Panthers lose Taylor Moton to a broken fibula as Bucs' 43-13 rout tightens the NFC South race

The scoreboard said Buccaneers 43, Panthers 13, but the bigger long-term news from Sunday in Charlotte may be Carolina’s injury report. Right tackle Taylor Moton has a broken fibula, and coach Dave Canales said the veteran will be “out for a while.”

Meanwhile, Tampa Bay’s lopsided win turned a crowded NFC South into an even tighter race. Here is where both teams stand the day after.

Taylor Moton injury update

Moton was carted off in the third quarter. According to Panthers.com, he was hurt when left tackle Rasheed Walker fell across the back of his legs while blocking. Moton went down immediately, punching the turf in pain.

Canales said the team did not yet know the full extent of the injury. Asked whether it was season-ending, he said they did not know, but that Moton would miss “an extended amount of time.”

“Just sick for T-Mo,” Canales said.

The timing is especially cruel. Moton had returned only a week earlier, against the Eagles, after missing the first four games while being treated for blood clots in his lungs.

“He’s so much of the glue for us in the locker room,” quarterback Bryce Young said, per Panthers.com. “He’s as resilient as they come. He’s going to do everything he can; he’s going to work, and he’ll bounce back from it.”

Rookie Monroe Freeling, who started the first four games of the season at right tackle, will step back into the role.

The NFC South after Sunday

Carolina still leads the division, but barely. According to Buccaneers.com, the Panthers have just one more win than everyone else:

The Bucs have five division games still to play. Coach Todd Bowles, who had told his team after a loss to Pittsburgh the week before that there was no more margin for error, said the focus stays the same.

“It was our first division game; we’ve got five more to go,” Bowles said. “We’ve got to hone in and focus on those and then win the non-division games.”

Records and numbers from the rout

Buccaneers.com listed a string of milestones from the game:

• Third-most lopsided road win in franchise history, and the biggest road margin since a 47-7 win at Detroit in 2020.
• 258 rushing yards, the fourth-highest single-game total in team history. Bucky Irving had 106 yards and two touchdowns, Kenny Gainwell added 88, and Sean Tucker broke a 46-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
• 20 points off turnovers, Tampa Bay’s most in any game this season.
• First blocked extra point returned for 2 points in franchise history: Tykee Smith blocked it and Zyon McCollum ran it back.
• YaYa Diaby’s three sacks were his career high and the first three-sack game by a Buccaneer since Devin White in 2020.
• Baker Mayfield’s 14-yard TD to Tez Johnson was the 200th regular-season touchdown pass of his career.

The win also ended an NFL-long streak of 12 straight Tampa Bay games decided by one score or less.

How many games did Mayfield miss?

Reports differ. The Associated Press said Mayfield missed three games with a dislocated thumb on his throwing hand. Buccaneers.com said he missed five. Either way, he barely had to throw in his return, going 7 of 11 for 64 yards and a touchdown.

“You don’t change the process just because of the results,” Mayfield said, per Buccaneers.com. “We know what the recipe is for us.”

Carolina’s defensive problem

The Panthers came in ranked last in the league in yards allowed per carry, at 5.12, according to Buccaneers.com. Tampa Bay built its plan around that, running 49 times. Bowles said the goal was to “control time of possession and keep them out there because they are very explosive on their offensive side of the ball.”

Young, who had led the NFL at 306.8 passing yards per game, was held to 163. He threw two interceptions, doubling his season total, and lost a fumble that Calijah Kancey returned for a touchdown.

What’s next

• Panthers: at Green Bay on Thursday night, a short week with a reshuffled offensive line.
• Buccaneers: host the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Nov. 1.

FAQ

Earlier coverage: Buccaneers rout Panthers 43-13 as Bucky Irving runs for two TDs and Tampa Bay forces four turnovers (Oct 25)