Ewers throws 2 TDs as Dolphins beat Bucs 20-17 to force pivotal Week 18 NFC South matchup

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Dolphins have been out of the playoff race for two weeks, but Tampa Bay receiver Mike Evans felt Miami looked more like a team playing for a postseason berth than the Buccaneers did on Sunday.

Rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers threw for 172 yards and two touchdowns, including a 63-yard toss for his first career score, and the Dolphins beat the slumping Buccaneers 20-17.

“We didn’t deserve it," Evans said. "They played like they had a chance at the playoffs, and we played like we were ready to go home.”

The Bucs (7-9) remained one game behind the Carolina Panthers (8-8) in the NFC South after the Panthers' 27-10 loss to Seattle on Sunday. The Buccaneers would still clinch their fifth consecutive division title and sixth straight playoff berth if they beat Carolina in next week's regular-season finale to force a two-way tie.

If Tampa Bay, Carolina and Atlanta all tie at 8-9, the Panthers would win the division.

But Tampa Bay has lost four straight games, seven of its last eight and has barely looked like a playoff team during that stretch. The Buccaneers' last four losses have all been by one possession.

“Everything is possible, and you’ve always got a chance to play,” Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said. “We just need to put it together and play, and that takes work. We work hard. We do it right in practice. Can’t explain it in the game, but we definitely as coaches and as players got to look ourselves in the mirror.”

Despite three turnovers and being outgained 145-53 on the ground Sunday, Tampa Bay pulled within three after a three-play, 91-yard drive that Baker Mayfield capped with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Evans with 54 seconds left.

A busted coverage by the Dolphins defense led to a 59-yard reception by Chris Godwin that set up the score, but Miami recovered the ensuring onside kick to end Tampa Bay's comeback attempt.

“You go through the first drive, really move the ball well, they don’t seem to have an answer for what we were doing schematically,” Mayfield said. “After that it’s the momentum shift. When you are playing a team that they’ve got nothing to play for besides incentives, when you give them a little juice and momentum, that’s how they’re going to respond.”

Mayfield completed 33 of 44 passes for 346 yards with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Godwin on the game's opening drive. The former No. 1 pick has thrown an interception in each game of the Buccaneers' losing streak, including two on Sunday. The first was an underthrow to receiver Jalen McMillan that was picked off by rookie cornerback Jason Marshall Jr.

The second came as the Buccaneers were driving down the field midway through the fourth, trailing by 10. Mayfield, one play after somehow escaping a sack attempt by Quinton Bell and completing an 11-yard pass to Evans, threw a red-zone interception to safety Ashtyn Davis.

After the Buccaneers forced a Dolphins punt, linebacker Bradley Chubb stripped Mayfield on a sack, which Bell recovered.

Ewers completed 14 of 22 passes in his second career start for the Dolphins (7-9). Rookie receiver Theo Wease Jr. took Ewers' first TD pass 63 yards into the end zone, and tight end Greg Dulcich caught an 11-yard scoring pass.

“We're not playing for a Super Bowl, but we did a really good job of coming out here and playing for each other,” Ewers said, "playing for our last names and playing for the organization. Showing that when adversity strikes, we’re going to respond.”

Running back De'Von Achane had 18 carries for 83 yards, averaging 4.6 yards per carry against Tampa Bay's seventh-ranked run defense.

The Buccaneers took an early lead on a 16-play touchdown drive on their first possession of the game but gave up 17 straight points before Chase McLaughlin's 33-yard field goal cut the deficit to seven points in the fourth.

McLaughlin had connected on 11 straight field goals from 55-plus yards entering Sunday but had a 55-yard attempt blocked late in the second.

Ewers led the Dolphins back down the field to set up Riley Patterson's 33-yard kick that pushed the score to 20-10.

Buccaneers: G Michael Jordan (concussion) and LB Haason Reddick (concussion) left and did not return. ... CB Jamel Dean (shoulder) left early in the fourth.

Dolphins: LB Chop Robinson (concussion), LB Jordyn Brooks (hamstring) and LB KJ Britt (groin) left with injuries. ... WR Jaylen Waddle was playing through a rib injury.

Buccaneers: Host Carolina next weekend.

Dolphins: At New England next weekend.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Zeek Biggers (93) blocks a field goal-attempt by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield looks to pass against the Miami Dolphins during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. (14) makes a catch for a touchdown against Miami Dolphins safety Ashtyn Davis (21) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami Dolphins tight end Greg Dulcich (85) scores a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers (14) looks to pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks are doing everything they can to wrap up the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

Even after winning 13 games — including six straight — they may need to beat San Francisco in Week 18 to secure that goal.

