Buccaneers at Panthers final score 6-27: Newton leads Carolina to 8th straight win
By Mike Dyce
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers brought their three-game win streak into an NFC South match up against the Carolina Panthers, who are on their own seven-game win streak. Only one of them could extend their streak on Sunday though.
The Bucs got on the board first with a 27-yard field goal from Ryan Lindell. The Panthers responded with their own scoring drive on the following possession. The Panthers marched 83 yards down the field on five plays, highlighted by a 56-yard run from quarterback Cam Newton. Two players later he hit Brandon LaFell for a 16-yard touchdown pass.
The Bucs added another field goal from Lindell late in the first quarter, and that would be their final score of the game.
From then on out, it was all Panthers. Newton leaped over a pile for a one-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. In the third quarter, wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr caught a 36-yard touchdown pass from Newton. Kicker Graham Gano added a pair of field goals as well, one in the second quarter and one in the fourth.
Newton played well, but not incredible. He completed 18 of 29 passes for 263 yards. He threw two touchdowns but also a pair of interceptions.