Bucs hit for an ultra rare cycle in blowout win over the Panthers
Tampa Bay had a historic quarter in their romp over Carolina.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finally put together a complete game and undoubtedly their best football of the season by a country mile on Sunday, dominating NFC South rival Carolina Panthers 43-13 in Charlotte.
The Bucs jumped out to a 7-0 first quarter lead, and what they did in the second quarter was truly remarkable. Historic, even.
Tampa Bay added a field goal to extend their lead to 10-0. They pushed it to 17-0 after Calijah Kancey returned a fumble 32 yards to the end zone. After Carolina scored on a 50-yard Darren Waller catch, the Bucs blocked the extra point and Zyon McCollum returned it for two points and a 19-6 lead. Tampa Bay extended it to 26-6 on a 1-yard Bucky Irving run. And lastly, with four seconds left in the first half, Baker Mayfield evaded pressure and rolled right, finding a wide open Tez Johnson for a 14-yard score and a 33-3 lead.
Bucs become the second NFL team ever to score a rushing TD, passing TD, defensive TD, field goal, and special teams score in one quarter
For those keeping score at home, that’s basically as close to shooting the moon in scoring possibilities by an offense, defense, and special teams as it gets. Like hitting for the cycle in baseball. And Tampa Bay did it all in one single, incredible quarter.
Per Opta Stats, this is the second time in NFL history that it’s happened and the first time since the New York Jets pulled it off in the third quarter against the Detroit Lions back in 2018.
What is illustrates the most is that the Bucs were executing at the highest level in all three aspects. And that’s pretty much an impossible thing to argue with. The Bucs generated 258 rushing yards. The defense allowed just 266 total yards to go with five sacks, two picks, and a touchdown. Special teams scored and avoided allowing a big play.
It was truly an all-around team effort that you rarely see. And if the Bucs can continue that level of play, they’ll find themselves right back in the thick of the NFC South race.
