Panthers fall to 0-2, Cam Newton could miss time (9-12-19)
By: Lamonte Thomas
Headline Photo Credit: Brandon Todd/Carolina Panthers
On Thursday Night, September 12, the NFC South saw a battle to the very end as Tampa Bay came to Bank of America Stadium to face Carolina. The defenses on both sides came out strong as the Bucs stopped Carolina on a 4th and 1 near midfield and each team only managed a field goal through the first quarter.
Early in the second quarter Carolina’s new defensive players shined as Gerald McCoy made a tackle in the backfield, followed by a sack from first-round pick Brian Burns out of Florida State. After the rookie Panthers kicker Joey Slye converted to take a 6-3 lead, Tampa bay capped off a five-play 72-yard drive with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Winston to Godwin. Carolina’s last drive of the half ended with a 54-yard field goal from Slye; though many thought the Panthers should have taken a shot with :12 left from the Tampa Bay 34-yard line with one timeout left. The Buccaneers led Carolina 10-9 at the end of the first half.
Cam Newton found Greg Olsen for 30 yards on the first play of the second half, as Olsen moved into sixth place all-time for receiving yards by a tight end (passing Jackie Smith). Cam was then sacked by Tampa Bay’s Shaquille Barrett, who had a monster game for the Bucs. Later in the third Newton found Olsen for a 42-yard gain, before he was sacked twice in a row by none other than Barrett himself. A Slye field goal gave Carolina the lead 12-10. Tampa Bay came roaring back with a seven-play 75 yard drive highlighted by a Peyton Barber touchdown. On the ensuing drive, Cam lost a fumble just on Carolina’s side of the 50-yard line after a scramble, give the Buccaneers good field position.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Carolina trailed Tampa Bay 17-12. Near the 13 minute mark, Luke Kuechly tackled Peyton Barber beneath the goal line for a safety. Carolina turned the ball over on downs on its next possession as they failed to convert another 4th and 1. Down 17-14 the Panthers defense sacked Jameis Winston twice to give the ball back to the offense. The Panthers offense could not get it going in the fourth quarter until their last drive, where Christian McCaffrey’s game winning score would be stopped near the goal line by Hargraves for its third turnover on downs in the game. Tampa Bay (1-1) escaped with a win as they host the Giants (0-2) next week, while Carolina (0-2) heads to Arizona (0-1-1) to play the Cardinals next Sunday. The biggest question will Cam Newton Play? We will see Sunday!
