The Panthers came to Tampa today for a football game that they absolutely had to win to keep their dwindling playoff hopes alive.
The Panthers failed to come away with a much-needed victory on the road against a sub-.500 divisional opponent, and have lost four straight games after an electric 6-2 start to the season. Now, the team are desperately searching for answers to why they can’t seem to get out of their own way when it matters the most, and by the looks of it they’ll have a long offseason to think about it. The Panthers probably destroyed any chance they have of making the playoffs today, and they have no one to blame for that but themselves.
The coaching staff were woefully unprepared. The players were substandard. There was a lack of execution on both sides of the ball, and the Panthers paid the ultimate price for it.
Cam Newton, who said earlier in the week that he was playing the best football of his career, threw four interceptions today. We’ve seen plenty of good moments from him this season despite poor outings from the defense, but today was not one of those days. Newton simply wasn’t good enough today, and now the Panthers will try to pick up the pieces and find a way to salvage at least a winning season out of this disastrous slide that we’ve seen over the last four weeks. That’s no easy task. The Panthers have two of their remaining four games on the road, and two games against the NFC South leading New Orleans Saints, who appear to be playing a different sport than the Panthers at this juncture.
I don’t have any answers for you if you’re wondering how we got to this point. I’m sure Ron Rivera will attribute it to missed opportunities as he’s wont to do, but something tells me there is a much deeper issue at this point. I don’t know if the Panthers can salvage this season, but they’ll give it a shot next weekend in Cleveland. As always, we’ll be here to see what happens and hope for the best.
Live updates
FINAL SCORE: Panthers 17 - Bucs 24
4th quarter
Incomplete. Game over.
Flag on the play... offside on the defense. The Panthers will get an untimed down. Heinicke in at QB.
Incomplete passs. Game over.
Incomplete pass. 3rd down. 6 seconds left.
Timeout Bucs.
Thomas picks up six yards. 13 seconds left.
Cam finds Samuel for the first down and he gets out of bounds to stop the clock. There are 20 seconds left. Horrible time management.
Cam finds CMC for a loss and he can’t get out of bounds. 3rd down.
Cam finds Thomas for nine yards.
The Panthers have 1:05 left to tie the game. Ball at the CAR 26.
The defense does their job and forces a 4th down. The Bucs will waste as much time as they can with this punt, but the Panthers will have one more chance at a miracle.
The Panthers have to get a stop here if they want a chance to tie this game. A first down ends it for the Bucs.
Two minute warning. Panthers 17 - Bucs 24
It’s 3rd and 7 for the Bucs.
TURNOVER ON DOWNS: Cam throws it back to Charlotte with an open receiver downfield. I... I have no words.
It’s 4th and 9. This is the ballgame here, folks.
Timeout Panthers.
SACK: Down goes Cam again. 4th down.
Timeout Panthers.
Cam was nearly picked off for the 5th time today. Yikes.
Cam finds CMC for a short gain on 1st down across the middle. 2nd and 5.
Cam throws to Thomas, who makes a nice catch for a 20 yard gain and another first down.
CMC picks up the first down on the ground. 1st and 10.
Cam throws to CMC for a short gain. 2nd down.
Barner doesn’t call for a fair catch and he’s hit immediately upon fielding the punt.
The call stands and it’s 4th down.
The Bucs are challenging the play, but it looks like the ball hit the ground before bouncing into Brate’s hands.
Two straight incomplete passes bring up 4th and 5. The Panthers defense does their job.
The Panthers have to get a stop here if they want any chance to win this game.
Barber picks up a few yards on 1st down. 2nd down.
LOL Cam thorws his 4th interception of the day. Welp.
Cam runs play action to CMC and takes it himself for a few yards. 2nd down.
Cam fires over the middle again for Samuel, who comes down with the catch and a 10 yard gain. 1st and 10.
On 2nd down, Cam throws over the middle to Moore for a short gain. There’s a flag on the play. It’s offside on the Bucs. Still 2nd down after the five yard gain.
Cam fires downfield to Samuel, who makes a great catch to pick up the first down.
Cam throws low to CMC but he manages to catch it for a short gain. 3rd and 6
CMC gets the carry up the middle and gains a few yards. 2nd down.
The Bucs down the punt on the two yard line but the gunner was touching the goal line, resulting in a touchback for the Panthers. 1st and 10 from the CAR 20.
And they do! Winston finds Brate but he can’t pick up the first down and the Bucs will punt.
It’s 3rd and 12. Hopefully the defense can get off the field.
Barber is bottled up at the 38 yard line after losing a few yards. 2nd and 12.
That was a bad decision by Cam. Should have tucked it and ran or taken the sack. Oh well... defense is back on the field.
LOL guess what? Cam makes a terrible decision and gets intercepted. Yikes.
