Bucs EDGE Diaby Dominates Panthers in 43-13 Victory

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' dominant victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday propelled them back into the playoff hunt, with the NFC South once again being anybody's race to win.

The running game was extremely effective, while the defense forced four turnovers and benched Panthers starting quarterback Bryce Young late in the fourth quarter.

The defensive front had their best game of the season by far, sacking Young eight times and forcing him into a lost fumble-six.

Fourth-year EDGE Yaya Diaby had the best game of his young career, recording three sacks and dominating his matchup in the trenches.

Diaby posted a 26.7% pass-rush win rate, while helping the Bucs jump out to a big lead early in the first half.

His pressures were a dominant display of strength, as Diaby utilized a bull rush on the perimeter of Carolina's offensive line, closing Young's pocket quickly.

This production is extremely promising for Diaby, who was yet to record a sack this season entering Sunday's matchup.

Diaby had also been uninvolved in the run defense game, recording just 13 total tackles.

While all three of his tackles against Carolina came in the form of sacks, Diaby's performance should allow him to find more ways to impact the game.

As Tampa looks to get back in the hunt for the NFC South crown, Diaby's continued production is a big need.

This offseason, Diaby talked about wanting to be the team's leader on the defensive end, while lauding the unit as the best he has ever played for.

Diaby's slow start was very surprising considering his strong offseason and last year's individual success, recording seven sacks.

Last season, Diaby finished sixth in the NFL with 51 total pressures, beating out some of the highest paid edges in the league, such as Jaelan Phillips (49), who signed a four-year, $120 million contract with the Panthers in free agency.

According to NextGenStats, Diaby also had the most pressures in an individual game, matching the Green Bay Packers' Micah Parsons with 11 in Week 3. 

Alongside rookie Rueben Bain Jr. and the collection of talent on the edge, Diaby is supposed to be the leader and Sunday's performance hints he may have turned a corner.

He will have his hands full next weekend against the Atlanta Falcons, who have surrendered just 16 sacks to opposing defenses this year.

In his previous six matchups with the Falcons, Diaby has never recorded a sack.