The Tampa Bay Buccaneers played like a team determined to do whatever it took to make the playoffs. Baker Mayfield and the offense purred, the defense stepped up after a touchdown just before halftime and the special teams also stood out in a 48-14 victory for the Carolina Panthers that kept the team’s division and postseason hopes alive on Sunday . A little more than seven hours later, the Bucs (9-7) got some outside help in their attempt to advance to the playoffs for the fifth straight season. Tampa Bay’s fifth win in the last six weeks, combined with Atlanta’s overtime loss at Washington on Sunday night, gave the Bucs sole possession of first place in the NFC South. The Buccaneers can clinch their fourth straight division title by beating New Orleans at home next Sunday: “We’re just trying to get into the playoffs,” coach Todd Bowles said, shrugging off questions about how Sunday’s win was for a winning record in the regular season: “If we can win next week and get a little bit.” “Help,” Bowles added, “that will mean a lot to me.” Mayfield threw for 359 yards and five touchdowns without an interception for the Bucs, the only team in the NFC to make the playoffs in each of the last four seasons. “He “I really played a great game intelligently,” Bowles said. “We didn’t turn it over offensively. We were very good in the third round. He controlled the ball, distributed it and made sure everyone got touches.” Mayfield threw TD passes of 2 and 1 yards to Mike Evans, and Tampa Bay scored points on five straight first-half possessions to build a lead of 27:7. Jalen McMillan scored on receptions of 10 and 16 yards, linebacker JJ Russell returned a blocked punt for a touchdown in the third quarter and rookie Bucky Irving had another big game against Carolina with 120 rushing yards on 20 carries and four receptions for 77 yards. “Anyone, if you give them that many opportunities, good things are going to happen,” Mayfield said of Irving. Irving rushed for over 1,000 yards this season (1,033) despite being used primarily as a backup to Rachaad White. The fourth-round draft pick ran for 152 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries against the NFL’s 32nd-ranked run defense in Tampa Bay’s 26-23 overtime win at Carolina on Dec. 1. Meanwhile, Mayfield improved to 4-0 against Carolina, his former team releasing him two years ago. He completed 27 of 32 passes without an interception. The Panthers played without leading rusher Chuba Hubbard, who was placed on injured reserve Saturday. Without him, the offense was almost entirely dependent on quarterback Bryce Young, who threw two touchdown passes to Adam Thielen but completed just 15 of 28 passes for 203 yards. The Bucs sacked Young five times and limited Carolina to 39 yards rushing. Thielen scored on receptions of 17 and 40 yards in the first half and finished the game with five catches for 110 yards. “We were outplayed.”…They were on fire today. “They made it difficult for us,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said. “We still have a chance to finish,” Canales added, “so we have to regroup and have the discipline to get right back to work and finish on our terms.” Evans had eight catches for 97 yards. He needs at least 85 yards receiving in next weekend’s regular-season finale to match Hall of Famer Jerry Rice’s NFL record of 11 consecutive seasons with more than 1,000 yards receiving. Panthers: Complete the season next Sunday in Atlanta. Buccaneers: Next Sunday they play their season-winning game at home against NFC South rival New Orleans.