If you're frantically checking your phone to find out the score of the Tampa Bay Bucs game, I’ve got the numbers you need. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers closed out their 2025-26 regular season with a gritty 16-14 victory over the Carolina Panthers.
It wasn't pretty. It was actually kind of a mess. But in the NFL, a "W" is a "W," especially when you're playing in a literal monsoon at Raymond James Stadium.
For a team that started the year 5-1 and then seemingly forgot how to win games in November, this final score was a massive relief for Todd Bowles and his squad. They finished the year at 8-9. Yeah, a losing record, but in the chaotic NFC South, that was enough to keep them breathing until the very last second of the season.
Breaking Down the Score of the Tampa Bay Bucs Game
The game on January 3, 2026, was a total throwback to old-school "mudder" football. Rain was coming down in sheets.
Tampa jumped out to a 10-0 lead early. Baker Mayfield found Cade Otton for an 18-yard touchdown in the first quarter, and Chase McLaughlin—who has basically been the team's MVP some weeks—nailed a 29-yard field goal.
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Honestly, it looked like a blowout was brewing. But then the Bucs did that thing they do where they let the opponent hang around way too long.
By the second quarter, Bryce Young and the Panthers clawed back. A Mayfield interception set up a short field, and Carolina turned it into a touchdown, cutting the lead to 13-7 by halftime. The third quarter was a slog. Neither team could hold onto the ball. McLaughlin added another field goal to make it 16-7, but the atmosphere was tense.
That Heart-Stopping Fourth Quarter
If you were watching the score of the Tampa Bay Bucs game in the final five minutes, you probably needed a drink.
- The Blocked Kick: McLaughlin had a chance to put the game away with a 38-yarder, but Carolina blocked it.
- The Panthers' Surge: Bryce Young suddenly looked like an All-Pro, marchng 72 yards and finding Jalen Coker for a touchdown.
- The 16-14 Reality: With 2:31 left, it was a two-point game.
The Bucs eventually iced it. Baker Mayfield made a massive 20-yard throw to Otton on 3rd-and-4 that allowed Tampa to run out most of the clock. A final, desperate lateral play by Carolina ended with a fumble recovered by Benjamin Morrison. Game over.
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Why This Score Matters (and Why It Almost Didn't)
The 16-14 result meant the Bucs finished 8-9. Because they beat Carolina twice, they held the tiebreaker over the Panthers. However, their playoff fate wasn't actually in their hands at the final whistle.
They had to sit at home on Sunday and watch the Atlanta Falcons play the New Orleans Saints. If the Saints won, the Bucs would have won the NFC South for the fifth year in a row. But as we now know, the Falcons took care of business, winning the division and relegating Tampa Bay to second place.
Basically, the Bucs won the battle but lost the war. No playoffs in 2026.
A Quick Look at the Stats
- Baker Mayfield: 16/22 for 203 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT. He played smart in the rain but that one pick was ugly.
- Bucky Irving: The rookie was a workhorse, helping the Bucs outrush Carolina 140 to 19.
- The Defense: They held Carolina to just 19 yards on the ground. That’s insane. Lavonte David was everywhere, proving that age is just a number.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Since the season is officially wrapped, the front office is already looking at the 2026 schedule. Because they finished second in the division, their schedule for next year is actually set.
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They’re going to be playing the second-place teams from the NFC East, NFC West, and AFC West. That means a trip to Dallas to face the Cowboys and home games against both Los Angeles teams—the Rams and the Chargers. It’s not going to be an easy road back to the top.
What to Do Now
If you’re a Bucs fan, the "what-ifs" are going to haunt you for a few weeks. What if they hadn't lost that heartbreaker to the Falcons in Week 15? What if the field goal hadn't been blocked against Carolina?
Instead of dwelling on the 8-9 finish, here is how you can stay updated on the team's next moves:
Check the official NFL draft order now that the regular season is over; the Bucs are looking at a mid-first-round pick. Keep an eye on the injury reports for Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, as both played through some significant bangs and bruises in the finale. Lastly, start scouting the free-agent market for interior defensive line help, which was a clear weakness during that mid-season slide.
The score of the Tampa Bay Bucs game was a win, but the off-season work starts tomorrow.