Panthers vs. Buccaneers: Week 8 rewind
A look back at the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers first regular season meeting…
Entering Week 8 the Carolina Panthers were coming off a dominant defensive performance against the Chicago Bears. Carolina didn’t allow a touchdown but two quarterback Cam Newton’s turnovers were returned for Chicago touchdowns and the Panthers lost their second game in a row.
The Buccaneers had lost their previous three games all by less than one score but had hopes of turning their season around with a divisional win. The first of six such games in the season, Tampa Bay still had an opportunity for a great year with a win over Carolina.
It was the Panthers that rebounded behind another dominant defensive effort and late touchdown strike from Newton to wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin. For a second consecutive week the Carolina defense allowed only a field goal as the Panthers kicked off a stretch of four straight wins with a 17-3 victory and the Bucs losing streak grew to five before a home win over the New York Jets.
Benjamin has since left Carolina, being traded to Buffalo before the Panthers next game. However, two key offensive pieces have returned to the Carolina lineup in center Ryan Kalil and tight end Greg Olsen. Both were absent during the Panthers and Buccaneers first meeting.
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The divisional rivals have gone their separate ways since playing back in October. Carolina is 10-4, tied for first place in the division and looking to clinch a playoff berth with a second win over the Buccaneers.
Tampa Bay is 4-10, winning just two games since their first matchup with the Panthers and dealing with multiple injuries across their roster. Last week after beginning the game without two of their top defensive players in Gerald McCoy and Lavonte David, Tampa Bay saw six additional players exit without returning.
Both McCoy and David have returned to practice for the Buccaneers but they remain far from full strength. Carolina will be without linebacker Thomas Davis who is serving a suspension for a blindside block against Green Bay last week.
Next: Games to Watch - Week 16
Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00pm ET.