Zach Charbonnet ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns, and the Seahawks turned two third-quarter Carolina turnovers into TDs to beat the Panthers 27-10 on Sunday and close in on their first NFC West title since 2020.

Sam Darnold overcame an interception in the end zone to finish 18 of 27 for 147 yards with a touchdown for the Seahawks (13-3). Seattle can wrap up the division crown if the 49ers and Los Angeles Rams both lose or tie. The 49ers were hosting Chicago Sunday night, and the Rams visit Atlanta Monday night.

In all likelihood, the Seahawks will need to beat the Niners to wrap up the top seed and home-field advantage throughout the conference playoffs.

“We’re going to make sure we take care of business,” defensive lineman DeMarcus Lawrence said. “It’s in our hands. The only thing we have to do is grasp it.”

The Panthers (8-8) had a chance to win the NFC South after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost 20-17 at Miami on Sunday.

Now the Panthers will likely need a victory at Tampa Bay next weekend to win their first division title since 2015 and snap a seven-year playoff drought. Carolina could still claim the division with a loss to the Bucs if the Atlanta Falcons (6-9) win their final two games and the teams finish in a three-way tie.

“We definitely feel the missed opportunity, but at the same time we know what is in front of us,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said. “It is clearly defined. ... We have to get over the fact that we missed an opportunity with the Bucs losing that game. But our focus has to go to the next one pretty quickly.”

Seattle coach Mike Macdonald challenged his team to win in all three phases, and the Seahawks did just that in cold, dreary conditions that resembled winter in the Pacific Northwest.

The Seahawks played mostly man-to-man defense and it worked to perfection.

Bryce Young was limited to 54 yards on 14-of-24 passing and threw an interception for the inconsistent Panthers, who followed up a win with a loss for the fifth straight time. Young ran for 30 yards and accounted for Carolina's only touchdown with a 10-yard scamper.

Carolina top wide receivers — Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette — were limited to a combined four catches for 24 yards and the Panthers had just 139 yards of offense.

Seattle outgained Carolina 163 yards to 99 on the ground.

“Same story every week: We didn’t flinch,” Macdonald said. “A big emphasis this week was, ‘Can we stack plays in all three phases?’ It took us a half to do it but I felt like in the second half, we did a great job.”

After an ugly first half that ended in a 3-3 tie, the Seahawks took control in the third quarter thanks to their opportunistic defense.

Lawrence recovered a fumble by Chuba Hubbard deep in Carolina territory and Charbonnet cashed in with a 2-yard touchdown run. On the ensuing possession, Young's pass to McMillan was intercepted by Julian Love, leading to Darnold's 17-yard touchdown pass to tight end AJ Barner.

“Bad decision, bad throw,” Young said.

Hubbard's fumble came after Darnold was picked off in the end zone.

“It’s unbelievable. Our defense has been doing that all year,” Darnold said. “They’ve been stepping up in such a huge way. Especially, for me, on that turnover, I’ve got to move on in my progression and at least make it a us-or-nobody throw. But for us it's just complementary football.”

The Panthers, who managed just 72 yards in the first three quarters, put together a 13-play, 69-yard drive that ended early in the fourth. Young scored on a 10-yard run to cut Seattle's lead to 17-10.

The Panthers' defense appeared ready to get off the field on Seattle's next possession, but two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaycee Horn was flagged for grabbing Smith-Njigba's facemask on a third-down reception on third-and-21, more than 15 yards behind the first-down marker.

That gave Seattle a first down, and the Seahawks cashed in with Jason Myers' 30-yard field goal to make it a two-possession game with eight minutes remaining.

Seattle sacked Young twice on the ensuing possession to get the ball back, and Charbonnet sealed it with his second TD run.

“Credit to them,” Young said. “They made adjustments to the game plan and did a better job of executing it. We are going to go up against different schemes and teams that are going to make adjustments. We need to be able to react to that and counter it. We will watch the film and learn and grow from it.”

Seahawks: WRs Rashid Shaheed (concussion) and Cody White (groin) left in the first half and did not return.

Panthers: TE Ja'Tavion Sanders (ankle) was carted to the locker room after getting injured on the game's first play. Canales said Sanders broke his ankle and will miss the rest of the season. CB Robert Rochell (concussion) left a short while later. LB Claudin Cherelus left with a calf injury in the third quarter.

Seahawks: At San Francisco next weekend.

Panthers: At Tampa Bay next weekend.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young scores past Seattle Seahawks safety Ty Okada during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner celebrates after scoring against the Carolina Panthers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet. is tackled by Carolina Panthers linebacker Christian Rozeboom during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet scores against the Carolina Panthers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet scores against the Carolina Panthers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet celebrates after scoring against the Carolina Panthers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet celebrates after scoring against the Carolina Panthers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)