The Carolina Panthers host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for their final home game of the 2021 season. Sunday marks Carolina’s fourth NFC South matchup of the season, entering the game with a 2-1 record against division opponents.
After falling to Buffalo last Sunday, the Panthers enter this week with a 5-9 record and sit in 4th place in the NFC South. The 10-4 Buccaneers come into this week’s matchup after falling to the Saints 9-0. Tampa Bay is in 1st place in the NFC South.
The Numbers
About the Panthers
- Carolina’s defense is the only team in the NFL that has not allowed a touchdown on the opponents’ first drive of any game this season. The Panthers have allowed just 6 points by opposing teams on opening drives (2 FGs, 1 takeaway, 11 punts).
- Carolina has held its opponents to 294.4 total yards per game this season, the 2nd fewest by any team. Opposing teams are averaging 4.86 yards per play against the Panthers, the 2nd lowest average in the league. Carolina has allowed an average of 18.1 first downs per game this season, the 4th fewest allowed by any team this season.
- The Panthers have tallied nine interceptions by six different players this year – CB Stephon Gilmore (2x), LB Shaq Thompson (2x), CB Donte Jackson (2x), S Jeremy Chinn, CB Jaycee Horn and FS Juston Burris.
- Carolina has 11 different players with a forced fumble, tied for the most by any team in the NFL. The 10 players to force a fumble this season are: LB Hasson Reddick (2x), CB A.J. Bouye, LB Frankie Luvu (ST), CB Donte Jackson, DT DaQuan Jones, S Sean Chandler (ST), CB Keith Taylor, DE Brian Burns, S Jeremy Chinn, DE Morgan Fox and LB Julian Standford (ST).
- Through 14 games this season, Carolina has started 10 different lineups along the offensive line. T Taylor Moton is the only Panthers offensive lineman to start all 14 games this season,
13 at RT and one at LT.
- In his first five games with the Panthers this season, QB Cam Newton has accounted for 9 touchdowns (4 passing, 5 rushing). Newton has 75 career rushing touchdowns and 45 career games with both a passing and rushing touchdown, both the most by a quarterback in NFL history.
- WR DJ Moore enters Week 16 of the 2021 season ranked 14th in receiving yards (938) and tied for 15th in the NFL in receptions (78). Since Week 1 of the 2019 season, Moore has totaled 3,354 receiving yards, 5th most in the NFL over that span.
- Brian Burns has played in 45 career games. He ranks 2nd in franchise history in sacks through a player’s first 45 games, only trailing Julius Peppers (30.0 sacks, 2002-05).
- OLB Haason Reddick joined Carolina this offseason following a career-best 12.5 sacks last year with Arizona. His 7 strip sacks since the start of the 2020 season is a league best. In his first 14 games with the Panthers, Reddick has racked up a 11.0 sacks (tied for fourth most in the NFC), 62 tackles, 12 TFL, 2 FF, 1 FR. He’s the only player in the NFC with at least 10 TFL, 1 FF, 1FR and 50 tackles.
- Rookie RB Chuba Hubbard has played in every game this season, starting seven contests in place of an injured Christian McCaffrey. Hubbard has racked up 500 rushing yards on 140 attempts, averaging 3.6 yards per carry. He’s added 153 receiving yards on 20 catches.
About the Buccaneers
- Since the start of the 2020 season, Tampa Bay ranks first in sacks allowed per pass attempt (3.4%) and leads the NFL in most games without allowing a sack (10).
- The Buccaneers defense has been one of the best in the league in creating turnovers since Todd Bowles took over as defensive coordinator in 2019. From the start of the 2019 season, Tampa Bay ranks tied for second in takeaways and first in points off turnovers.
- Tom Brady finished his first season in Tampa Bay with 40 touchdown passes (the most ever by a player in his first season with a team) and 4,633 passing yards (the second-most ever by a player in his first season with a team). Brady currently ranks first in the NFL in both passing touchdowns and passing yards.
- In Week 14 vs. Buffalo, Chris Godwin surpassed the 1,000- yard receiving mark for the second time in his career becoming the sixth player in franchise history with multiple seasons of 1,000+ receiving yards. Godwin suffered a season-ending injury in Week 15, but through 15 weeks, Godwin ranks third in receptions and fifth in receiving yards.
- With 1,006 yards in 2020, Mike Evans became the first player in NFL history with 1,000-or-more receiving yards in each of his first seven NFL seasons, surpassing Randy Moss (first six seasons). He stands just 101 yards shy of extending his streak to 8. Evans also ranks second in the NFL in receiving touchdowns (11).
Injury Status
Panthers
- T Cameron Erving (calf) – Limited Participation – QUESTIONABLE
- DT Phil Hoskins (back) – Did Not Participate – QUESTIONABLE
- WR D.J. Moore (hamstring) – Limited Participation – QUESTIONABLE
Buccaneers
- WR Mike Evans (hamstring) – Did Not Participate – OUT
- S Antoine Winfield Jr. (foot) – Did Not Participate – OUT
- OLB Jason Pierre-Paul (shoulder) – Did Not Participate – DOUBTFUL
- CB Jamel Dean (illness) – Full Participation – QUESTIONABLE
- CB Richard Sherman (Achilles) – Limited Participation – QUESTIONABLE
Connections
- Panthers WR Robby Anderson is a native of Fort Lauderdale, FL and attended South Plantation HS.
- Panthers DE Brian Burns is a native of Fort Lauderdale, FL and attended American Heritage. Burns also played his collegiate years at Florida State from 2016-18.
- Panthers S Sam Franklin Jr. is a native of Crystal River, FL and attended Citrus HS.
- Panthers DE Marquis Haynes Jr. is a native of Jacksonville, FL and attended University Christian School.
- Panthers CB CJ Henderson is a native of Miami, FL and attended Columbus HS. Henderson also spent his collegiate years at Florida from 2017-19.
- Panthers G John Miller is a native of Miami, FL and attended Central HS.
- Panthers CB A.J. Bouye played his collegiate years at Central Florida from 2009-2012.
- Buccaneers K Ryan Succop is a native of Hickory, NC and attended Hickory HS. Succop would later go on to play his collegiate years at South Carolina from 2005-08.
- Buccaneers P Bradley Pinion is a native of Concord, NC and attended Northwest Cabarrus HS. Pinion would later go on to play his collegiate years at Clemson from 2012-14.
- Buccaneers CB Dee Delaney is a native of Beaufort, SC and attended Whale Branch Early College HS.
- Buccaneers G Nick Leverett is a native of Salisbury, NC and attended Concord HS. Leverett later spent his first four years of college playing at NC Central.
- Buccaneers CB Ross Cockrell played his collegiate years at Duke from 2010-13.
Carolina vs Tampa Bay
All-Time Series: 41 total matchups | Carolina leads the series 24-17
Last Regular Season Game: 11/15/20 | Carolina 23 vs Tampa Bay 46
Series Record at Venue: Carolina is 12-9 in home games vs. Tampa Bay
Series Streak: Carolina and Tampa Bay have split the last eight games 4-4
How to Watch
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET FOX: Kevin Kugler, Mark Sanchez, Laura Okmin
Live Stream: Panthers.com
Radio: WBT-AM 1110 AM in Charlotte market; On The Call: Mick Mixon, Jake Delhomme, Jim Szoke, Kristen Balboni
Per Release