LIVE UPDATES: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers
The opening six weeks of the season haven't been kind to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3). However, the team has remained undefeated in division play and has a chance to further its start against the limping Carolina Panthers (1-5) on Sunday afternoon. The Panthers traded away star running back Christian McCaffrey a few days ago and are without starting quarterback Baker Mayfield due to injury. Former XFL standout PJ Walker is set to start his second straight game.
READ MORE: Tom Brady has funny response to roughing the passer penalty
The Panthers have lost three consecutive games by at least 10 points. Carolina only mustered eight first downs and 203 yards of total offense against the Los Angeles Rams last weekend. McCaffrey compiled 158 of those yards. Tampa Bay can't overlook the struggling franchise after getting embarrassed down the stretch against Pittsburgh. The Buccaneers will be without multiple starters on defense, including defensive lineman Akiem Hicks and cornerback Carlton Davis.
BucsGameday will be providing live updates throughout the day on BucsGameday.com and our Twitter.
PREGAME:
— Quarterback Kyle Trask, wide receiver Julio Jones, cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting, cornerback Carlton Davis, offensive lineman Fred Johnson, tight end Cam Brate, and defensive lineman Akiem Hicks are inactive for Tampa Bay.
— Quarterback Baker Mayfield, cornerback Jaycee Horn, linebacker Chandler Wooten, defensive end Henry Anderson, and defensive tackle Matt Ioannidis are inactive for Carolina.
FIRST QUARTER:
— Carolina wins the toss and defers. Tampa Bay will start with the ball.
— Touchback. Tom Brady and the offense begin at their own 25.
— Brady throws out to Chris Godwin for a first down.
— Mike Evans gets wide open deep after the defender fell down but he drops the pass. You don't see that often from the veteran. It would've been a touchdown.
— Leonard Fournette is dropped behind the line of scrimmage to bring up third and long.
— Brady is almost intercepted on third down. The Buccaneers are forced to punt on their opening possession yet again.
— Jake Camarda punts for 55 yards to the Carolina 10. Panthers take over after the timeout.
— PJ Walker throws deep to Terrace Marshall for 38 yards. Tampa Bay challenges the ruling on the field of a completion and the call was reversed. The ball bounced when Marshall made contact with the ground.
— Foreman goes up the middle for three. 3rd and 7.
— Hubbard gets a carry and comes up just short. Carolina brings out the punt team.
— Jaelon Darden's short return sets up Tampa Bay's second drive at its own 27.
— Brady throws short to Evans for four yards.
— Chris Godwin comes down with a pass that was thrown low to give the Buccaneers a first down.
— Ko Kieft finds an opening over the middle for 18 yards. Just his second catch of the season and it caught the defense off guard.
— Snap is low but Brady picks it up and hits Godwin for a short gain.
— Evans takes a big hit on a short catch to bring up 3rd and 8.
— Tampa Bay is forced to punt for the second consecutive possession.
— Antoine Winfield Jr. brings down Moore short of the first down marker. Carolina goes three and out again.
— Tampa Bay takes over at its own 21 with 4:20 remaining in the opening quarter.
— Brady hits White on a screen to make it second and short.
— Rachaad White finds some room up the middle for 11 yards.
— Brian Burns brings down White for a loss of six.
— Mike Evans is back in for the Buccaneers. He catches a pass for 16 yards and a first down.
— Illegal formation negates an 18-yard gain from Brady and pushes Tampa Bay back to 3rd and 8.
SECOND QUARTER:
— The Buccaneers face third and long to begin the quarter with an opportunity to get into scoring position.
— Brady throws deep but Evans quit running his route. Punt team trotting out once again. Five total drives, five punts between the two teams.
— Back to back runs from Hubbard bring up third and short for the Panthers.
— Hubbard gets the ball again and lunges forward for a conversion.
— Rakeem Nunez-Roches makes a great read and brings down Moore on a reverse for a loss of three.
— Marshall catches a pass down the sideline for another third down conversion.
— Hubbard finds a hole for nine yards. The Panthers are getting into a rhythm.
— Moore catches another pass and Lavonte David brings him down at the Tampa Bay 31.
— Vita Vea beats his man and brings down Walker for the sack. The loss pushes Carolina out of field goal range and forces a punt.
— Hecker's third punt of the game goes for a touchback. Tampa Bay takes over at its own 20.
— Two straight runs from Fournette earns the Buccaneers a first down.
