Game Information
Date: Saturday, December 24, 2011
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET
Site: Bank of America Stadium (73,504) 2011 Records: Tampa Bay 4-10, Carolina 5-9 Network Television: FOX
Play-by-Play: Sam Rosen, Analyst: Chad Pennington
Bucs Radio: US 103.5, flagship station (103.5 FM, 620 AM) Play-by-Play: Gene Deckerhoff, Analyst: Dave Moore, Sideline: T.J. Rives Last Game: Tampa Bay lost vs. Dallas, 31-15; Carolina won at Houston, 28-13
NIKO’S TAKE
With only two games left in the regular season, all bets are off on how this team will play or respond. There are more theories on what has happened and whats wrong with the Bucs than there are Touchdowns scored against us in the last 3 games. Some Players have quit and hung it up for the year, and you hope they’ve been identified and removed from the field for these last two, or at least wised up with the knowledge if a coaching change happens, their film will be looked at first by a new coach. Will the Glazers bring Josh Freeman more weapons at WR and RB? Will a new offensive coordinator shake things up a big way this offseason, or will just the offseason alone be enough to get Josh to play like its 2010 again?
We wont know the answers to these questions, but one thing is certain: Something has to give. The Bucs are playing a December division game, on the road, and this team excelled at these tasks last year. Getting a Win or even taking the Panthers down to the wire will go a long way in saving jobs, but there is no guarantee that Head Coach Raheem Morris’ job is even in Danger, nor is there any indication his job can be saved in any way. But with the Indianapolis COlts winning two in a row, with the Eagles coming on strong, with KC beating Green Bay for interim coach Romeo Crennel, the pressure on the Bucs and the Head Coach, and even the owners, will just become greater each loss, and each touchdown discrepancy in the score of the next two weeks.
Niko’s prediction- There is no pressure on these Bucs, everyone has given up on them. They go out and play loose, winning 30-28.
Or they lose 38-13 and in that case the Falcons win 31-3.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR-
CB Ronde Barber
• With 223 games played, Barber needs to play in one more to tie Derrick Brooks (224 games from 1995-08) for the most games played in team history.
– K Connor Barth• Barth has made 13 consecutive field goals and needs three more to tie Martin Gramatica (16 field goals from 10/9/10-12/3/00) and Michael Husted (16 field goals from 11/19/95-9/22/96) for most consecutive field goals made in team history.
– RB LeGarrette Blount• Blount has 10 career rushing touchdowns and needs one more to surpass Michael Pittman (10 touchdowns from 2002-07) for the 11th-most rush- ing touchdowns in team history.
• Blount has 1,765 rushing yards and needs 80 more to surpass Jerry Eckwood (1,845 yards from 1979- 81,) for the 10th-most rushing yards in team history. • With three 100-yard rushing games, Blount needs one more to tie for the sixth-most 100-yard rushing games in a single season in team history.
– P Michael Koenen• Koenen has 22 punts inside the 20 and needs one more to tie Reggie Roby (23 in 1995) and Ray Criswell (23 from 1987-88) for the ninth-most punts inside the 20 in team history.
– WR Mike Williams• Williams has 14 career receiving touchdowns and needs one more to surpass Morris Owens (14 touch- downs from 1976-79) and Keenan McCardell (14 touchdowns from 2002-03) to tie for the ninth-most receiving touchdowns in team history.
– TE Kellen Winslow• Winslow has 205 career receptions with the Buc- caneers and needs four more to pass Ron Hall (209 receptions from 1987-93) for the second-most re- ceptions by a tight end in team history.
• Winslow has 12 career touchdowns with the Buc- caneers and needs two more to tie WR Morris Owens (14 touchdowns from 1976-79) and Keenan McCa- rdell (14 touchdowns from 2002-03) for the 10th- most receiving touchdowns in team history.
• With 644 yards receiving this season, Winslow needs 30 more yards to surpass Jimmie Giles (673 yards in 1985) for the fifth-most receiving yards among tight ends in a single season.
• With 62 receptions this season, Winslow needs one more reception to surpass Jackie Harris (62 recep- tions in 1995) for third-most receptions among tight ends in a single season.
