Baker Mayfield: Bucs' O-Line Imposed Its Will

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers went into the fourth quarter on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium with a 16-10 deficit and a total of 84 rushing yards. They would finish the game with 236 yards on the ground and, very much for that reason, a 26-23 overtime victory that vaulted them into a tie for first place in the NFC South.

A week after firing on all cylinders both through the air and on the ground in a 30-7 beatdown of the New York Giants, the Buccaneers were disjointed on offense throughout much of the afternoon and early evening against the Carolina Panthers in Week 13. In the end, they found their footing and prevailed in large part because they relied on what has been the team's most consistent strength this season: A powerful offensive line working in concert to create opportunities for the talents of running backs Bucky Irving and Rachaad White.

On Sunday, that line included Pro Bowl left tackle Tristan Wirfs, who missed the team's Week 12 win in New Jersey but returned to action against the Panthers and played every snap. His status wasn't certain until a pregame workout on the Bank of America Stadium field in front of trainers and several other team officials.

"Yeah, I'll start out by talking about Tristan Wirfs playing through some toughness," said quarterback Baker Mayfield. "Just a little banged up, but played his tail off and then all those guys did. Obviously, Graham [Barton] struggled a little bit in the beginning, but [the game has] got four quarters for a reason, and plus overtime, so those guys just imposed their will late in the game. Rachaad's long [run]…you look at Luke Goedeke pulling around the corner and really make the block that, you know, pushes him to the open field. All those guys. When they're on the same page they're damn good."

Goedeke, the starting right tackle, led the way on a 38-yard run late in overtime by White that set up Chase McLaughlin's game-winning 30-yard field goal. That ended a roller coaster ride that saw the Bucs score 10 straight points in the fourth quarter to take a four-point lead, only for Carolina to fire back with a 60-yard two-minute drill ending in a 25-yard touchdown catch by Adam Thielen. The Bucs only had 30 seconds to play with after that and obviously had to put the ball in the air, but it was the ground game that kept them in position for the win.

Irving ran for 28 yards on a drive to begin the fourth quarter that ended in his own six-yard TD run for a one-point lead. After a Panthers' three-and-out, he ran for 60 yards on a 67-yard field goal drive to put the Bucs up by three. Irving finished the game with 152 rushing yards on 25 carries – his first career 100-yard game, and 185 yards from scrimmage.

"Bucky's a stud," said Mayfield. "Obviously getting the ball in his hands is good for our offense and it goes for all of our backs, but the way Bucky played tonight gave us that spark we really needed when we weren't doing too hot."