— Godwin takes a massive hit. 2nd and 8.
— Brady throws out to Godwin to bring up 3rd and 5.
— Russell Gage makes his first catch to convert.
— Brady's pass is too high for Evans.
— Burns brings Brady down for a sack.
— Camarda's punt goes 62 yards for a touchback. 3:16 remaining until the half. Still scoreless...
— Walker stays alive and finds Moore on the sideline for 21 yards.
— The Panthers face 2nd and 9 from their own 42 following the two-minute warning.
— Screen pass comes as the Buccaneers blitz and Foreman advances inside the Tampa Bay 40.
— Walker throws into the end zone and hits Moore for a touchdown. Carolina strikes first.
— The Panthers lead 7-0 with 29 seconds remaining until the half.
— The Buccaneers are unable to get into field goal range prior to the conclusion of the half. Score remains 7-0.
THIRD QUARTER:
— Carolina takes over at its own 25 following a touchback on the kickoff
— Foreman finds six yards up the middle.
— Keanu Neal breaks up the pass on third down to force a three and out.
— Darden finds space for 20 yards to set the Buccaneers up at their own 28.
— Brady throws short to Godwin for a couple of yards.
— Fournette fights his way forward for a first down.
— Brady can't hook up with Evans or Godwins downfield. Tampa Bay punts for the fifth time.
— Winfield Jr. is shaken up after bringing down Raheem Blackshear.
— Carolina goes three and out yet again.
— Brady connects with Evans three separate times as Tampa Bay advances to the Carolina 25.
— Pass is too far for White on second and short.
— Fournette is stuffed on back to back runs. The Buccaneers turn it over on downs with 6:19 remaining in the quarter. The offense is now averaging 2.8 yards per rush.
— Walker throws two straight incompletions. 3rd and 10 for the Panthers.
— Lavonte David stops Hubbard on a screen pass. Punt team coming out for Carolina.
— Darden calls for a fair catch at the Tampa Bay 17.
— The Buccaneers answer with a three and out of their own.
— Walker throws to Moore on the sideline but the pass is called incomplete. Carolina is challenging the play.
— The ruling on the field stands. 2nd and 10.
— Foreman explodes up the right side for 60 yards and the Panthers are instantly in the red zone.
— Hubbard with nothing but running room and he glides into the end zone. Touchdown Carolina.
— Carolina leads 14-0 with 3:11 to play in the third quarter. A stunning development.
— The Buccaneers take over at their own 25 following the kickoff.
— Brady hits Gage for nine yards and a first down.
— False start on Donovan Smith. 1st and 15.
— Cade Otton makes his first catch of the day for six yards.
— Evans brings in a pass down the seam for 20 yards.
— Otton pushes the Buccaneers into the red zone.
— Brady is forced to scramble due to pressure. 3rd and 7 coming up.
FOURTH QUARTER:
— The Buccaneers face a crucial third and long in the red zone. Tampa Bay has to score to give itself a chance at the comeback.
— Brady throws over the middle to Evans. The catch is made but he's short of the line to gain. The offense is staying on the field.
— Gage brings in a catch for a first down. 1st and goal.
— Three straight incompletions and Tampa Bay brings out the field goal unit. Don't really understand this since three points still makes it a two possession game.
— The Buccaneers trail 14-3 with 13:38 left in the game.
— Carolina begins the possession at its own 25.
— Two runs from Hubbard bring up 3rd and 3.
— Dee Delaney blows the blitz and Hubbard goes for 13 yards.
— Foreman explodes for 27 yards to the right side. Carolina is right back in scoring position.
— Walker throws down the sideline for a touchdown to Tommy Tremble. The Panthers, losers of three straight by 10+ points, are going to upset the Buccaneers.
— White returns the kickoff to the Tampa Bay 34.
— Brady hits Otton for 36 yards to move the Buccaneers to the Carolina 30.
— False start on Donovan Smith.
— Brady just tosses the ball out to Fournette on third and long. 4th and 8, game on the line.
— The pass is incomplete. Carolina takes over on downs with 8:00 on the clock.
— Walker to Moore for a first down.
— Foreman runs up the middle three times and the Panthers will punt.
— The Buccaneers rough the punter and give Carolina a free first down. That sums up the day.
— Foreman runs again to take the game to the two-minute warning.
— Carolina upsets Tampa Bay, 21-3. The Buccaneers are now on a two-game losing streak to a pair of teams that have combined for four wins and nine losses.
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