Buccaneers Siege the Day, Finish Season Strong with Win Over Panthers by Jake Martino
Photo: Jake Martino/Upstate Sports Zone
Tampa- Oh what a day it was to be in Tampa Bay to catch the Buccaneers play the Panthers with my brother and Dad. Well, being a Panthers fan it was all great till it came down to the end. Buccaneers would end up beating the Panthers 17-16 on Sunday. Here is the full rundown of the game.
Back and forth it was the whole game with the Panthers coming out and scoring the first TD in the first quarter to give the Panthers an early 7-3. But wait, isn’t this supposed to be a battle of the QB’s? Yes, it was supposed to but it wouldn’t end up being one, but more of a defensive game for both teams to close out the season on a high note. The Bucs D finished with 4INT on the game, while the Panthers D had an INT and a field goal block. Going into half the score would say 7-3. With Carolina receiving the ball to start the second half with high hopes of giving them a big lead, it led to a big turnover. Not even a minute into the second half, Cam Newton threw an interception that led to 31 yard pick 6 for Brent Grimes. Graham Gano would add a 54-yard field goal to end the third quarter. Then it all came down to the wire. Tied 10-10 with 3:13 left to go in the third quarter Jameis Winston found Mike Evans for the TD. The atmosphere in that stadium after that catch was insane. Cannons firing, fans cheering, Panthers fans crying it was just amazing. But Super Cam and the Panthers wouldn’t give up marching all the way down the field to score the touchdown. So last game of the season, teams want to go home, Ron Rivera decides to go for 2pt conversion with 17sec left to go and fails and the Panthers lose. Not the best call in my book and I would have much rather watched an OT game then a horrible way to end the season. The Referees were a key factor in this game on multiple plays, with some being the wrong call and some being the right. Penalties killed Carolina in the long run which mainly led to the loss.
Today was also a record day for Bucs QB Jameis Winston as he is the first in league history with consecutive 4,000-yard passing seasons to start career.
Both teams finished up the season on Sunday, both teams with high hopes to make the playoffs coming into the season. It was an off year for last year’s Super Bowl teams as the Panthers and the Broncos both missed the playoffs. Tampa especially had high hopes with 2 year QB Jameis Winston and Mike Evans having amazing chemistry together. The Bucs defense killed it this year but had some silly losses along the way. Buccaneers finished at 9-7 and the Panthers finished a 6-10.
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By Jake Martino
Final Stats
Yards
Jameis Winston (TB) 20/35, 202 yards, 1TD, 1INT
Cam Newton (Car) 18/32, 237 yards, 1TD, 3INT
Rogers (TB) 17rush, 75yards
Stewart (Car) 20rush, 65yards, 1TD
Kelvin Benjamin (Car) 6rec, 93yards, 1TD
Humphries (TB) 10rec, 94yards
Gallery: Jake Martino/Upstate Sports Zone
