Tom Brady threw three touchdowns and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished strong in the regular season by defeating the visiting Carolina Panthers 41-17 on Sunday.

The reigning Super Bowl champions hold a 13-4 record entering the playoffs, where they will be the No. 2 seed in the NFC. They'll face the seventh-seeded Philadelphia Eagles next weekend.

Tampa Bay scored 24 fourth-quarter points to put away the Panthers.

Brady threw for 326 yards on 29-for-37 passing, with two of the TD passes going to Mike Evans.

Rob Gronkowski made seven catches for 137 yards and Evans finished with 89 yards on six receptions.

The Panthers (5-12) lost seven consecutive games to end their second season under coach Matt Rhule. Two of the last three defeats came to the Buccaneers, who won 32-6 in Charlotte, N.C. It's the worst record in NFL history for a team that began the season with a 3-0 record.

Carolina quarterback Sam Darnold threw two touchdowns and an interception. He was 29-for-42 for 219 yards to finish his first season with the team.

Tampa Bay led only 17-10 entering the fourth quarter. On the first play of the quarter, Brady connected with Evans for a 3-yard touchdown.

The Panthers responded when Darnold threw 19 yards to Robby Anderson for a score.

Three minutes later, Brady hooked up with Evans for a 20-yard touchdown. Ryan Succop's second field goal of the day and Scotty Miller's 33-yard touchdown run added to Tampa Bay's late-game scoring.

The Panthers scored first on Chuba Hubbard's 2-yard reception from Darnold in the first quarter.

The Buccaneers didn't lead until Le'Veon Bell took a 1-yard toss from Brady with 15 seconds left in the first half for what became a 10-7 edge. That concluded a 92-yard, eight-play drive.

Tampa Bay padded the lead on the opening possession of the second half by marching 77 yards in seven plays with Ke'Shawn Vaughn running in from 2 yards out.

--Field Level Media