{"id":1415554,"date":"2025-12-01T07:23:44","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T07:23:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=nfl-news&p=1415554"},"modified":"2025-12-01T07:23:44","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T07:23:44","slug":"game-recap-cardinals-17-20-buccaneers-nov-30-2025-irving-mcbride-star-in-thriller","status":"publish","type":"nfl-news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/nfl\/nfl-news\/game-recap-cardinals-17-20-buccaneers-nov-30-2025-irving-mcbride-star-in-thriller\/","title":{"rendered":"Game Recap: Cardinals 17-20 Buccaneers (Nov 30, 2025) | Irving, McBride Star in Thriller"},"content":{"rendered":"
Analysis by Andy Francis, NFL Game Analyst<\/strong>? Specialising in post-game breakdowns and player performance analysis<\/div>\n\n

\u26a1 Quick Recap: Cardinals vs Buccaneers<\/h2>\n
\nFinal Score:<\/strong> Arizona Cardinals 17 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20\nGame MVP:<\/strong> Bucky Irving (RB, Buccaneers) \u2013 24 touches, 124 total yards, 1 TD\nTurning Point:<\/strong> Irving’s 13-yard rushing TD (Q3, 3:56)\nKey Stat:<\/strong> Buccaneers: 4-of-5 scores in red zone chances\nWhat It Means:<\/strong> Tampa Bay strengthens its playoff ambitions at 7-5; Arizona slips to 3-9.\nNext Up:<\/strong> Cardinals vs Rams | Buccaneers vs Saints\n<\/div>\n\n

What Happened in Cardinals vs Buccaneers?<\/h2>\n

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers emerged with a crucial 20-17 home win over the Arizona Cardinals, in front of a raucous crowd of 61,103 at Raymond James Stadium. This pivotal match for NFC playoff implications delivered a compelling contest defined by clutch red-zone execution, explosive plays on the ground and through the air, and late defensive stands.<\/p>\n

Both sides started cautiously, trading punts in a scoreless first quarter before Tampa Bay broke through in the second with a field goal and a precision 2-yard touchdown pass from Baker Mayfield to tackle Tristan Wirfs in a goal-line package. Bucky Irving\u2019s consistent production fuelled Tampa\u2019s ground attack, while Arizona, despite Jacoby Brissett\u2019s late-game heroics, saw drives stall until the fourth quarter. Trey McBride\u2019s 15-yard touchdown reception pulled the Cardinals within three, but Tampa Bay\u2019s resolve and clock management saw them through.<\/p>\n

With this result, the Buccaneers improve to 7-5, tightening their grip in the NFC South. The Cardinals drop to 3-9, leaving their post-season hopes in dire straits.<\/p>\n\n

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