Under a bruised sky that wept for four quarters, the Bucs ground out a 16-14 win over the Carolina Panthers on Saturday. It was a damp, uneasy victory that kept the season breathing for at least another 20 hours.

The Panthers could not get going on the ground, rushing for just 19 yards on 14 carries. Conversely, the Bucs lived off the run, amassing 138 rushing yards on 41 totes and helping them dominate the time-of-possession battle at 37:25 to 22:35.

In the final game of the regular season, the Bucs will be playing for their playoff lives against the Panthers.

Todd Bowles’ future, changes to his staff, and the future of two iconic players all could be on the line against Carolina.

The fourth-year tight end caught his first touchdown of the year to go along with a season-high 94 yards in a 16-14 win over the Panthers

The Bucs' defense cannot stop the Dolphins' offense, which is being led by seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers. They marched down the field using screen passes and quick routes to get the ball into the hands of their playmakers, and as a result, they are now up 17-7 with the second half closing.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers entered Sunday needing the New Orleans Saints to beat the Atlanta Falcons to win the NFC South and make the playoffs.

Meanwhile, the controversy from the Panthers-Bucs game regarding the blown handling of a backward pass was not addressed. The play entailed an error by the officials on the field, and a failure by the officials, the replay assistant, and the league office to properly administer the aftermath.