Cam pitches to Moore, who picks up another first down. The Panthers are in Bucs’ territory on this important drive.
Cam finds Samuel for a huge 31-yard gain and a first down. Samuel could have gained more but he over-juked and caught the turf monster.
Cam finds CMC but he’s taken down behind the line of scrimmage. 2nd and 11.
Fair catch at the CAR 13 yard line by Barner.
Winston fires over Evans’ head but there’s a flag on the play. It’s offensive pass interference. The Panthers get off the field on 3rd down. Huge turn of events here.
It’s 3rd and 6 after an 11 yard gain by Godwin.
It’s now 2nd and 17. I swear, defense... if y’all don’t get off the field...
Winston finds Humphries on a screen but there’s a flag on the play. Evans gets called for holding to negate the play. Big break for the Panthers there.
Flag on the field as Winston finds Humphries on 2nd down. It’s offensive pass interference on Mike Evans. 2nd and long again.
2nd and 10 after an incomplete pass
Jameis takes it himself and picks up a first down. Sigh...
END OF 3RD QUARTER: Panthers 17 - Bucs 24
3rd quarter
Kuechly swallows Jones behind the line for a loss. 2nd and long.
LOL of course they give up 18 yards on 3rd and 17.
SACK: Winston goes down to set up a 3rd and long. Dontari Poe looks to be the one to get to him first.
Jones loses a yard to set up 2nd and 11. Kuechly on the tackle.
Gano’s kickoff goes out of the end zone for a touchback.
TOUCHDOWN PANTHERS: Cam fires to Devin Funchess, who hauls it in for the score. The XP is good. Panthers 17 - Bucs 24
Cam swings it out to Moore for a first down.
The Panthers run a fake to CMC with an end around to Samuel, who picks up solid yardage. 2nd and 2.
Cam pitches to CMC who picks up another first down. Panthers are at the TB 25 with another 1st and 10.
Clark is back in, Turner is not.
Cam finds Wright for another first down.
Chris Clark and Trai Turner are out of the game at the moment. Marshall Newhouse and Tyler Larsen are their replacements.
Cam somehow avoids a sack and fires to Ian Thomas, who picks up another first down.
Cam throws to Moore on the sideline, who makes a great catch for another first down.
Cam fires to CMC on 3rd and 7, and he picks up 15 yards. 1st and 10.
CMC picks up a few yards. 2nd and 7.
LOL and Kenjon Barner muffs the kickoff and has to return it. He gets to the CAR 9. 1st and 10.
TOUCHDOWN BUCS: Barber bulldozes his way into the end zone. The XP is good. Panthers 10 - Bucs 24
Winston heaves it in the end zone and Donte Jackson commits pass interference. It’s 1st and goal on the one yard line. That’s a bad call, even Ronde Barber agrees.
On 3rd and 11 the Panthers play soft coverage and Godwin is wide open for 18 yards. Why... WHY?!
Winston keeps it himself and picks up four yards. 3rd and 11.
The Bucs pick up a few yards on 1st and 20. Captain Munnerlyn on the tackle. 2nd and 15.
Barber breaks loose and gains about 30 yards before the play is blown dead for a holding penalty. The Panthers caught a break there.
Winston has to throw it quickly and he can’t find Evans, but the Panthers are called for pass interference because we simply cannot have nice things today. 1st down.
It’s 3rd down after Eric Reid forces an incompletion.
The Bucs gain two yards on first down. 2nd and 8.
Gano’s kickoff sails out of the end zone and the Bucs will start at the 25.
FIELD GOAL PANTHERS: Gano’s kick is good. Panthers 10 - Bucs 17
And as expected, the Panthers can’t pick up the first down. Field goal unit comes out for a 37-yard attempt.
Cam finds Funchess in the end zone, but Chris Clark prevents the touchdown by holding. Sigh...
Cam finds Samuel for a six yard gain. 3rd and 7.
Cam is sacked again. 2nd and long.
Cam fires over the middle for Jarius Wright, who makes a few players miss and picks up a nice chunk of yards. 33 yards and a first down.
Cam is not himself today, for what it’s worth.
Cam fires downfield for Samuel, who has to play defense and prevent an interception.
Cam finds Moore again for another first down.
Cam fires across the middle for D.J. Moore, who picks up 16 yards and a first down.
CMC carries for two yards on 1st down. 2nd and 8.
The kick sails out of the end zone for a touchback.
The Panthers receive the kickoff to open the 2nd half.
HALFTIME: Panthers 7 - Bucs 17
2nd quarter
Cam takes a knee and this one is at halftime. Awful first half by the Panthers.
TOUCHDOWN BUCS: Jameis finds a wide open Godwin in the end zone and he doesn’t miss him. The XP is good. Panthers 7 - Bucs 17
Jameis throws it in the end zone for Godwin, but Eric Reid steps in front of the pass and breaks it up. Probably should have been an interception, tbh.
