What we learned in Panthers’ loss to Buccaneers: Carolina just isn’t on Tampa Bay’s level

The Carolina Panthers (4-12) are ready for this season to end.

After shutting down the team’s best offensive player, running back Chuba Hubbard, on Saturday, the squad took its lumps against the playoff-hopeful Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7) on Sunday in a 48-14 loss at Raymond James Stadium.

Top cornerback Jaycee Horn (hip) and linebacker Josey Jewell (concussion) were also missing from the defense, which predictably looked porous against the Buccaneers’ high-powered offense. Former Panthers QB Baker Mayfield put up 359 passing yards and five touchdowns to keep Tampa Bay in control for basically the entire lopsided bout.

Meanwhile, current Panthers QB Bryce Young did all he could to keep coach Dave Canales’ crew in the fight with deep shots in the passing game. But with the defense leaking like a spaghetti strainer, and the rushing offense falling into the abyss, Young’s effort — which featured two highlight heaves for touchdowns — just wasn’t enough to even stay remotely competitive in Week 17.

Here are five things learned in the blowout loss:

1. Buccaneers are clearly that much better than the Panthers in 2024

Tampa Bay didn’t punt until there were 22 seconds left in the second quarter. The Buccaneers scored on each of their first five drives, putting up 27 points in the first half.

The Bucs had 337 net yards on offense by halftime, while the defense mostly squashed the Panthers’ offense after an initial scoring drive that resulted in a touchdown completion between Young and wideout Adam Thielen.

The Buccaneers’ offense came into the weekend as the third-ranked overall attack in the league, so seeing the offense run through one of the worst defenses in the league wasn’t terribly surprising. But the Tampa Bay defense came in among the worst in the league, and after an early blip, mostly shut down Carolina, which was without its top offensive player in Hubbard.

The Bucs finished with 551 total offensive yards netted and five passing touchdowns. Their 201 rushing yards were easy to predict against Ejiro Evero’s defense, but the overall passing defense was horrific as well.

Carolina finished with 203 total net yards on offense and two touchdowns, but just 39 rushing yards on the day.

Wide receiver Mike Evans picked up 97 receiving yards and two touchdowns on eight catches. Felllow wideout Jalen McMillan chipped in five catches for 51 yards and two touchdowns of his own. Running back Bucky Irving ran the ball 20 times for 113 rushing yards and caught four passes for 77 receiving yards.

Mayfield led seven scoring drives to go along with his 359 passing yards and five touchdowns.

2. Bryce Young can’t do everything on his own . . . or just with Adam Thielen

Young has really played well throughout the second half of the season. He led a phenomenal opening drive, as he connected on three downfield strikes that ultimately led to a touchdown. The second-year quarterback has done a nice job of keeping his eyes down the field, and on Sunday against the Bucs, he continued that approach.

His work in the passing game, particularly with Thielen in the first half, was encouraging. Unfortunately, a banged-up Xavier Legette (wrist/groin) did little to help out his quarterback early on. Legette was targeted five times in the first half and came away with two catches for 15 yards, despite having some legitimate deep tosses come his way. Conversely, Thielen and Young hooked up for 107 yards and two touchdowns on four completions in the first half.

Young finished 8 of 15 in the first half for 154 yards and two touchdowns.

With the running game struggling with Raheem Blackshear and Mike Boone handling the load, Young was basically set up to fail in the passing game as Tampa Bay pulled away from Carolina in the second quarter. Young was sacked just once in the first half, but the Panthers still had four stalled drives in the first half.

A missed 53-yard field goal by kicker Eddy Pineiro essentially wiped out a third nice drive anchored by Young and Thielen, showing that really there were only two viable players pushing the offense forward in the first half.

The Buccaneers kept their foot on the offensive gas in the third quarter and continued to pile on points. Meanwhile, the Panthers’ offense faltered in the final two quarters.

Young finished with two scoring drive on a 53.6% completion percentage. He completed 15 of 28 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns. He was sacked five times in the game for a loss of 40 yards.

Thielen, Young’s top target, caught five of six targets for 110 yards and both scores. Legette finished with five catches for 28 yards on nine targets.

3. Tight ends need to be a bigger part of this offense

While Tommy Tremble and Ja’Tavion Sanders are playing a lot of snaps, they aren’t all that involved as pass catchers.

On the opposite side, Liam Cohen — Canales’ replacement in Tampa Bay at offensive coordinator — got his tight ends in position to make big plays, even with starter Cade Otton out with injury. Payne Durham and rookie Devin Culp combined for four catches for 83 yards in the first half.

Tremble and Sanders didn’t have a target in the first half. The duo finished with one target for one catch — by Sanders — for 6 yards. That’s simply not enough for a position that should step up with Hubbard out of the mix.

The Panthers threw the ball 28 times because they trailed basically all game. The tight ends were largely forgotten. Either that means there’s a need for upgrades, or a need to change up play calling.

4. Ducks can provide great distraction on special teams

During the third quarter, a duck walked onto the field as the two teams were getting ready for a punt by the Panthers. The brown mallard stood around the Buccaneers’ 20-yard line, like it was ready to field a punt next to returner Trey Palmer.

The referees didn’t stop the play and the ball was snapped by JJ Jansen to punter Johnny Hekker. But Tampa Bay came with excellent quickness and blocked the punt.

Linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka got his hand on the ball and the loose rock was picked up by fellow linebacker JJ Russell and returned for a touchdown to put the Bucs up by 27 points.

The duck stood there around the 20-yard line while the Buccaneers celebrated in the opposite end zone. The feathered friend stayed on the field for several minutes during an official timeout after the Tampa Bay scoring play on special teams. He was eventually chased away, but not after holding his footing for several more minutes.

At some point, the fans cheered for the duck. Instead of cheering on Irving with “Bucky! Bucky!” chants, the crowded yelled “Ducky! Ducky!” Tough beat for special teams coordinator Tracy Smith.

5. Canales’ offense isn’t particularly inventive, but it’s hard to work opposite this defense

The Panthers’ defense is a massive hindrance to the offensive play calling. When opposing teams can run regularly between the 20-yard lines and drain the clock as early as the second quarter, the bulk of the opportunities for the Panthers’ offense just aren’t there.

Canales has to call a ton of passing plays because the team is typically behind and the run defense is more porous than a sponge. Canales needs to move the ball quickly because he can’t count on getting many opportunities on offense with the Bucs and/or the weekly opponent draining the clock down the field.

That’s why a complementary offense isn’t attainable, especially without Hubbard, for the Panthers during most weeks. Something needs to change on the defensive side of the ball for Carolina beyond talent.

Yes, the defense is incredibly limited talent-wise, but tackling, fitting gaps and being where you’re supposed to be aren’t talent avenues. The technique, specifically against the run, has been horrible for the unit all year. Eventually, the staff deserves some of the criticism.

While some folks will come after the 3-4 front, there are good 3-4 defenses that regularly stop the run. This overarching failure is about this group and there needs to be some alteration in the offseason.