Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23 Carolina Panthers 37 Sunday 4 October 2015 at Raymond James Stadium FOX COMMENTARY CREW Chris Myers and Ronde Barber
GAME SCORING CAR 12:09-1Q Gano FG24 CAR 10:41-1Q Norman 46 interception return (Gano kick) TB 7:03-1Q Brindza FG42 CAR 10:50-2Q Ginn 6 pass from Newton (Gano kick) TB 4:23-2Q Martin 5 run (Brindza kick) CAR 12:25-3Q Dickson 57 fumble return (Gano kick) CAR 7:25-3Q Ginn 12 pass from Newton (Gano kick) TB 2:48-3Q Sims 10 pass from Winston (Brindza kick) CAR 13:28-4Q Gano FG27 CAR 4:15-4Q Gano FG27 TB 0:58-4Q Jackson 6 pass from Winston (kick failed)
Lovie Smith’s 10th home game as head coach of the Buccaneers and he remained perfect as he suffered his 10th loss. Four interceptions from rookie Jameis Winston and a lost fumble put Tampa in a deep hole they could never dig themselves out of but were helped once again by kicker Kyle Brindza who missed two more fieldgoal attempts and a PAT. Winston did pass for 287 yards and two touchdowns but was never a factor in a game against his fellow first overall pick Cam Newton. The Bucs defense was unable to stop the Panthers when it really mattered and even when they did force a fumble, it bounced into the hands of TE Ed Dickson who continued another 57 yards for an unlikely offensive fumble touchdown.
GAME REPORTS Roy Cummings sees the Bucs lose another one at home Martin Fennelly reports on another mind-numbing home defeat The defense allowed too many points on so few yards Kyle Brindza probably kicked himself out of the NFL Notes and anecdotes from the Buccaneer locker room Mike Alstott’s Ring of Honor induction ceremony was a bright spot Scott Smith’s detailed game report Click here for the gamebook and the play-by-play
STARTERS OFFENSE DEFENSE LT 76 Smith LDE 92 Gholston LG 70 Mankins DT 93 McCoy C 68 Hawley DT 98 McDonald RG 74 Marpet RDE 56 Smith RT 78 Cherilus MLB 58 Alexander TE 82 Myers WLB 54 David WR 83 Jackson DB 26 Moore WR 13 Evans LCB 28 Jennings QB 3 Winston RCB 24 Jenkins FB 46 Lane SS 23 Conte RB 22 Martin FS 30 McDougald PLAYED 2 Brindza, 5 Schum, 11 Humphries, 18 Murphy, 21 Verner, 34 Sims, 36 Swearinger, 37 Tandy, 38 Adjei-Barimah, 43 Rainey, 48 DePaola, 50 Carter, 51 Lansanah, 52 George, 59 Martin, 60 Warren, 64 Pamphile, 65 Masifilo, 77 McDaniel, 84 Brate, 90 Melton, 94 Johnson, 96 Fatinikun DID NOT PLAY 8 Glennon INACTIVES 4 Griffin, 27 Banks, 31 Wright, 62 Smith, 87 Seferian-Jenkins, 88 Stocker, 89 Shepard
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING BUCS: Martin 20-106, Sims 6-23, Winston 4-12. PANTHERS: Newton 12-51, Stewart 10-50, Artis-Payne 8-25, Tolbert 3-7. PASSING BUCS: Winston 43-26-287-4-2. PANTHERS: Newton 22-11-124-0-2. RECEIVING BUCS: Jackson 10-147, Martin 5-37, Evans 3-32, Sims 3-30, Murphy 3-26, Myers 1-8, Brate 1-7. PANTHERS: Bersin 4-54, Olsen 2-28, Ginn 2-18, Dickson 1-11, Whittaker 1-10, Brown 1-3. INTERCEPTIONS BUCS: none. PANTHERS: Norman 2-80, Davis 1-0, Coleman 1-0. KICK RETURNS BUCS: Rainey 3-92. PANTHERS: Whittaker 1-26. PUNT RETURNS BUCS: Rainey 2-15. PANTHERS: Ginn 2-5. SACKS BUCS: McCoy 1-9, Lansanah 1-4. PANTHERS: Delaire 2-17.