Panthers @ Buccaneers
Final Score: Buccaneers 21, Panthers 18
Writer: Ben Brown (@BenBrownPL on Twitter)
The first half of this game was a sloppy mess. The rain really started coming down about midway through the first quarter and it looked like it was raining cats and dogs out there. Instead it was raining cats and pirates, as both teams struggled with footing for much of the first half.
The second half looked much more like NFL football, or at least the type of NFL football we’ve come accustomed to between two mediocre teams in 2023. There were multiple touchdowns scored by both teams, and we even saw a brief Panthers lead! One play later it vanished, however, as Mike Evans took a 75 yard catch and run to the house in spectacular fashion. This game remained close the entire time but it never actually felt that close.
Three Up
- Mike Evans – It was a vintage monster day for the Buccaneers all-world WR
- Rachaad White – Continues to show he’s an all-purpose back
- Chuba Hubbard – Two scores and over 100 yards on the ground. A nice day for the oft-inconsistent back
Three Down
- Bryce Young – Continues to struggle when pushed out of the pocket, which is basically every other play at this point
- Baker Mayfield – Made one good throw all day. Otherwise, Mike Evans did all the work for him
- Adam Thielen – If he got you to the fantasy playoffs thanks to his hot start, it’s time to jump ship and find something else
Carolina Panthers
Quarterback
Bryce Young: 15/31, 178 yards, INT, 4 sacks, fumble (recovered)
Bryce Young was not good in this game, but there were flashes. He threw a perfect ball to DJ Chark Jr. down the right sideline midway through the 4th quarter that got Carolina into the red zone and set them up for a late score that got them within three points. It was the highlight of a great drive that was orchestrated by Young. That pretty much covers the bright spots, however. At one point, Young faced pressure and spun around, throwing the ball backwards to nobody but thankfully out of bounds. He was flushed out of the pocket on almost every play it seemed, and he really struggled to find anyone to throw to once the play had broken down. Young continued to struggle in this game thanks to a poor offensive line that is doing him no favors.
Running Back
Chuba Hubbard: 25 carries, 104 yards, 2 TD
Okay Chuba, I see you. Given a full workload on the ground, Chuba Hubbard made the most of his opportunities. He had an angry run down to the one-yard line and punched it in for the score on the next play. Later in the game, he scored a second touchdown to give the Panthers a lead – yes, you read that right. The Panthers led this game for exactly one play, as Mike Evans scored on the Buccaneers’ next play from scrimmage. Still, though, Hubbard did this behind a poor offensive line against a Buccaneers’ defensive front featuring Vita Vea. That’s pretty impressive.
Miles Sanders: 8 carries, 23 yards | 2 targets, 1 reception, 6 yards
Sanders was hardly involved in this one. I still believe the talent is there, but this offense is not using him enough to be fantasy-relevant.
Raheem Blackshear: 1 carry, 6 yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Jonathan Mingo: 10 targets, 6 receptions, 69 yards, fumble (recovered)
Is Mingo becoming a thing? I don’t see it, at least not yet. Nothing stands out about him as a receiver. He did make a great diving catch on the sideline, but he was ruled out of bounds even after an official review. His best play of the day was a 32 yard catch and run after being left completely open. He’s got baby deer vibes – super lanky and lacking coordination with his extremities. He’s still a rookie and has plenty of time to develop alongside a fellow rookie in QB Bryce Young.
DJ Chark Jr.: 4 targets, 3 receptions, 56 yards
Adam Thielen: 6 targets, 3 receptions, 25 yards
I don’t think Adam Thielen is someone who is out there freelancing his routes when a play breaks down and Bryce Young is forced to scramble out of the pocket and make a play. It’s the only reason I can think of for why he’s all of a sudden not startable in fantasy. Young scrambles almost every other play these days because his offensive line is, well, offensive. It led to yet another down day for Thielen, though there were a couple of missed opportunities.
Thielen made a nice diving grab over the middle of the field on an inaccurate throw from Young. If Young threw it in stride, Thielen had some room for a good chunk of YAC. Later on, Thielen was tackled at the two-yard line on a nice play from the defender. If those two plays went differently, it would have been a much better result. Alas, it’s another nothing burger.
Stephen Sullivan: 2 targets, 1 reception, 16 yards
Made a nice catch on the sideline. Sullivan is a guy that flashes at least once every time I watch this Panthers team. I will continue to say it – keep an eye on this guy, and if you have an open roster spot in a dynasty league don’t be afraid to take a flier on him.
Ian Thomas: 1 target, 1 reception, 6 yards
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Quarterback
Baker Mayfield: 14/29, 202 yards, TD, INT, sack | 2 carries, -2 yards
Most of Baker’s production in this game came from throwing up the ball to Mike Evans and letting him do most of the work. Baker’s best throw of the day came early in the first quarter on a sideline ball to Evans which he placed absolutely perfectly. Later in the game, Baker threw an awful pass Evans’ way, throwing it straight up in the air off his back foot and the ball was intercepted. Evans’ 75 yard catch and run was all Evans, as it came off a slant that Evans broke for the long gain.
Baker’s day was obviously saved by Evans’ playmaking ability. Baker struggled in the rainy first half, throwing some errant balls and throwing it away while scrambling from pressure. Mayfield has seen better days but a win is a win.
Running Back
Rachaad White: 20 carries, 84 yards, TD | 5 targets, 3 receptions, 22 yards
Rachaad White looks like an entirely different guy this season. I’ll be honest – I’ve been out on White up to this point. But the more I watch, the more I believe. Case in point – on the very first play of the game, he took a carry up the middle for eight yards and absolutely powered his way forward for those eight yards. It was an impressive show of power that I didn’t know he had in him. His game has changed for the better this year and he’s been one of the lone bright spots at the RB position for fantasy purposes.
White’s lone touchdown run came thanks to a defensive pass interference in the back of the end zone, giving Tampa Bay the ball at the one-yard line. White punched it in one play later.
I can’t say why White wasn’t more involved in the passing game, but his efficient day on the ground helped elevate him to RB1 status once again.
Chase Edmonds: 2 carries, 7 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, 2 yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Mike Evans: 12 targets, 7 receptions, 162 yards, TD
Mike Evans put the team on his back. He didn’t break his leg, and he didn’t have to face Darren Sharper, but he almost single-handedly carried the Buccaneers to a victory in this game. His 40 yard catch on their second drive helped set them up for an eventual score, and his 75 yard touchdown catch and run was one of the highlights of the week.
I’ve been talking up the Panthers’ defense for a few weeks now, and for the most part they played really well. But they had no answer for Evans no matter who covered him.
Trey Palmer: 5 targets, 2 receptions, 12 yards | 1 carry, 13 yards
Deven Thompkins: 1 target, 1 reception, 4 yards | 2 carries, 7 yards
Chris Godwin: 3 targets | 1 carry, 19 yards, TD
Chris Godwin dropped his first target on the second play of the game and it was all downhill from there. His second target was five yards over his head. He finally touched the ball shortly into the 4th quarter, a 19 yard end around that he took to the house to give Tampa Bay the game-winning score.
Cade Otton: Not involved