NFC 'Ouch' still up for grabs as Bucs, Panthers lose It's a Bucs season that won't die. No matter how many games they seem to lose Sunday's 20-17 loss to Miami was their seventh in eight games the Bucs can win the NFC South if they beat Carolina next weekend at Raymond James Stadium and the Falcons lose at least one of their next two games. (If the Bucs, Panthers and Falcons all finish 8-9, Carolina is the division champ). And that's only because the Seahawks topped Carolina 27-10 in Charlotte on Sunday. The Bucs took a 7-0 lead on their first drive with Baker Mayfield throwing a 5-yard touchdown to Chris Godwin. It pretty much went downhill after that. They didn't tackle well. They had a field goal blocked. Mayfield threw into double coverage trying to hit rookie Emeka Egbuka and was intercepted in the end zone by Dolphins cornerback Ashtyn Davis with 6:56 to play. It was his third fourth-quarter pick in as many games. The Bucs cut it to one score with a 91-yard drive in three plays, with Mayfield throwing a 4-yard TD to Mike Evans with 50 seconds left. But the outcome wasn't really in doubt. Their last real gasp came when Mayfield was sacked by Bradley Chubb and the resulting fumble was recovered by the Dolphins' Quinton Bell at the Miami 41 with four minutes remaining. The Bucs defense has been the biggest disappointment this season. They made rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers, a seventh-round pick and No. 3 on the depth chart, look like Dan Marino. He had 144 yards passing and two touchdowns in the first half alone. Aside from the sack by Logan Hall at the end of the first half, Ewers rarely was pressured and actually carved the Bucs up a bit. Few Bucs losses would be complete without a special teams gaffe. It came at the end of the first half. The Bucs had a chance to cut into the Dolphins' 17-7 lead. But Chase McLaughlin's 55-yard field-goal attempt was blocked. Play of the day The Bucs led 7-0 after an almost eight-minute drive with Mayfield throwing a TD pass to Chris Godwin. But the Bucs gave the lead back quickly. Ewers connected on a 63-yard touchdown pass to Theo Wease on a definite coverage bust. It not only tied the score, but gave Ewers and the Dolphins confidence. Game ball Hall came to play. He had a sack and a quarterback hit. He got consistent penetration. He looked like he cared. Keep an eye on Cornerback Jamel Dean left the game with a shoulder injury. With starting cornerback Zyon McCollum on injured reserve, the Bucs went with rookie Benjamin Morrison and Kindle Vildor. Haason Reddick was being evaluated for a concussion when the game ended. Playoff update The Bucs (7-9) or Panthers (8-8) will be the lowest-seeded division winner. And if the Bucs prevail, it will be the second time since 2022, Todd Bowles' first season as head coach, that they will enter the postseason with a losing record. Up next The Bucs host the Panthers at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday (ABC/ESPN). Rick Stroud, Tampa Bay Times, published 29 December 2025