TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may no longer be in control of their playoff fate and need some help from the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night, but they did their part and took a 27-7 first-half lead against the Carolina Panthers .

After Mike Evans fended off a 2-yard grab from quarterback Baker Mayfield on the first drive, rookie running back Bucky Irving took a screen pass 42 yards to the Carolina 1-yard line.

BUCKY IRVING TO THE 1-YARD LINE!

📺: #CARvsTB on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/Ok7fVAyqJh

– NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024

Evans then completed a 1-yard pass to Caleb Farley.

Then, just before halftime, rookie wideout Jalen McMillan scored a 10-yard touchdown grab on a post route, giving him his fourth straight game with a touchdown, tying the fourth-longest streak by a rookie in the history of the game NFL meant.

It is Evans’ 24th career game with multiple receiving touchdowns, giving Davante Adams the most in the league since 2014, while Irving’s 1,377 scrimmage yards are the most of any NFL rookie. With Evans’ second touchdown, he surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famers Tim Brown and Don Hutson (105) and became the 21st most touchdowns in NFL history.