It’s not pretty, but Bucs clinch 3rd straight NFC South title

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Baker Mayfield stood in the same room at Bank of America Stadium where he was informed 13 months earlier the Panthers planned to release him. Like his team Sunday, the Bucs quarterback limped to the finish of a 9-0 win that gave them a club-best third straight NFC South title.

With bruised ribs and a badly sprained ankle, Mayfield struggled just to reach the post-game podium, much less the end zone.

“This room that I’m standing in right now is kind of where I found out I wasn’t going to be on the (Panthers) team anymore,” Mayfield said. “There are a lot of things that bring you back here. That’s what happens when you go to a team within the division, and you have memories of playing them or playing with them.

“But just keep it about us ... I can’t say enough about this (Bucs) team, the stuff we’ve been through this year, handling it correctly and finding a way to win five of six in the end and win the division.”

Just a hallway separated Mayfield from where safety Antoine Winfield Jr. was talking about the play that saved the game and maybe the Bucs’ season.

Carolina appeared to take a 7-0 lead Sunday when rookie quarterback Bryce Young completed what initially was ruled a 43-yard touchdown pass to DJ Chark in the second quarter.

But Winfield, who made a similar play in a loss to Atlanta earlier this season, hustled across the field and knocked the ball out of Chark’s hands just before he crossed the goal line. Cornerback Jamel Dean recovered the fumble in the end zone for a touchback.

Winfield also had a sack in the game to go with five tackles, including a tackle for loss and a quarterback hit. It was the perfect response to being left off the NFC Pro Bowl team last week.

“I’ve been in that situation before,” Winfield said of the forced fumble. “When I saw the receiver catch the ball, I saw him stick it out with one hand and I was like, ‘OK, he’s going to reach for it.’ I kept my leverage and as soon as he reached, I just punched it out.”

The Bucs have been counted out all year. Before the season, many NFL pundits expected they would finish last in the division and be among the worst teams in the league. Then after losing six of seven games at midseason, the naysayers got louder. Now that they’re in the postseason, Mayfield and his team know no one is counting on them to win their NFC wild-card game against the Eagles (8:15 p.m. Monday, Jan. 15).

“It’s great to win three straight (division titles), especially how people counted them out,” coach Todd Bowles said. “I’m happy for the fans. I’m happy for the players, the coaches, the management, the scouting department. They work so hard to get everything done and to hear all they had to hear and to come out with the division title is outstanding.”

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Beating the 2-15 Panthers, who suffered back-to-back shutouts, proved to be a lot tougher than it should have been.

If not for a menacing defense that forced two fumbles and sacked Young three times Sunday, Mayfield may not have been efficient enough to avoid catastrophe Sunday.

But while the Bucs couldn’t rely on Mayfield’s arm — he completed 20 of 32 passes for season-low 137 yards — they were able to ride the strong foot of place-kicker Chase McLaughlin to victory. Despite winds of 19 mph, McLaughlin made field goals of 36, 57 and 39 yards, the second of which tied his career long.

The Bucs knew if they played a clean game on offense, they would probably beat Carolina. Young likely will be dynamic one day, but the Panthers offensive line is poor in pass protection. He completed 11 of 18 passes for 94 yards.

“It was a defensive battle,” Bowles said. “We got enough. Thank goodness for Winfield’s play on the goal line. Thank goodness for Chase kicking three field goals. We knew it was going to be a tough battle. We knew we had to play four quarters. We made less mistakes and we got the division title.”

While the Bucs couldn’t get the passing game clicking with Mayfield’s limited mobility — Mike Evans had only three catches for 22 yards on eight targets, and two of them came on the first two plays — the run game came alive at the perfect time.

The Bucs rushed for 113 yards. When Joe Tryon-Shoyinka sacked Young and forced a fumble Greg Gaines recovered, the Bucs were able to keep the ball the final 6:19.

This see-saw season has another chapter but pause to consider how hard it was for the Bucs to turn things around after a 4-7 start.

“It’s extremely hard,” Bowles said. “Nobody turned on each other. Everybody battened down the hatches. We knew we had work to do and mistakes to correct and when everybody counted us out, we didn’t.”

The league had all but quit on Mayfield when he joined the Bucs in March, his fourth team in 16 months at the time. He had to learn a new offense from a first-time play-caller. He had to accept a below-market, $4 million deal for one year and earned $2 million in play time incentives. On Sunday, Mayfield made it possible to receive $1 million for winning the division.

“Just handling adversity in the right way,” Mayfield said. “I can’t say enough about everybody I’ve been surrounded with in our organization. Just helping me be comfortable in the situation we’re in. Learning as we go. Yeah, I’ve been through a lot. But I’ve had a lot of help along the way.”

It’s a team that wouldn’t quit on its season with a star safety that won’t quit on a play. You can count the Bucs out again if you want. But count on them hosting another playoff game at Raymond James Stadium.

“We know we’re counted out,” Bowles said. “To be dangerous, you first have to get in. We’re in, so we have a chance to be dangerous.”

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