RUNNING UPDATE:
1st Quarter:
RECAP: Jeff Garcia completed 5-of-6 passes for 48 yards and ran for a 3-yard touchdown to put the Bucs up 7-0 before some fans even had a chance to settle into their seats. Despite losing Cadillac Williams for the remainder of the season to a knee injury, the Bucs made it 14-0 near the end of the quarter on a 1-yard run by Ernest Graham. The Panthers have one first down in the first three possessions.
BIG PLAY: On a third-and-9 at the Carolina 24, Garcia finds Ike Hilliard with a 10-yard strike. Hilliard battles through a tackle to pick up the first down.
BIG MISTAKE: Julius Peppers jumped off-sides on the third-and-5 at the Carolina 20, giving the Bucs a free first down on their initial drive. Peppers would go on to finish the game with three tackles, no sacks and no quarterback hurries.
COMMENT: Well, the crowd was ready for this game, but the Panthers certainly weren’t. They look terrible in the first quarter. The Bucs took the momentum right from the start and go the length of the field for a score. Clearly Carolina’s defense hasn’t fixed its problems from the previous two weeks. Boy, I bet they wish they had signed a safety in free agency now.
SCORE: Tampa Bay 14, Carolina 0
2nd Quarter:
RECAP: It continues to be all Tampa Bay. The Bucs have dominated the action and Carolina looks lousy. David Carr is just 6-for-15 for 26 yards through one half of action and Steve Smith has only two catches for 5 yards. Garcia has thrown for 154 yards and the Bucs have outgained the Panthers 248-77.
BIG PLAY: Garcia fired downfield for Hilliard, who beats linebacker Thomas Davis and safety Chris Harris for a 56-yard gain to set up the Bucs third score, a short field goal by Matt Bryant for a 17-0 lead.
BIG MISTAKE: Wide receivers Steve Smith and Drew Carter both dropped tough, but catchable balls early in the second quarter as Carolina’s offense continues to struggle.
COMMENT: Garcia is just abusing Carolina’s defense. On offense, the Panthers can’t get any rhythm. They’ve tried to get Steve Smith involved, but to no avail… Graham has picked up where William left off, rolling over Carolina’s defense... Carolina's biggest play has been a 15-yard run by Carr (nice dive, by the way). Other than DeAngelo Williams’ touchdown at the end of the game, that is the longest play from scrimmage.
SCORE: Tampa Bay 17, Carolina 0
RUNNING UPDATE:
3rd Quarter:
RECAP: Neither team could manage a score, but Carolina’s defense did come up with a big stop, holding the Bucs out of the end zone on four plays from the 4-yard line.
BIG PLAY: Carolina’s defense bowed up on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line by stuffing Ernest Graham. At 17-0, the Panthers are technically still in the game, but the offense need to show some life quick. At this point, Carr is averaging two yards per pass attempt (20 attempts for 40 yards).
BIG MISTAKE: DeShaun Foster turned the ball over for the third time this season on a fumble at the Carolina 28.
COMMENT: At least the defense came back to show a little heart in the third quarter, which is more than you can say about the offense. Of course, the Bucs aren’t doing anything fancy on offense at this point, knowing the Panthers can’t move the ball on offense. Still, this is a bad Carolina football team right now. Consider this: Their two wins have come against two very bad teams.
SCORE: Tampa Bay 17, Carolina 0
4th Quarter:
RECAP: The Bucs didn’t try to do much on offense, just run out the clock. The Panthers managed to put together one meaningless touchdown at the end of the game on a David Carr pass to DeAngelo Williams. Carr finishes with 155 yards, 77 of those coming on the final drive with under three minutes left in the game.
BIG PLAY: Carr overthrew Drew Carter on a fourth-and-2 early in the fourth quarter by about 20 yards. A complete mix-up and a fitting end to the day. There goes Carolina’s final chance.
BIG MISTAKE: The whole game for the Panthers was a big giant mistake. And this we’ll get further into how the Panthers continue to make mistakes in their personnel decisions. You have to wonder of the Panthers aren’t going to walk into a buzz saw this Sunday when they visit New Orleans, a team that has had two weeks to prepare for the Carolina and is anxious for its first win.
COMMENT: Fans should be irate with this team. They had a chance to take control of the NFC South with a win and home and they blew it. I guess you have to come to expect it out this team. Every time there is a big game, they blow it.
SCORE: Tampa Bay 20, Carolina 7