All-Time Series
The Panthers lead the all-time series 13-9 after winning the first meeting in 2011, but Tampa Bay and Carolina have split the season series in three of the past six years. Tampa Bay is 5-6 on the road all-time against the Pan- thers and won both games of the 2010 series, 20-7 at Carolina and 31-16 at Tampa. The Panthers won both meetings of the 2009 season with a 28-21 win in Tampa and the second meeting by a score of 16-6 in Charlotte. Both teams won at home in 2008, including a 27-3 Buccaneers victory in Tampa (10/12/08) in the first meeting and a 38-23 Buccaneers loss in Charlotte (12/8/08) on Monday Night Football. In 2007, Tampa Bay defeated the Pan- thers in Carolina 20-7 and then fell 31-23 in the last week of the regular season with Tampa Bay resting most of its starters to prepare for the play- offs. In 2006, the Panthers won 26-24 at Tampa Bay (9/24/06) and 24-10 at Carolina (11/13/06). The teams split the two meetings in 2005: Carolina won 34-14 at Tampa Bay (11/6/05) and the Buccaneers prevailed 20-10 at Carolina (12/11/05). Tampa Bay won three in a row from 1998-02 and started the series 4-1 before losing five consecutive meetings from 2003-05. Tampa Bay won both meetings in 2002, a 12-9 win at Carolina (10/27/02) and a 23-10 win at home (11/17/02). The Buccaneers were Carolina’s fourth opponent in the Panthers’ inaugural season in 1995, and Tampa Bay earned a 20-13 victory at Clemson Memorial Stadium (10/1/95). The following year, Carolina downed Tampa Bay 24-0 (12/1/96) on its way to the NFC Champi- onship Game in just its second year of existence. The Buccaneers captured the last meeting prior to the 2002 season, 16-13, in 1998 at home. Tampa Bay knocked off the Panthers in Charlotte on the way to each of its three NFC South titles in 2002, 2005 and 2007.
LAST MEETING– Carolina 38, Tampa Bay 19 (Dec. 4, 2011) TAMPA – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, dressed in their Florida Orange uniforms during the club’s an- nual Throwback Game, fell to the visiting Carolina Panthers, 38-19, after being held to field goals in four of their five drives. The Panthers struck early, scoring on each of their first two drives, first with a one-yard quarterback sneak by Cam Newton to open the game and then, after a Buccaneers punt, with a one-yard rush by RB Jonathan Stewart. Tampa Bay, led by backup quarterback Josh Johnson as QB Josh Freeman was ruled inactive due to a shoulder injury, drove to the Carolina 32, where K Connor Barth kicked a 50-yard field goal to put the Bucca- neers on the board, 14-3. Barth added another three points with a 47-yard field goal on the next Tampa Bay drive, but Carolina extended its lead to 21-6 on its ensuing possession after Newton connected with WR Legadu Naanee for another score. Johnson led the Buccaneers into Carolina territory again when he connected on a 42-yard pass to WR Mike Wil- liams, and Barth cleared his third field goal of the day, a 52-yard attempt. After forcing the Panthers to punt away their next possession, the Buccaneers set up yet another field goal attempt, and Barth stayed perfect, hitting the 44-yarder and bringing the score to 21-12. However, with under a minute left to play before halftime, Carolina managed to get into field goal range, and K Olindo Mare made the score 24- 12 going into the break after making his 43-yard attempt. To open the second half, the Buccaneers headed downfield, but Johnson was intercepted at the Carolina 30, and the Panthers used the turnover to add seven with another goal-line sneak by Newton for the 38-12 score. Tampa Bay responded with a scoring drive of its own, this time with Johnson find- ing WR Dezmon Briscoe for a 23-yard touchdown, putting the score at 38-19, where it would remain through the game’s end.
