carolina than any other NFL team. Carolina’s lead lasted 10 seconds of game time.

PANTHERS 10, BUCS 7: Strong drive gets Carolina the lead

6:14 p.m.: The Panthers put together one of their best drives of the season, going 65 yards with a nice mix of run and pass. Bryce Young had a pretty 31-yard pass play to Jonathan Mingo to get into the red zone, at the Bucs’ 9. On the next play, Chuba Hubbard ran 8 yards to the 1. On second and goal at the 1, Hubbard got in on second effort, with 5:04 left in the third quarter.

5:55 p.m.: Panthers’ defensive back Troy Hill came up limping after a third down play where he was trying to defend Mike Evans. The pass to Evans was incomplete and Carolina forced a punt.

5:50 p.m.: Carolina got the ball to start the second half. The Panthers quickly went three-and-out and Johnny Hekker punted for the fifth time. CBS TV announcers commented how none of Young’s receivers created any separation on third down.

Second-quarter updates

5:34 p.m.: After a defensive stop, Carolina got the ball back late in the first half. Bryce Young threw a pretty 22-yard pass to DJ Chark to get the drive started and to get the Panthers close to the scoring zone. But on third and 6 at the Bucs’ 42, Carolina was called for holding on a play where Young scrambled for a first down. Next, on third and 16 at the Panthers’ 49, Young escaped pressure and tried to hit Adam Thielen near the Bucs’ 20, but he couldn’t squeeze the pass in between several Bucs’ defenders. Young threw the ball out of bounds on the next play to end the first half.

5:18 p.m.: Carolina tried to pass the ball after an interception from Xavier Woods, but Bryce Young was pressured quickly. Young tried to escape the rush, by running to his right. He couldn’t get away, and Young cost his team 15 yards due to an intentional grounding call for trying to throw the ball away late. Instead of being near midfield with a chance for points, the Panthers lost a down and an awful lot of yardage. The Panthers ended up with third and 22 at the 28, and eventually punted from their 34. There was 1:50 left in the first half.

5:16 p.m.: Panthers’ defensive back Xavier Woods intercepted Baker Mayfield. Mayfield was trying to hit Mike Evans, who had gotten behind the defense. Mayfield’s pass, however, was high and wobbly, and Woods won a jump ball with Evans to give his team the ball near midfield.

5:10 p.m.: Bryce Young was under heavy pressure on a second and 8 at the Tampa 44. Young threw the ball away, trying to avoid a sack. But he threw the ball backwards to avoid pressure and the Panthers ended up with third and 19 at the Carolina 45. Young hit Jonathan Mingo with a quick out on the next play. Mingo was stopped well short of the first down and Carolina punted on fourth and 10.

5:01 p.m.: It is absolutely pouring in Tampa Bay. There are maybe 500 brave souls in the stands who are exposed to the weather. Everyone else is either under an overhang, in a suite, waiting it out in the concourse or headed home. The game’s offenses are slowing down as balls get dropped and overthrown, and a key fumble seems inevitable because the ball is getting so wet.

Bucs 7, Panthers 3: Long Panthers’ drive stalls

4:47 p.m.: Carolina had a long drive going, aided by a defensive penalty, but the Panthers went backwards three yards after getting a 2nd-and-1 from the 2. That led to a short Eddy Piñeiro field goal. During the drive, Carolina offensive coordinator Thomas Brown used a lot of power runs with Chuba Hubbard that the Bucs had trouble stopping, until Tampa Bay stuffed Hubbard for a 3-yard-loss from the 2 on 3rd-and-1.

First-quarter updates

4:35 p.m.: Bucs’ third-year linebacker KJ Britt has been injured. He angrily slammed his helmet to the turf as trainers began to talk to him. Britt is a third-year player from Auburn. Britt was carted off the field.

Bucs 7, Panthers 0: Big pass play leads to Tampa points

4:27 p.m.: After a 40-yard pass from Baker Mayfield to Mike Evans, who got behind Panthers’ defensive back Jaycee Horn, Tampa Bay got a first down inside the Panthers’ 10. On second and goal at the 3, Evans beat another Panthers’ defensive back, Xavier Woods, who was called for pass interference. On the next play, Rachaad White scored from the 1 with 6:08 left in the first quarter.

4:17 p.m.: New Carolina coach Chris Tabor didn’t take long to make his first challenge. QB Bryce Young hit Jonathan Mingo with a third-down pass that Mingo appeared to catch as he was falling out of bounds after a diving attempt. Game officials called it incomplete. Tabor lost his challenge, however. Carolina had to punt, and after a 16-yard return, Tampa got the ball at its 43.

▪ Tampa Bay has the ball first. Former Carolina Panthers starter Baker Mayfield started for Tampa Bay at quarterback. Tampa Bay punted after its first possession.

Panthers’ inactives: Latest on Tommy Tremble, Jaycee Horn, Marquis Haynes

The Carolina Panthers will be light on tight end depth Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.

Tight ends Hayden Hurst (concussion protocol) and Tommy Tremble (hip) were among the players on the team’s inactive list in Week 13. Hurst was ruled out for a third consecutive game Friday, while Tremble entered the weekend with a “doubtful” tag.

