Sunday December 24, 2017 - Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Gameday Report

LOSS - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19 Carolina Panthers 22

Winston and the Buccaneers fought hard versus the Panthers but unfortunately weren’t able to clinch a win. Instead, the Buccaneers have now dropped to 4-11 and have handed the Panthers a trip to the playoffs.

Over-all the Bucccaneers were the better team for most of this very low-scoring and field goal-dominated game. Leading 19-15 with three minutes remaining, and that significantly understated their dominance, particularly in the second half.

Jameis Winston had an outstanding game, despite our offensive line that had dificulty holding the Panthers. Completing 21 of his 27 passes for 359 yards and a touchdown Winston carried the game. With three fumbles and not able to get the ball in the end zone doomed the game.

The Buccaneers defense was again on-point, with the Panthers driving down the field, the defense held them to only scoring field goals, while the defensive line sacked Cam Newton a couple times.

With three minutes left in the game, the Buccaneers were leading 19-15 and nearing a victory. Cam Newton found the holes in the Buccaneers sails, and led the Panthers down the field. Chris Baker was penalized for jumping into the neutral zone on a fourth-and-short at the goal-line, and the Panthers turned that opportunity into a game-winning touchdown.

Jameis Winston’s third fumble then sealed the game for the Panthers.

Click here to view official GAMEBOOK & play-by-play highlights

GAMEDAY BRIEF

WEATHER: Cloudy - 55°F. - Humidity 63% - Wind N.E. 6 mph Wind Chill 52°F.

OFFICALS

REFEREE: Jerome Boger
UMPIRE: Richard Hall
DOWN JUDGE: Ed Camp
LINE JUDGE: Mike Carr
SIDE JUDGE: Walt Coleman IV
FIELD JUDGE: Eugene Hall
BACK JUDGE: Tony Steratore
REPLAY OFFICAL: John McGarth
MICROSOFT SURFACE SIDELINE OFFICIAL: not documented

SCORING

PANTHERS: 08:13-1Q Gano FG25
BUCCANEERS: 02:24-1Q Murray FG31
PANTHERS: 08:38-2Q Gano FG28
BUCCANEERS: 02:58-2Q Murray FG41
PANTHERS: 02:43-2Q Byrd 103 kick return (kick blocked)
BUCCANEERS: 00:02-2Q Murray FG21
BUCCANEERS: 10:27-3Q Wilson 18 pass from Winston (Murray kick)
PANTHERS: 04:49-3Q Gano FG30
BUCCANEERS: 14:57-4Q Murray FG26
PANTHERS: 00:35-4Q Newton 2 run (Gano kick)

STARTERS OFFENSE

WR: #12 C. Godwin
TE: #84 C. Brate
LT: #76 D. Smith
LG: #64 K. Pamphile
C: #68 J. Hawley
RG: #62 E. Smith
RT: #77. C. Benenoch
QB: #03 J. Winston
RB: #25 P. Barber
WR: #13 M. Evans
TE: #82 A. Auclair

STARTERS DEFENSE

DE: #95 R. Russell
DT: #93 G. McCoy
DT: #90 C. Barber
DE: #92 W. Gholston
SLB: #51 K. Beckwith
MLB: #58 K. Alexander
WLB: #54 L. David
CB: #36 R. McClain
CB: #35 J. Elliott
S: #23 C. Conte
S: #43 T. Ward

SUBSTITUTIONS

7 Murray, 9 Anger, 10 Humphries, 16 Martino, 22 Martin, 26 Robinson, 27 Rivers, 32 Rodgers, 34 Sims, 37 Tandy, 39 Johnson, 45 Cross, 49 Bullough, 51 Beckwith, 59 Bond, 65 Sanborn, 66 Wester, 85 Wilson, 94 Clarke, 96 Siliga, 98 McDonald.

DID NOT PLAY

814 Fitzpatrick, 67 Liedtke, 71 Ward.

INACTIVE

4 Griffin, 11 Jackson, 29 Smith, 52 Harris, 72 Gettis, 79 O’Connor, 91 Ayers.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING

BUCCANEERS: Barber 13-51, Martin 6-7, Winston 3-6, Rodgers 1-2, Sims 1-0.
PANTHERS: Newton 14-52, McCaffery 9-39, Stewart 7-19, Whittaker 1-5.

PASSING

BUCCANEERS: Winston 27-21-367-0-1.
PANTHERS: Newton 25-16-160-1-0, Anderson 1-0-0-0-0.

RECIEVING

BUCCANEERS: Evans 6-107, Godwin 3-98, Humphries 3-51, Brate 3-13, Martino 2-57, Barber 2-4, Sims 1-19, Wilson 1-18.
PANTHERS: Bersin 3-45, Olsen 3-27, Funchess 3-11, Clay 2-24, McCaffery 2-19, Byrd 1-31, Whittaker 1-4, Stewart 1-(-1).

INTERCEPTIONS

BUCCANEERS: Alexander 1-28.
PANTHERS: none.

KICK RETURNS

BUCCANEERS: Sims 1-13.
PANTHERS: Byrd 3-146, Whittaker 2-19, Cox 1-13.

PUNT RETURNS

BUCCANEERS: Humphries 0-0.
PANTHERS: Clay 1-3

SACKS

BUCCANEERS: McCoy 1-12, Russell 1-8.
PANTHERS: Short 1.5-13.5, Horton 1.5-6.5, Peppers 1-13, Worley 1-2, Addison 0.5-3, Lotulelei 0.5-3.