The Tampa Bay Buccaneers traveled to Charlotte, NC to face the Carolina Panthers in divisional play in Week 10; facing the Panthers for the second time this season. In Week 2 the Buccaneers defeated the Panthers in Tampa Bay, 31-17. This is the 41st matchup between the teams, and the Panthers entered the game with the all-time lead in the series, 24-16, and hoped to break the Buccaneers winning streak in the series. This didn’t happen and the Buccaneers cemented a solid, 46-23 victory.
First Quarter
Carolina opened the game with possession of the ball and couldn’t convert the opening drive into any points, but neither did Tampa Bay when Ronald Jones fumbled the ball, and Tre Boston eventually landed the recovery forcing a turnover.
The Panthers took advantage of the turnover when Teddy Bridgewater connected with Colin Thompson for the six-yard touchdown. This was not only Thompson’s first career touchdown, but it was also the first catch of his career. The Panthers took the early lead, 7-0.
The Buccaneers answered in the next drive after running nearly five minutes off the clock when Tom Brady and Cameron Brate connected for a five-yard touchdown score and tied the game, 7-7.
The score wouldn’t remain tied for long as the Panthers scored again in their next drive, this time with a 24-yard touchdown pass between Bridgewater and D.J. Moore. Carolina had the 14-7 lead and kept the lead headed into the second quarter.
Second Quarter
Tampa Bay had possession of the ball at its own 44-yard line when the second quarter started. The Panthers’ held the Buccaneers at their goal line for three downs and forced a field goal attempt. Ryan Succop put the ball through the posts from 23 yards out and closed the gap in the score, 14-10.
In the next drive, the Panthers were also forced to make a field goal attempt to finish out a six-minute opening drive. Joey Slye put it through the posts right down the middle from 46 yards out, and extended Carolina’s lead, 17-10.
Tampa Bay added another touchdown score to the board at the end of this drive when Brady connected with Mike Evans for the three-yard score and tied the game 17-17, which was the score going into halftime.
Third Quarter
Tampa Bay had the first shot in the second half to put points up, which they did. The Buccaneers settled for another field goal when Succop put the ball through from 24 yards out. Tampa Bay took the lead for the first time, 20-17.
The Panthers didn’t produce anything on their opening drive but did put the ball at the Tampa Bay two-yard line in the punt. Not a big deal for Jones who took the ball all the way to the house for a 98-yard touchdown score. This score set a team record for the Buccaneers and Jones became the fourth player league-wide to record such a feat. The Buccaneers extended their lead, 26-17.
Things kept going the Buccaneers way when Jason Pierre-Paul intercepted Bridgewater’s pass in the first play of the next drive. The Buccaneers made it to the goal line but were forced to go for the field goal again. Succop put it through from 21 yards out this time. Tampa Bay expanded the lead to 12 points, 29-17. The score remained true for the rest of the third quarter.
Fourth Quarter
Tampa Bay owned the field in the third quarter and looked to do the same to close out the game. They began the final quarter with possession of the ball at the Carolina 20 yard line. Succop finished out the opening drive with his fourth field goal of the day. This one from 40 yards out and padding the lead, 32-17.
The Carolina offensive line came back to life in their opening drive when Trenton Cannon weaved his way down the field for 98 yards to the two-yard line. In the next play, Bridgewater carried the ball two yards into the endzone and put six points on the board missing the two-point conversion attempt. The score was 32-23.
The Buccaneers answered Carolina’s touchdown with a touchdown in the next drive. Brady finished off nearly five and half minutes of play with a one-yard rushing touchdown and a 16 point lead.
The scoring continued in the Buccaneers’ following drive when In their next drive when Brady hit Gronkowski with a seven-yard touchdown pass. Tampa Bay extended their lead to 46-23 and would close out the game doubling the points of the Panthers.
Final Thoughts and Highlights
Carolina put forth an earnest effort in the first half of the game, and it even looked as if they had control of the game going into halftime with a tied score, but they fell flat in the second half. The second half from beginning to end belonged to the Buccaneers. Brady was on point with 28 completions for 341 yards, three passing touchdowns, and a rushing touchdown. The Panthers faced adversity coming into the game with a battered defense and injuries to Mike Davis and Bridgewater surely rattled the offensive line. Matt Rhule has something good going with this young squad, they just have to learn to play consistently from the start of the clock until it runs out of time. It also wouldn’t hurt to recover some of their key injured players.
Meet @ColinThompsonTU 👋
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) November 15, 2020
.@idjmoore takes the screen pass and goes into the end zone! @teddyb_h2o is 10/10 to start the game. #KeepPounding
— NFL (@NFL) November 15, 2020
📺: #TBvsCAR on FOX
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/6yCTrUNGY8 pic.twitter.com/YfZ5YhXEqq
RONALD JONES GOES 98 YARDS!
— NFL (@NFL) November 15, 2020
@rojo | #GoBucs
📺: #TBvsCAR on FOX
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/6yCTrUNGY8 pic.twitter.com/gP9CxTXpsu
Next up, the Buccaneers will face the Los Angeles Rams in Monday Night Football action on November 23 and the Panthers will head to Detroit to face the Lions next Sunday afternoon.
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