SERIES BY THE NUMBERS
Overall Regular Season Series: ……………….. Carolina leads series, 13-9
Home Record vs. Carolina Panthers: ………………………………………4-7
Road Record vs. Carolina Panthers: ……………………………………….5-6
Current Streak:……………………………………. Panthers, one game (2011)
Buccaneers Longest Streak:……………………..Three games (1998-2002)
Panthers Longest Streak: ……………………………..Five games (2003-05)
Regular Season Point Total:……………… Buccaneers 377 – Panthers 406
Most Points, Buccaneers:……………………. 31, Buccaneers 31-16 (2010)
Most Points, Panthers:………………. 38, twice last Panthers 38-19 (2011)
Most Points, both teams: ……………………….. 61, Panthers 38-23 (2008)
Fewest Points, Buccaneers: ………………………..0, Panthers 24-0 (1996)
Fewest Points, Panthers: ……………………….. 3, Buccaneers 27-3 (2008)
Fewest Points, both teams: ………… 21, twice, last Panthers 12-9 (2003)
SERIES HIGHLIGHTS
The first game in the series took place at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium, and the Buccaneers came away with a 20-13 victory, despite a strong effort from the expansion Panthers (10/1/95)… Carolina actually outgained Tampa Bay 393-310, but were victimized by a John Booty interception and three lost fumbles… QB Casey Weldon subbing for an injured Trent Dilfer, provided the winning points in the fourth quarter with a one-yard TD… Tampa Bay allowed just 215 total yards, but it was Carolina’s defense that did in the Bucs in a 24-0 shutout in a driving rain at Ericsson Stadium (12/1/96)… Panthers DE Shawn King sacked Dilfer, forced a fumble and returned the fumble 12 yards for a score… Two Tampa Bay interceptions led to Carolina touchdowns in the second half… QB Trent Dilfer rallied Tampa Bay to two touchdowns in the last five minutes in a tight 16-13 win over Carolina at Raymond James Stadium (10/18/98)… Tampa Bay K Martin Gramatica connected on all four of his field goal attempts, including a game-winning 47- yard field goal with five seconds remaining, to lift the Buccaneers to a 12-9 win at Ericsson Stadium (10/27/02)… A tenacious Bucs defense forced four turnovers and held the Panthers to a season-low 130 total yards… Tampa Bay’s defense produced four turnovers and four sacks in a 23-10 win over Carolina at home, giving Tampa Bay its best start in team history at 8-2 (11/17/02)… QB Brad Johnson threw touchdown strikes to WR Keyshawn Johnson (23 yards) and WR Keenan McCardell (36 yards) at Carolina (11/9/03)… Tampa Bay set an NFL record with a sack in its 69th consecutive game… CB Tim Wansley recorded two INTs, one for a touchdown ,in the game… In a 21-14 loss, WR Michael Clayton broke the all-time record for receiving yards in a season by a rookie, surpassing WR Lawrence Dawsey (11/28/04)… WR Michael Clayton set the rookie record for touchdown receptions in a season, after hauling in two touchdowns, to give him six on the year in a 37-20 loss (12/26/04)… In a 20-10 victory at Carolina, CB Ronde Barber recorded his 20th career sack, making him the only cornerback in NFL history to have 20 sacks and 20 interceptions in a career (12/11/05)… CB Ronde Barber moved into a tie on the Buccaneers’ all-time interception list, after notching his 31st career interception on Monday Night Football (11/5/06)… WR Ike Hilliard caught seven balls for 114 yards, and Tampa Bay gained 189 yards on the ground to highlight a complete team effort and a 20-7 Buccaneer win (9/30/07)… In a 27-3 win, rookie LB Geno Hayes recorded his first career blocked punt and touchdown, as he recovered the ball and returned it 22 yards for the score (10/12/08)… Tampa Bay’s defense allowed just 40 yards on the ground, forcing three interceptions along with the blocked punt… RB Warrick Dunn rushed for a game-high 115 yards on 22 carries (5.2 avg), marking the 30th 100-yard rushing game in his career… WR Antonio Bryant had a record-setting performance with nine receptions for a career-high 200 yards, the second-highest receiving yards total in franchise history, and two touchdowns (12/8/08)… Rookie QB Josh Freeman threw for 321 yards, while RB Carnell Williams ran for 92, but turnovers proved to be costly, as the Panthers knocked-off the Bucs at Raymond James Stadium by a score of 16-6 (12/6/09)… A strong defensive performance keyed the Tampa Bay victory, as Carolina running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart were limited to just 97 yards and no touchdowns on 25 carries, and recorded four sacks on Carolina QBs Matt Moore and Jimmy Clausen (9/19/10)… Buccaneers QB Josh Freeman threw two touchdown passes, and TE Kellen Winslow led the Buccaneers receivers with four receptions for 83 yards… RB’s LeGarrette Blount and Cadillac Williams combined for 153 rushing yards and two touchdowns, as the Buccaneers defeated the Panthers 31-16 to sweep the season series (11/14/10)… Buccaneers K Connor Barth went 4-for-4, recording field goals of 50, 47, 46 and 44 yards, all four occurred in the first half (12/4/11).
