The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers delivered one of Week 13’s most thrilling matchups, with Tampa Bay edging out a 26-23 overtime victory.
Following the game, Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield met Panthers rookie quarterback Bryce Young at midfield, offering an encouraging and heartfelt message to the young signal-caller.
Bryce Young’s second NFL season has been a whirlwind. After a challenging 0-2 start to 2024, which saw him temporarily benched in favor of veteran Andy Dalton, the 2023 No. 1 overall pick has shown significant improvement over the past five games.
Since reclaiming the starting role in Week 8, Young has displayed greater poise and confidence. He’s completed over 60% of his passes for 1,082 yards, six touchdowns, and just three interceptions. More importantly, the 23-year-old has guided his team to two additional wins during that stretch.
Baker Mayfield, himself a former No. 1 overall pick, can relate to Young’s early career challenges. Now thriving in his seventh season and on his fourth team, Mayfield is finally reaping the rewards of his perseverance. After a career-best 4,044 passing yards and 28 touchdowns in 2024, Mayfield secured a lucrative $100 million contract this past offseason. His encouraging message to Young serves as a meaningful gesture from one former top pick to another navigating the NFL’s highs and lows.
The Panthers had a chance to secure a victory on Sunday, but their hopes were dashed when Chuba Hubbard fumbled while in scoring position, giving the Buccaneers possession with 5:03 remaining in overtime. Tampa Bay capitalized on the mistake, with Chase McLaughlin drilling a walk-off field goal to clinch a 26-23 win. The victory brings the Buccaneers to 6-6 on the season, while the Panthers fall to 3-9.
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