Buccaneers at Panthers Week 5: Highlights, score and recap
By John Buhler
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Carolina Panthers, 17-14, on Monday Night Football in Week 5. Buccaneers kicker Roberto Aguayo drained a 39-yard field goal as time expired.
Monday Night Football in Week 5 delivered surprisingly one of the most exciting finishes in football this season. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers move to 2-3 on the year by beating the Carolina Panthers, 17-14, on a game-winning field goal by rookie kicker Roberto Aguayo.
This was a sluggish game that neither team really felt like winning. Tampa Bay carried a 6-0 lead into halftime on the lowly Panthers. The Buccaneers failed to capitalize on most of the Carolina’s four turnovers in the ball game.
Panthers backup quarterback Derek Anderson had two interceptions and a fumble starting in place of the concussed Cam Newton. Anderson threw for 273 yards and completed 18 of 28 passes, but his ball security issues are why he is a backup quarterback and nothing more at this stage of his career.
Tampa Bay wasn’t particularly great either. The run defense by the Buccaneers was hit or miss. While Tampa Bay would come up with some much-needed stops on the ground, the Buccaneers did give up 136 rushing yards to a depleted Carolina rushing attack. Cameron Artis-Payne had 18 carries for 85 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Panthers offense.
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What saved Tampa Bay in this game was that they won the turnover battle, 4-0 on the road in Charlotte. Quarterback Jameis Winston played better, but not all that great either. He completed 18 of 30 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown.
It’s weird to think that Carolina is 1-4. The Panthers were unbeatable at Bank of America Stadium since November 2014 heading into this season. Now the Panthers have lost two games at home already this year and are three games back of the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC South.
Tampa Bay can build on this win to maybe fight for an NFC Wild Card spot, but Carolina head coach Ron Rivera may have lost the locker room with this Monday Night Football disaster in Week 5.
Three Stars
- Roberto Aguayo: Aguayo was going to either be the goat or The GOAT in this game. He was 3-for-5 on his field goal attempts. His game-winner from 39 yards out is a confidence builder for this rookie kicker.
- Greg Olsen: Olsen was easily the best player for the Panthers on Monday Night Football. The 31-year-old tight end had nine catches for 181 yards. It doesn’t matter if it is Newton or Anderson throwing him the football, Olsen is the best tight end in the NFC.
- Jacquizz Rodgers: Tampa Bay didn’t have either Doug Martin or Charles Sims available in this game. Rodgers had his best game in his NFL career with 101 yards on 30 carries as the Buccaneers’ bell-cow back. Without him, Tampa Bay doesn’t get into field goal range on five separate occasions.
Highlights
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Next Game
The Buccaneers will have their bye in Week 6. Tampa Bay’s next game will be on the road in Week 7 versus the San Francisco 49ers. Kickoff from Santa Clara on Sunday, Oct. 23, will be at 4:05 p.m. ET.
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The Panthers will have six days to prepare for their Week 6 game. Carolina will play another NFC South rival in the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Oct. 16 at 1:00 p.m. ET.