It’s 3rd and 1 as Barber is stood up at the line. Flag on the play. Holding on the offense. It’s 2nd and long now.
Timeout Bucs.
Brate catches the pass and takes it down to the CAR 3. 2nd and 1.
Timeout Bucs.
Even Ronde Barber is calling out the Panthers for soft coverage. Sheesh.
Winston finds Evans for an easy first down that the CAR 12 yard line.
Winston hits Brate in the hands and the pass falls incomplete. Captain Munnerlyn on coverage.
TURNOVER: Cam throws an interception to a guy the Bucs brought up from their practice squad due to injuries. Welp.
Cam fires into the end zone for Samuel, but it’s broken up on a great play by the cornerback.
CMC bursts through the line for 13 more yards. 1st and 10.
Two minute warning. Panthers 7 - Bucs 10
Cam fires over the middle for CMC, who gets a first down.
Cam takes it himself again and picks up another first down. They should run that play more.
CMC tries to bounce it outside but can’t get anything going. 2nd and 10.
Cam takes it himself and picks up a cool 15 yards and a first down.
Kenjon Barner with a nice punt return, but there’s a flag on the field like there is every single other time a Panther has a nice kick/punt return. It’s a block in the back on Ben Jacobs, because of course it is.
ANOTHER SACK: Kawann Short gets to Winston this time to force a 4th down.
SACK: Efe Obada chases Winston down and sacks him to force a third and long.
It’s 2nd down after Barber is stopped at the line of scrimmage.
Winston fires down the field to Evans, who comes down with the catch around midfield. Evans is shaken up on the play.
Humphries muffs the punt but manages to fall down on it to keep possession.
Cam can’t find anyone open downfield and has to scramble out of bounds. 4th down. Sigh.
Cam finds Ian Thomas but he only gets back to the line of scrimmage. 3rd and long.
The Panthers had 1st and 10 at the 20. It’s now 1st and long at the 5.
And now it’s 2nd and even longer as Cam gets called for a false start.
CMC picks up a few yards but Taylor Moton is called for a hold. 1st and long instead of 2nd and short.
TURNOVER STANDS! Panthers ball at the 20 yard line.
And Olsen has officially been ruled out for the rest of the game.
Greg Olsen is not expected to return today after injuring his foot.
TURNOVER: The play is ruled a fumble recovered by the Panthers! 1st and 10 from the CAR 20.
Barber tries to dive over the goal line and the ball comes out. It’s either a fumble recovered by the Panthers or a touchdown.
Barber gets stood up at the line of scrimmage but manages to pick up two yards. 2nd and goal.
Greg Olsen is headed to the locker room with a foot injury. That’s bad.
Guess what? The Bucs got a first down again.
Jones takes it again for a few more yards. 3rd and 3.
Ronald Jones gets his first carry of the day for three yards. 2nd and 7.
Winston finds Godwin over the middle as he sprints through the defense and takes it to the CAR 25 yard line. Sigh.
Winston finds Evans for a quick 7 yard gain. 2nd and 3.
Greg Olsen was seen limping off the field... hopefully he’s okay.
Palardy’s punt bounces into the end zone for a touchback.
Cam fires for Curtis Samuel, but he can’t come up with the catch before the ball hits the ground. 4th down. Sigh.
CMC takes the screen from Cam and picks up 10 yards to make 3rd down more manageable. 3rd and 7.
It’s 2nd and 17 after that sack.
END OF 1ST QUARTER: Panthers 7 - Bucs 10
1st quarter
Cam gets blown up by LaVante David. Yikes. 2nd and long.
CMC takes the pitch and picks up another first down. 1st and 10 from the CAR 43.
Cam fires for Greg Olsen, who makes the catch and picks up a first down.
The Panthers avoid disaster as Barner fumbles the punt... but it rolls out of bounds.
SACK: Mario Addison and Kyle Love take down Winston to force a 4th down.
Barber is stuffed at the line after a one yard pickup. 3rd and 4.
Winston finds Mike Evans for a short gain. 2nd and 5.
Barber slashes through the defense again for another big gain. Sigh.
Gano’s kickoff is down in the end zone for a touchback.
TOUCHDOWN PANTHERS: Newton rolls out and fires to CMC, who dives into the end zone to get the Panthers on the board. The XP is good. Panthers 7 - Bucs 10
CMC up the middle again... but this time he makes the most of it as he picks up a HUGE 53-yard gain. He’s tripped up inside the red zone, but the Panthers are knocking on the door.
Flag on the field after an incomplete pass. It’s pass interference and a first down for the Panthers. That’s a relief.
The Bucs are without their entire starting secondary and they’re running CMC up the middle. They deserve to lose, to be quite honest.