AGAINST THE OPPOSITION
Below are highlights of how selected Buccaneers have performed during their careers against the Carolina Panthers.
CB Ronde Barber: Intercepted the 31st pass of his career at Carolina (11/13/06), moving him into a tie for first place in team history for most career interceptions… Became the first cornerback in NFL history and just the seventh player all-time to record 20 career interceptions and 20 career sacks when he posted his 20th sack of his career of QB Jake Delhomme at Carolina (12/11/05)… Also posted one interception against the Panthers, intercepting Delhomme in the fourth quarter to end a Panthers scoring threat and set up a Buccaneers touchdown… Added eight tackles and one pass defensed as he was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week… Recorded the 39th interception of his career at Carolina (9/19/10) to set up a Buccaneers field goal in the second half.
K Connor Barth: Recorded 4-for-4 field goals of 50, 47, 46 and 44 yards, all occurring in the first half, as he became just the second NFL player in the last 10 seasons to record four-plus field goals of 40 or more yards in one half (also Tennessee K Rob Bironas, 2008) (12/4/11).
DE Da’Quan Bowers: Posted six tackles, four tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks for 7.5 yards, one pass defensed, and one quarterback pressure (12/4/11).
QB Josh Freeman: Threw for 321 yards in 16-6 loss at Carolina (12/6/09)… Threw for 178 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions in a 20-7 victory at Carolina (9/19/10).
TE Kellen Winslow: Recorded four receptions for 83 yards, including a 40-yard strike that set up a touchdown on the drive at Carolina (9/19/10).
LAST GAME PLAYED
Dallas 31, Tampa Bay 15 (Dec. 17, 2011) TAMPA – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers struggled in the first half against the visiting Dallas Cowboys, and, ultimately, were unable to overcome the slug- gish start, falling 31-15. The Buccaneers opened the game with a big play, as QB Josh Freeman scram- bled 25 yards on third-and-five. However, on the next play, Freeman attempted a second run, and this time lost control of the ball. The fumble was recov- ered by Dallas LB Bradie James, and the Cowboys offense made quick work of the turn of fortune, as QB Tony Romo led his team into scoring position, where WR Miles Austin caught the eight-yard touch- down pass. The Buccaneers were held on another three-and-out situation on the ensuing possession, and the Cowboys put together another scoring drive once they had the ball, this time with Romo finding WR Dez Bryant in the end zone for the 14-0 lead. Dallas punted on its first possession of the second quarter, but after forcing Tampa Bay to do the same, the Cowboys scored again, as Romo connected with WR Laurent Robinson on a nine-yard touchdown pass. Tampa Bay was unable to convert on their next series, and Dallas was given the ball with 2:52 left in the half. The Cowboys drove to the Buccaneers’ one-yard line, where Romo scored on a quarterback sneak, putting the score at 28-0 at halftime. Dallas had possession to open the second half, but Tam- pa Bay DE Adrian Clayborn sacked Romo on third down, causing a fumble that teammate LB Dekoda Watson scooped up and returned seven yards for a touchdown, putting the Buccaneers on the board. The Cowboys drove to the Tampa Bay 12 on the fol- lowing drive, where K Dan Bailey cleared a 30-yard field goal, making the score 31-7. Freeman took the Buccaneers downfield on a 75-yard drive that con- cluded with a 13-yard touchdown reception by WR Dezmon Briscoe and a successful two-point conver- sion pass to TE Kellen Winslow. The teams traded punts throughout the fourth quarter, with the game ending, 31-15, as Romo kneeled to run the clock out.
Finally, did you know the Bucs are now one of the best teams at coming back, since 2008. Check it out..
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