Panthers fall short in Tabor's debut, drop to 1-11
Posted November 30, 2023 11:44 a.m. EST
Updated December 4, 2023 10:51 a.m. EST
| Carolina Panthers | 18 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 21 |
| Final | |
The Carolina Panthers took the lead in the third quarter. And then poof. It was gone.
Mike Evans broke free for a 75-yard touchdown, which immediately negated Chuba Hubbard's go-ahead score and proved to be the difference in a 21-18 win for Tampa Bay.
It was Carolina's first game under interim head coach Chris Tabor, who took over for recently fired Frank Reich.
“Losing stinks," said Tabor. "And it’s hard and it’s frustrating. But at the same time, you can handle things two ways… You can handle it with character or you can handle it with compromise. So which one is it going to be?”
Hubbard, who carried the Panthers offense most of the game, certainly showed some character on a sloppy and rainy night at Raymond James Stadium.
He found pay dirt just 11 seconds (of game clock) before Evans did, very briefly putting the Panthers ahead, 10-7.
Evans' touchdown, which happened on the next very next play from scrimmage, came with a double consequence for Carolina.
Star edge rusher Brian Burns was ejected on the extra point, after he threw a punch at Buccaneers offensive lineman Cody Mauch.
With Burns out, Tampa Bay mounted a 7 play, 67-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, ending with a 19 yard Chris Godwin run that extended the lead to double digits.
Needing a touchdown to stay alive, the Panthers turned once again to Hubbard, who shouldered the load on an 11 play, 75 yard drive that ended with his second touchdown.
The third year back ended the game with 104 yards on 25 carries.
Bryce Young's scramble on the two-point conversion brought Carolina back within three points, but that's as close as they would get.
The Panthers had a chance to tie or take the lead late in the fourth quarter, but Young's 4th & 1 pass attempt was intercepted by Antoine Winfield Jr, essentially ending the comeback bid.
"Ultimately, it's a results-based league," said Young. "Close isn't good enough. Yeah, there's stuff to build on like every week, but we didn't get it done."
Young finished the day 15/31 for 178 yards. It's his fifth straight sub-200 yard passing game.
The Panthers still have the worst record in the league at 1-11. The New England Patriots are the only other team in the league without at least 3 wins.
Carolina wraps up its 3-game road swing next Sunday at New Orleans.
Scoring summary
6:08 1st - Rachaad White 1 Yd Rush. Chase McLaughlin Made XP. 7-0 Buccaneers.
13:30 2nd - Eddy Pineiro Made 23 Yd Field Goal. 7-3 Buccaneers.
5:04 3rd - Chuba Hubbard 1 Yd Rush. Eddy Pineiro Made XP. 10-7 Panthers.
4:53 3rd - Mike Evans Pass From Baker Mayfield for 75 Yds. Chase McLaughlin Made XP. 14-10 Buccaneers.
11:36 4th - Chris Godwin 19 Yd Rush Chase McLaughlin Made XP. 21-10 Buccaneers.
5:02 4th - Chuba Hubbard 1 Yd Rush. Two-point conversion good. Bryce Young rushes right end. 21-18 Buccaneers.