It’s 2nd and long after a failed run play.
The Panthers start at their own 27 after Barner’s return.
FIELD GOAL BUCS: Santos’ 35-yard kick is good. Panthers 0 - Bucs 10
Winston scrambles and picks up a few yards but not enough to pick up the first. The turnover will cost the Panthers three points, though.
It’s now 3rd and long, at least.
INTERCEPTION: Cam throws for Christian McCaffrey, but it’s picked off. I don’t know anymore...
Hey Panthers, y’all do realize that the Bucs are 4-7 right?
LOL and now Cam gets sacked. It’s 3rd and long. Sigh.
Cam scrambles for two yards. 2nd and 8.
Kenjon Barner was back to return the kickoff, but it sails out of the end zone for a touchback.
In case you were wondering, the Panthers’ defense is still garbage.
TOUCHDOWN BUCS: Winston scrambles and finds Adam Humphries in the end zone for hte score. The XP is good. Panthers 0 - Bucs 7
It’s 3rd and goal after Cameron Brate drops a pass in the end zone.
Barber takes it to the four yard line. 2nd and goal.
Jameis takes it himself and picks up a first down at the Panthers’ 6 yard line. 1st and goal.
Luke Kuechly stops Barber behind the line for a one yard loss. 2nd and 11.
Peyton Barber picks up 17 yards to the Panthers’ 23 yard line. Sigh.
Winston scrambles and picks up six yards. 2nd and 4.
And because the Panthers can’t cover anything on 3rd down because of cushions... it’s 1st and 10.
It’s quickly 3rd and 2 after two plays by the Bucs.
Jameis Winston finds Adam Humphries for a quick first down. Captain Munnerlyn on the “coverage”.
As expected, Gano’s kickoff sails out of the end zone for a touchback.
The Panthers win the coin toss and defer to the 2nd half. Defense, you’re up.
The Panthers and Buccaneers kickoff at 1 p.m. ET. Stay tuned for live updates!
Pregame
The Panthers will travel to Tampa, FL to take on the Buccaneers on Sunday after suffering a heartbreaking loss against the Seattle Seahawks last week. The Panthers have lost their last three games and will hope to turn their fortunes around against a familiar foe this weekend. The last time the Panthers and Buccaneers met, the Panthers won handily, so hopefully they can repeat that result this week to end their losing streak and remain in the playoff hunt.
Here’s all the information you need to follow the action as it happens live.
Game day information
What: Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
When: Sunday, December 2 at 1 p.m. ET
Where: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, FL)
TV: FOX; Kenny Albert, Ronde Barber (Coverage map)
Radio: Panthers radio (local); Mick Mixon, Jim Szoke, Eugene Robinson, Kevin Donnalley
Spanish Radio: Panthers radio (local); Jaime Moreno, Luis Moreno Jr
Weather: 81°/70° / AM Clouds/PM Sun / 11 mph SSW wind / 20% precip. (Complete forecast)
Miscellaneous information
Mobile app
You can download the official Panthers app to get live score updates during the game straight to your phone. Also, if you live in the NC/SC market you can listen to the live radio broadcast of every game with the app. You can find the Panthers app in your phone’s app store or you can download the app here.
Online Streaming
FuboTV: You can stream and record live NFL games on FuboTV if you purchase a monthly subscription to their service.
NFL GamePass: You can stream all NFL regular season games on demand if you purchase NFL Game Pass*. It’s a little pricey at $99, but it also includes access to All-22 film. If you’re just desperate to watch the Panthers game there is a 7-day free trial, but sign up at your own risk if you’re one of those people who forgets to cancel before the free trial is over.
*Note: You cannot watch regular season games live with this option. You have to wait until after the games are over before you can stream them.
TV Replays
NFL Network will air condensed replays of a selected group of regular season games throughout the week. To see if/when the Panthers’ game will be replayed, you can check NFL Network’s television schedule for more information.
Roaring Riot Watch Parties
If you’re unable to watch the game via live tv or streaming, or if you prefer to watch in the company of fellow Panthers fans, check out the Roaring Riot to see if there is a watch party in your area. Membership is not required to get in the door, but if you’re interested in purchasing a membership you can find all the information you need here.
Uniforms
The Panthers will wear white uniforms for this game.
Odds
If you’re into that sort of thing, you can find info on NFL game odds by clicking here.
Stay tuned for a live update thread when the game kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday!
Panthers next four opponents
Week 14: at Cleveland Browns; Sun, Dec 9, 1 p.m. ET
Week 15: vs New Orleans Saints; Mon, Dec 17, 8:15 p.m. ET
Week 16: vs Atlanta Falcons; Sun, Dec 23, 1 p.m. ET
Week 17: at New Orleans Saints; Sun, Dec 30, 1 p.m. ET