CHARLOTTE — The Panthers have made some progress in recent weeks.

But they don't have the kind of margin of error to give away chances.

The Panthers will rue what coaches from Dave Canales to Ron Rivera have called "missed opportunities" in Sunday's 26-23 overtime loss to the Buccaneers, a game they'll feel should have ended differently.

Whether it was settling for short field goals, missing field goals, or allowing the Bucs to run their way to the win, it will be a frustrating look back.

The Panthers made played when it counted. Bryce Young had his moment, driving the Panthers 60 yards for what appeared to be a game-winning touchdown to Adam Thielen.

But the Bucs still had 30 seconds left and Baker Mayfield at the wheel.

He quickly drove his side into position for a 51-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin, which sent the Panthers to overtime for the second time in three games.

There were more chances and more plays in a game with dozens of twists and turns. They had a chance in overtime after McLaughlin missed a 55-yard field goal, with Thielen's amazing one-handed catch putting them in position for one of their own.

But on the next play, Bucs linebacker Anthony Nelson ripped the ball away from Chuba Hubbard, giving the Bucs and McLaughlin another chance.

He hit that one, which dropped the Panthers to 3-9.

— The Panthers got to former quarterback Baker Mayfield early and often, but they struggled against the run again.

Mayfield was sacked four times and picked off twice.

Rookie nickel Chau Smith-Wade got him the first time, making a good impression in his first week back on the field with the starting defense.

They had tried Dane Jackson inside, but Smith-Wade reclaimed the spot he trained for all offseason.

Safety Xavier Woodsalso picked off Mayfield in the late third quarter after he left briefly with an injury. Backup Kyle Trask came in for two plays, but Mayfield returned and promptly put one on Woods. Jordan Fuller dropped what could have been a third.

The sacks continued a recent trend.

They got Patrick Mahomes five times last week after they managed just 12 sacks in the first 10 games.

Sunday's total included Amaré Barno getting his first of the year in his first game since being activated from the physically unable to perform list.

But the run defense was an issue (with Saquon Barkley and the Eagles up next week), as the Bucs ran for 236 yards (to the Panthers' 78). Rookie Bucky Irving led the way with 152 yards and a touchdown.

- Kicker Eddy Piñeiro put his name in the Panthers record books Sunday but fell out of the top spot in league history later in the first half.

Piñeiro opened the Panthers' scoring with a 47-yard field goal in the first quarter.

It was his 41st straight field goal made at home, which tied the franchise record set by Graham Gano from 2016-18.

Unfortunately, he missed his next two field goals, from 38 and 45 yards.

That dropped him out of the top spot on the league's all-time field goal accuracy list (actually to third behind Harrison Butker and Justin Tucker). Since they have considerably more field goal attempts than Piñeiro (four times as many in Tucker's case), each of his misses carries a bigger percentage-point penalty.

He rebounded to hit a 27-yarder just before halftime to give the Panthers a 13-10 lead at halftime.

— Speaking of before halftime, the Panthers thought they had extended the lead beyond that margin.

Thielen caught what appeared to be a touchdown, but it was ruled incomplete as he slid out of bounds.

He was arguing with officials immediately coming off the field, but after a review, the call on the field stood.

He continued his informational session as he headed to the locker room, to no avail.

— The officials were playing a man down, after umpire Carl Paganelli was injured early.

As he caught a ball coming back to be spotted in the first quarter when he backed into a Bucs player and went down in a heap. He was being treated for a leg injury and did not return.

That left the refs to finish the game with six, since there wasn't an alternate on site.

— Tight end Stephen Sullivan left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury and did not return.

He was called up from the practice squad this week to cover for the injured Ja'Tavion Sanders.

Tommy Tremble started, and had five catches for 77 yards, doing his part to make up for the rookie.