Panthers at Buccaneers: Highlights, score and recap
By John Buhler
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers held off the Carolina Panthers to win a low-scoring thriller 17-16.
The Carolina Panthers took a 7-3 lead on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers into halftime. Both teams scored on their first offensive possession, but couldn’t get it together offensively in their remaining first half possessions.
Tampa Bay got on the board first thanks to a 33-yard Roberto Aguayo made field goal to cap off a 10-play drive. Carolina would do the Buccaneers one better by executing a six-play drive capped off by a two-yard touchdown run by running back Jonathan Stewart and a Graham Gano made PAT to make it 7-3 Panthers.
In the first half, both teams would throw an interception and miss a field goal. Tampa Bay would also turn the football over on a James Winston fumble. The Buccaneers came out flat in a must-win game to keep their slim NFC playoff chances alive.
The third quarter would be a horror show for Panthers quarterback Cam Newton. He threw a pick-six on the second play from scrimmage in the second half. Buccaneers cornerback Brent Grimes read it all the way for a 31-yard defensive touchdown. That score made it 10-7 Buccaneers.
Carolina would respond with a solid 54-yard field goal from Gano on the Panthers’ third drive of the third quarter to tie it up at 10 points apiece. After a few series ending in punts, Carolina would get the ball inside of two minutes left in the third, trying to charge the length of the field. Newton would throw his third interception of the day to Buccaneers safety Keith Tandy to end the third quarter.
The Buccaneers would begin the fourth quarter with great field position. They couldn’t do much on that possession. Aguayo would have his 48-yard field goal blocked by Carolina defensive lineman Kony Ealy. Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson would advance the blocked field goal 19 yards in the Panthers’ favor.
Carolina only had to go 49 yards to get into the end zone after blocking that Aguayo field goal attempt and could not get it done. Stewart and fullback Mike Tolbert would run the football well, but a couple of costly penalties in the red zone led to another missed field goal from Gano. The Panthers were two yards from getting into the end zone on Tampa Bay.
Tampa Bay would finally put it together on its next offensive drive. Winston would hit his favorite receiving target in Mike Evans for a go-ahead 10-yard touchdown to cap off an eight-play, 74-yard drive. The Aguayo made PAT made it 17-10 Buccaneers late in the fourth quarter.
Carolina would respond with a strong 10-play, 74-yard drive capped off by a Newton touchdown pass to wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin. The Panthers would opt to go for two down 17-16 to the Buccaneers. Carolina would be unsuccessful on the attempt, would attempt an onside kick, fail at that, and lose by one in Tampa Bay.
Tampa Bay would win, but would be eliminated from NFC playoff contention thanks to the Dallas Cowboys mailing it in against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17.
Three Stars
- Keith Tandy: Tandy was the star for the Tampa Bay defense. He had 12 tackles, 10 solo, one for a loss of yardage, two passes defended, and an interception of Newton.
- Mike Evans: Evans was the big-time receiver Tampa Bay needed to win. He had five catches for 65 yards and a touchdown.
- Kelvin Benjamin: Benjamin gave the Panthers a chance in this one. He had six catches for 93 yards and a touchdown.
Next Game
Carolina failed to reach the NFC Playoffs for the first time since the 2012 NFL season. The Panthers’ next game will be in Week 1 of the 2017 NFL season versus an opponent to be determined.
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Barring some sort of ridiculous parlay involving a tie, the Buccaneers’ will likely miss the 2016 NFC Playoffs. Tampa Bay’s next game is likely going to be in Week 1 in the 2017 NFL season against an opponent to be determined.