The Carolina Panthers dropped their final home game of the 2021 season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 32-6, on Sunday. The loss officially eliminates the Panthers from playoff contention with a 5-10 record.
Quarterback Cam Newton got the start, which could possibly be his final home game at Bank of America Stadium.
On the Panthers first play of the game, Newton connected with tight end Tommy Tremble out in the flat for a gain of 14. Two plays later, Newton found wide receiver DJ Moore to keep the drive going on 3rd and 6. Cam got loose for a 33-yard run, that almost reached the end zone, but he was pushed out of bounds at the ten. Running back Ameer Abdullah would have had a touchdown if he had not slipped coming out of the backfield on third down. Carolina had to settle for a 24-yard field goal from backup kicker Lirim Hajrullahu.
The Buccaneers came right back with a response from second string running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn, with a 55 yard scamper to the end zone. At the end of the first quarter, Tampa Bay led 7-3.
Moving into the second quarter, on the Panthers next offensive possession, Newton made a careless decision, throwing the ball up for grabs off his back foot, which resulted in a pick by safety Jordan Whitehead. The Panthers defense was able to hold the Buccaneers to three points.
Backup quarterback Sam Darnold entered the game for the Panthers and made one of the best plays he’s had all year, eluding pressure and delivering a bomb to rookie Shi Smith for 63 yards. With the ball in the red zone, Newton checked back into the game, but was unable to put seven points on the board. Hajrullahu made a short kick from 24 yards away to pull the Panthers within four, 10-6.
Late in the second quarter, with less than two minutes remaining, wide receiver Cyril Grayson connected with Tom Brady for a 62-yard gain. Brady threw his first touchdown pass of the game to tight end Cameron Brate. CJ Henderson jumped offsides on the extra point attempt, so the Bucs went for the two-point conversion and came up short. The score was 19-6 going into the half.
The Buccaneers scored on both of their possessions in the third quarter, starting with a chip shot by placekicker Ryan Succop. With the Panthers already down 22-6, running back Ronald Jones went untouched into the end zone with a 7-yard touchdown making the score 29-6. That helped give the Buccaneers a 23-point edge, a deficit that Carolina would not be able to overcome.
Another Succop field goal midway through the fourth quarter, would be the final points of the game, with the Buccaneers winning 32-6. The win gives the Buccaneers their first NFC South title in 14 seasons.
Tom Brady had 232 passing yards and a touchdown for Tampa Bay. Wide receiver Antonio Brown, in his first game since October 13, had 10 receptions for 101 yards on 15 targets. Ronald Jones had 20 rushes for 65 yards and a touchdown.
Cam Newton was 7 of 13 through the air for 61 yards and had an additional 42 yards on the ground for the Panthers. Sam Darnold completed less than 50% of his passes, finishing with 15 of 33 for 190 yards.
Injuries: Buccaneers linebacker Shaquil Barrett left with a knee injury in the second quarter. Panthers Stephon Gilmore left in the second half with a groin injury.
The Buccaneers travel to New York next Sunday to take on Zach Wilson and the Jets. The Panthers play the New Orleans Saints next Sunday.