With Hurst and Tremble out, the Panthers will use Ian Thomas and Stephen Sullivan as their depth at the position. Typically, teams keep three tight ends active on game day.

The team also entered the weekend with seven players listed as “questionable” for the matchup against Tampa Bay. However, on Saturday, the team activated cornerback Jaycee Horn (hamstring), pass rusher Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring) and defensive back Jeremy Chinn (quad) from injured reserve. All three players will be active Sunday in their respective returns to the lineup.

Pass rusher Marquis Haynes (back), also listed as “questionable,” is also active against the Buccaneers. Gross-Matos will start opposite pass rusher Brian Burns.

The Panthers ruled out safety Vonn Bell (shoulder) on Friday, but his teammate in the backfield, fellow safety Xavier Woods (thigh), will be in the lineup. Rookie Alex Cook is likely to start in place of Bell.

In addition to activating the defensive trio from injured reserve, the team elevated defensive end Chris Wormley and center Justin McCray from the practice squad. They’ll both be active against the Buccaneers.

Prior to Sunday’s matchup, the Buccaneers ruled out linebackers Lavonte David (groin) and Devin White (foot), cornerback Jamel Dean (ankle/foot) and defensive tackle Mike Greene (calf). Wideout Chris Godwin, who was listed as “questionable,” is active.

Below is the entire inactive list for the Panthers:

▪ S Vonn Bell (shoulder)

▪ TE Hayden Hurst (concussion protocol)

▪ TE Tommy Tremble (hip)

▪ OLB DJ Johnson (elbow)

▪ CB Shaquill Griffin

▪ OT Ricky Lee

▪ WR Terrace Marshall

Below is the entire inactive list for the Buccaneers:

▪ LB Lavonte David (groin)

▪ LB Devin White (foot)

▪ CB Jamel Dean (ankle/foot)

▪ RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn

▪ LB SirVocea Dennis (illness)***

▪ OT Brandon Walton

Predictions for Sunday’s games

In the spirit of accountability, a buzz word we’ve heard a lot this week after the firing of head coach Frank Reich, here’s how our Observer predictors stand on the year: Columnist Scott Fowler leads the group with a 9-2 record. Alex Zietlow and Langston Wertz Jr. each sit at 7-4. And Mike Kaye, after incorrectly picking the Panthers to defeat the despondent Titans last week, sits at 6-5.

Mike Kaye: Bucs 19, Panthers 16. Yeah, so I picked the Panthers in a winnable game last week, and Frank Reich ended up losing his job. Lesson learned. The Panthers might look better operationally on Sunday but I can’t imagine an immediate surge from the interim tenure. Steve Wilks even needed a game before stuff started to click. I still think Carolina splits with Tampa Bay, but I don’t see a win this week.

Scott Fowler: Bucs 20, Panthers 12. Sports teams sometimes get a boost when a coach gets fired or a key player gets hurt, as the substitute roars in and leads the team to a win. That happens a lot in sports movies anyway. I don’t feel like it’s going to happen this time. No matter who is coaching the Panthers — and now it’s interim head coach Chris Tabor, who replaces the fired Frank Reich — the offensive line is unfortunately the same.

Langston Wertz Jr.: Bucs 17, Panthers 14: New coach, same personnel. I think the switch to interim coach Chris Tabor will probably bring some new energy and goodwill, and maybe Carolina looks a little better, but the offensive line is still an issue, particularly if the offensive scheme is the same as it has been. Per usual, the defense will keep Carolina in the game, but the guess here? Tampa wins late and ends its two-game losing streak.

Alex Zietlow: Bucs 13, Panthers 10. Make no mistake: This one will be ugly. Carolina’s defense, injured as it may be, has held much better quarterbacks than Baker Mayfield in check this year. And the Bucs throw the ball a ton, too, boasting the ninth-highest pass play percentage in the league. But the Panthers have shown they’re incapable of playing pretty, so this one will be a rock fight to the bitter end — and then the Frank Reich-less Panthers will squander a win, and then we’ll scribble about the team’s myopia, and then we’ll regroup a week later to do it all over again.

What NFL experts from CBS, ESPN, The Ringer predict

FOX: Fox Sports betting analyst Geoff Schwartz is quite confident that the Bucs will win this game and that there’s no use betting on the Panthers to cover because they’ve only done so once this season. “I know there’s a popular theory that you wager on teams that just lost their head coach,” Shchwartz writes, “but I think the Panthers are so bad it doesn’t matter.”

ESPN: Wait, hold up! Someone picked Carolina! Dan Graziano, as of Thursday evening, is the only one of ESPN’s 10-expert panel to pick the Panthers.

The Ringer: Another score for Carolina comes via Sheil Kapadia of The Ringer. Although Kapadia cites the oft-brought-up 30-63 record of the Panthers since David Tepper took control of the team in 2018 — and although he explicitly says “no, in case you’re wondering, I don’t feel good about this one” — he thinks Carolina will win.

CBS: Pete Prisco gets straight to the point in his prediction: “The Bucs have had major defensive issues lately, but this is a team” — he’s referring to Carolina — “that can cure those.” He has the Bucs winning by 10.