Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17 Carolina Panthers 16 Sunday 1 January 2017 at Raymond James Stadium FOX COMMENTARY CREW Thom Brennaman, Charles Davis and Chris Spielman
GAME SCORING TB 11:02-1Q Aguayo FG33 CAR 8:22-1Q Stewart 2 run (Gano kick) TB 14:19-3Q Grimes 31 interception return (Aguayo kick) CAR 6:37-3Q Gano FG54 TB 3:13-4Q Evans 10 pass from Winston (Aguayo kick) CAR 0:17-4Q Benjamin 5 pass from Newton (pass failed)
it was not pretty but the Bucs did just enough with key interceptions, a late touchdown drive and then a failed two- point conversion to record a season sweep of the defending NFC champion Panthers. The victory, although not enough to secure a playoff berth as other results failed to go their way, did ensure Tampa Bay’s first winning season since 2010. Mike Evans tied his own franchise record with his 12th touchdown of the season and Jameis Winston broke Josh Freeman’s records for both passing yards and touchdowns in a season too. Brent Grimes’ pick six put the Bucs ahead in the third quarter but they needed the failed two-point play with 17 seconds left for victory to be ensured.
GAME REPORTS Rick Stroud reports on a victory to end the first winning season since 2010 Tom Jones knows the 2017 Bucs will need more weapons to compete Adarius Glanton steps in to snap with a broken finger Scott Smith’s detailed game report Click here for the gamebook and the play-by-play
STARTERS OFFENSE DEFENSE LT 76 Smith LDE 57 Spence LG 64 Pamphile DT 93 McCoy C 68 Hawley DT 98 McDonald RG 74 Marpet RDE 75 Lambert RT 69 Dotson MLB 58 Alexander TE 88 Stocker WLB 54 David TE 82 Myers CB 35 Elliott WR 89 Shepard LCB 28 Hargeaves WR 13 Evans RCB 24 Grimes QB 3 Winston SS 37 Tandy RB 32 Rodgers FS 30 McDougald PLAYED 9 Anger, 11 Humphries, 16 Martino, 19 Aguayo, 21 Verner, 23 Conte, 26 Robinson, 29 R Smith, 43 Barber, 45 Cross, 46 Johnson, 48 DePaola, 51 Da Smith, 52 Lynch, 53 Glanton, 62 Smith, 70 Siliga, 78 Cherilus, 91 Ayers, 96 Russell, 97 Spence DID NOT PLAY 8 Glennon, 15 Huff, 44 Hansbrough INACTIVES 4 Griffin, 18 Reedy, 66 Wester, 67 Hughes, 71 Ward, 77 Benenoch, 92 Gholston
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING BUCS: Rodgers 17-75, Barber 5-19, Winston 3-18. PANTHERS: Stewart 20-65, Tolbert 3-24, Ginn 2-24, Whittaker 4-9, Newton 3-6. PASSING BUCS: Winston 35-20-202-1-1. PANTHERS: Newton 32-18-237-3-1. RECEIVING BUCS: Humphries 10-94, Evans 5-65, Shepard 2-29, Martino 1-9, Rodgers 1-4, Stocker 1-1. PANTHERS: Benjamin 6-93, Ginn 4-69, Olsen 3-22, Brown 2-20, Byrd 1-16, Bersin 1-10, Stewart 1-7. INTERCEPTIONS BUCS: Tandy 2-28, Grimes 1-31. PANTHERS: Bradberry 1-5. KICK RETURNS BUCS: none. PANTHERS: Whittaker 1-35, Byrd 1-31. PUNT RETURNS BUCS: Humphies 2-7. PANTHERS: Ginn 1-0. SACKS BUCS: David 2-22, Ayers 1-8. PANTHERS: Addison 1-7, Ealy 1-7, Horton 1-0.