CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie running back Bucky Irving limped gingerly through the tunnel of Bank of America Stadium on Sunday night with an ice pack draped around his torso after giving everything his 5-foot-9, 192-pound frame could handle in a 26-23 overtime victory over the Carolina Panthers.
He had just rushed for 152 yards and a touchdown, with 33 receiving yards. But it was his work in the fourth quarter -- after leaving the game with a hip pointer in the third quarter -- that provided the jolt the Bucs needed.
"Bucky's a stud," quarterback Baker Mayfield said. "Obviously, getting the ball in his hands is good for our offense -- 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."
The Panthers limited Mayfield's ability to step up into the pocket and to escape it, and there were costly penalties that made Irving's efforts all the more impactful.
Irving's 185 scrimmage yards were the most of any rookie in a game this season, and his 97 rushing yards in the fourth quarter alone were the fourth most in a game this season and the most by a rookie since Week 5 in 2017 (Leonard Fournette, 139), according to ESPN Research. That was on top of a 152-yard performance last week at the New York Giants that included 88 rushing yards, 64 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Against the Panthers, Irving scored a go-ahead touchdown on a 6-yard run with 8:58 to go to make it 17-16. Then came a masterful 43-yard run up the gut, although that drive ended in a 26-yard field goal to make it 20-16.
The Panthers were able to take a late lead after a 25-yard touchdown catch by Adam Thielen with 36 seconds left nearly voided Irving's effort, but Mayfield, who also left the game with an injury (ankle/Achilles), orchestrated a drive to get into field goal range -- where Chase McLaughlin's 51-yard kick sent the game into overtime.
McLaughlin missed a 55-yard field goal on the Bucs' first overtime possession, but outside linebacker Anthony Nelson forced a Chuba Hubbard fumble at the Tampa Bay 29-yard line that Yaya Diaby recovered to keep Tampa Bay's hopes alive.
That's when running back Rachaad White closed it out with a 38-yard run with right tackle Luke Goedeke and right guard Cody Mauch pulling across the line of scrimmage, setting up McLaughlin's 30-yard game-winner.
"I've never been a part of a game like that," said White, who had 76 rushing yards. "It was amazing though. It was a great feeling. ... This team, we never give up."
Wide receiver Mike Evans also came up big in the effort, with a spinning, one-armed touchdown grab in the first quarter, finishing the game with eight receptions for 118 receiving yards -- his first 100-yard game this season.
The Bucs (6-6) had lost twice in overtime on the road already this year -- in Week 5 at the Atlanta Falcons and then in Week 9 at the Kansas City Chiefs. They are now tied with the Falcons, who lost to the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday, at the top of the NFC South. The Falcons swept the Bucs this season in their two matchups, so they do hold the head-to-head tiebreaker though.
"First half of the season -- we wouldn't have finished that game out," coach Todd Bowles said. "Did a heck of a job fighting back. All game was a tough game. They played tough. We played tough. We made mistakes in the first half of the season, and this game, we pulled it out. They learned some mental toughness."
As for Irving, he left Sunday leading in rookie yards from scrimmage (1,017) and rookie rushing yards (732), and he tied Jayden Daniels for most rushing touchdowns (6).
"Bucky's a dog," White said. "I really admire his game. I got a lot of love for him. I'm happy for him."