CHARLOTTE– The Panthers were down 21-0 at halftime and rallied to make it, 21-14. However four free gifts were too much to overcome, as the Buccaneers won the Week 2 matchup, 31-17.
Significantly, running back Christian McCaffrey left the game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury after scoring his second goal of the day and did not return.
Here are a couple of rapid responses from the contest:
EARLY MISTAKES PROVE COSTLY
The Panthers didnt transform their third-and-2 at a loss zone. On fourth-and-2, Bridgewater utilized a two-hand chest pass to get the ball to McCaffrey on the left, and the running back put the ball in the box for a seven-yard goal.
The Panthers were on the move once again in the fourth quarter, with a 39-yard pass from Bridgewater to Anderson putting the visitors in Tampa Bay area.
The Panthers transformed a pair of 3rd downs on the ensuing ownership, one with a 15-yard reception by Moore and another with a protective pass disturbance penalty in the end zone. McCaffrey decreased his shoulder and powered the Panthers on the board with a one-yard touchdown run.
The Panthers scored a fast field objective to make it a one-possession game, Carolinas defense couldnt hold running back Leonard Fournette down any longer.
The 3rd quarter started improperly, with large receiver Robby Anderson fumbling a short 2nd down reception. The defense bailed out the offense when cornerback Donte Jackson chose off Brady on the next play.
While the possession began with a penalty on the punt, the Panthers overcame it with a stable drive that resulted in four first downs plus ball game. Carolina faced only 2 3rd downs on the series. On third-and-6 from the visitors 11, Bridgewater struck large receiver Curtis Samuel over the middle for a 10-yard gain.
Carolina did not tape-record a sack or quarterback hit throughout recentlys loss to Las Vegas, and the pattern continued through the very first two quarters versus Tampa Bay. With all sort of time, Brady finished the very first half with 198 lawns and a touchdown.
Until that point, the Panthers had allowed simply 46 lawns rushing during the contest.
Running back LeSean McCoy had a chance to likely put the video game out of reach with a touchdown reception, but the ball fell through his hands in the end zone. Tampa Bay went for a 33-yard basket to go up 24-14.
It was just the third career regular season game for Hamilton and his very first significant on-field action since the 2017 postseason with New Orleans.
NOT THROWING AWAY HIS SHOT.
The turnover problems continued the Panthers next drive when Bridgewater was strip-sacked on second down. Bucs defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul recuperated it on Carolinas 23. On the next breeze, quarterback Tom Brady struck broad receiver Mike Evans with a back-shoulder pass for a touchdown, putting Tampa Bay up, 14-0.
With defensive tackle Kawann Short inactive with a foot injury, the Panthers raised practice squad defensive deal with Woodrow Hamilton to the active lineup for Sundays game. While the belongings started with a charge on the punt, the Panthers overcame it with a stable drive that resulted in 4 very first downs plus the rating.
After Carolinas defense forced a three-and-out to begin the game, quarterback Teddy Bridgewaters 19-yard completion to large receiver DJ Moore put the visitors at Tampa Bays 22-yard line. On the next play, Bridgewater tossed a screen pass too high for McCaffrey, and Buccaneers security Jordan Whitehead intercepted the ball.
One focus of the Panthers defense today was creating a pass rush, and the club did not come through, particularly in the very first half.
But Bridgewater was sacked on the next play. And after offsetting penalties, Bridgewaters pass on the best side to D.J. Moore was obstructed by cornerback Carlton Davis, ending the Carolina danger.
On the ensuing drive, it appeared like the Panthers defense would get off the field when a brief pass to running back LeSean McCoy didnt reach the sticks in the red zone. However novice defensive tackle Derrick Brown committed an unnecessary roughness charge that led to an automated initially down. A play later on, running back Ronald Jones stiff-armed safety Juston Burris on the way in for a 7-yard touchdown.
That rating offered the Buccaneers 17 points off Panthers turnovers.
Bradys pass errant throw was high over the middle to tight end Rob Gronkowski. Jackson dove to get it, returning the choice 44 lawns up the left sideline to the Tampa Bay 47.
The Panthers didnt have a turnover last week, however 2 in the very first quarter showed costly on Sunday.
With defensive take on Kawann Short inactive with a foot injury, the Panthers elevated practice squad defensive tackle Woodrow Hamilton to the active roster for Sundays video game. He made the most of his chance, recording a run stuff in the very first quarter on Jones. In the second quarter, Hamilton won a battle at the bottom of a pile to recover a fumbled handoff exchange from Brady to Jones.
The Panthers lastly registered a quarterback hit when defensive take on Zach Kerr got them on the board in the third quarter, but they ended up without a sack for the 2nd time in as numerous games in 2020..
On the taking place drive, it looked like the Panthers defense would get off the field when a brief pass to running back LeSean McCoy didnt reach the sticks in the red zone. The turnover problems continued on the Panthers next drive when Bridgewater was strip-sacked on 2nd down. On the next snap, quarterback Tom Brady hit wide receiver Mike Evans with a back-shoulder pass for a goal, putting Tampa Bay up, 14-0.
McCaffrey ran in his second touchdown to cap a long 13-play, 93-yard drive early in the 4th quarter.
After an onside kick effort, Fournette took a handoff up the middle and broke away from the visitors defense for a 46-yard touchdown to make ball game 31-17.
