Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers game recap: Everything we know
With all kinds of chirping surrounding the status of their head coach, the struggling Carolina Panthers stepped into Raymond James Stadium looking to snap a six-game losing streak.
Well, as expected, that did not happen.
Final score: Buccaneers 41, Panthers 17
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Keys to the game
AP Photo/Jason Behnken
A blunder from head coach Matt Rhule stood as the turning point in this one. On 4th and inches from the Tampa Bay 1-yard line, up 7-3 near the end of the second quarter, Rhule kept Sam Darnold in over Cam Newton for a sneak attempt. The push failed. Carolina could’ve, perceivably, went up 14-3 with just over four minutes left in the half. Instead, they ended it down 10-7.
Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady came for the stats and got ’em. The three-time MVP made a final bid for his fourth, completing 29 of his 37 throws for 326 yards and three touchdowns.
137 of those yards found the hands of tight end Rob Gronkowski. And that’s because Gronkowski continuously found holes in the Carolina secondary to keep the Tampa Bay offense moving all afternoon.
It was over when . . .
AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio
Down 31-17 with just under seven minutes remaining, the Panthers still technically had a chance. But that chance was coughed up by Darnold.
After another bobble on an attempted read-option exchange with running back Chuba Hubbard, Darnold tried to dash through the middle again. This time, the rock was punched out by Tampa Bay defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches and recovered by safety Antoine Winfield Jr. deep in Carolina territory.
Players of the game
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
S Myles Hartsfield: 12 tackles, 1.0 sack
RB Ameer Abdullah: 82 scrimmage yards (nine receptions), 116 return yards
WR DJ Moore: seven receptions, 87 yards
What's next?
AP Photo/Jason Behnken
A very awkward offseason!
The Panthers end their miserable 2021 campaign on a seven-game losing streak and with defeats in 12 of their final 14 games. Their 5-12 record is also the worst in NFL history for any team that started out 3-0.
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