Buccaneers vs. Panthers results: Defensive effort propels Tampa Bay to road win

Eli Boettger

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Buccaneers vs. Panthers results: Defensive effort propels Tampa Bay to road win image

The Buccaneers held on to beat the Panthers 20-14 in a Thursday night matchup that lingered into early Friday morning.

The game was delayed for 27 minutes midway through the first quarter due to lightning from a passing thunderstorm.

MORE:  Watch Buccaneers vs. Panthers live on fuboTV (7-day free trial)

After play resumed with 8:31 to go in the first quarter, the Buccaneers seized momentum and pulled out a much-needed divisional victory. Jameis Winston secured his first road win since December 2016, remaining under control throughout the night by going 16 of 25 for 208 yards and a touchdown. 

Cam Newton, meanwhile, struggled mightily against a pesky Tampa Bay defense. Newton finished 25 of 51 for 333 yards and missed a number of manageable throws, especially on critical third downs.

Carolina took over on offense following a Tampa Bay field goal with just over two minutes to play, trailing 20-14. The Panthers managed to get their way downfield and into the redzone, but were unable to cash in with the game on the line. On a fourth-and-1 attempt with 1:28 to go, Ron Rivera drew up a direct snap to Christian McCaffrey He was short of the first down after faking a hand-off to Curtis Samuel.

The loss dropped Carolina to 0-2 to start the season, both of the losses coming at home to NFC opponents. 

It was a busy night at Bank of America Stadium in the first game of Week 2. Check out Sporting News' live updates from the Thursday night matchup:

Buccaneers vs. Panthers score

  1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q F
Tampa Bay 3 7 7 3 20
Carolina 3 6 3 2 14

Buccaneers vs. Panthers live updates, highlights

(All times ET)

Fourth quarter: Buccaneers 20, Panthers 14

12:05 a.m.: Panthers run a direct snap to McCaffrey with a fake end-around to Samuel and he's short of the first down. Turnover on downs and the Buccaneers will kneel it out.

12:04 a.m.: Delay of game on Tampa Bay for calling two consecutive timeouts. It's now 4th-and-1.

12:02 a.m.: D.J. Moore has the reception, setting up 4th-and-2 on the Tampa Bay 3.

12:01 a.m.: A facemask adds on to a Newton-to-Samuel completion and the Panthers are now at the Tampa Bay 11 with 1:45 on the clock.

11:51 p.m.: Newton hits Moore close to the sticks on third down to the Tampa Bay 45. A generous spot gives Carolina a first down. Two-minute warning.

11:42 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, BUCCANEERS. Gay sneaks in a 32-yard attempt inside the left upright to up the lead to six with 2:26 to play. Buccaneers 20, Panthers 14. 

11:34 p.m.: Three incompletions by Newton leads to yet another Panther punt.

11:30 p.m.: Bucs punt it back to Carolina after two major losses of yardage on sacks. Just over nine minutes to go.

11:27 p.m.: Newton is hit again on fourth down and his pass is inaccurate and incomplete. Panthers turn it over on downs.

11:25 p.m.: McCaffrey takes the handoff on third-and-short and is unable to get the needed yardage. Panthers have failed on eight consecutive third-down attempts.

11:23 p.m.: Panthers will start the drive from near midfield, trailing 17-14.

11:19 p.m.: SAFETY, PANTHERS. Barber takes the carry and tries to reach out to avoid the safety but the Carolina defense is there for the stop. Buccaneers 17, Panthers 14.

11:14 p.m.: Another Panthers drive is plagued by penalties. They have no choice but to punt it away again.

Third quarter: Buccaneers 17, Panthers 12

11:06 p.m.: Breshad Perriman isn't able to haul in Winston's endzone shot on third down. Matt Gay's 42-yard attempt is just right and no good.

11:00 p.m.: A change of possession is true this time as Newton fumbles on a carry and Tampa Bay lands on it. Ndamukong Suh with the recovery.

10:58 p.m.: Newton is hit as he throws and his pass is intercepted by Kevin Minter. A defensive holding penalty on Carlton Davis negates the turnover as Carolina keeps possession.

10:52 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, BUCCANEERS. Peyton Barber has a big gap up the gut and cashes in the hand-off for a 16-yard score. Buccaneers 17, Panthers 12.

10:43 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, PANTHERS. Slye's attempt goes off the right post but is good from 51 yards. Two consecutive sacks by Shaquil Barrett stalled Carolina's drive. Panthers 12, Buccaneers 10.

10:41 p.m.: Another big play from Newton to Olsen. This time it's a 41-yard completion to the tight end and the Panthers are just outside of the redzone.

10:38 p.m.: Tampa Bay is forced to punt out of their own endzone on a three-and-out. Panthers will have decent field position.

10:31 p.m.: Pressure is on Newton again and it results in an errant incomplete pass. A once-promising drive ends with a punt.

10:29 p.m.: Newton goes to Olsen on first down and Olsen breaks away for a 33-yard gain.

10:28 p.m.: Second half is underway with a touchdown. Panthers to set up on offense.

Halftime stats

First downs: Carolina 11, Tampa Bay 6
Net rushing: Carolina 32, Tampa Bay 25
Passing: Carolina 161, Tampa Bay 146
Total offense: Carolina 193, Tampa Bay 171
Turnovers: Carolina 0, Tampa Bay 0
Penalties: Carolina 2, Tampa Bay 6

Second quarter: Buccaneers 10, Panthers 9

10:14 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, PANTHERS. Slye hits a 54-yard field goal as the horn sounds for halftime. Buccaneers 10, Panthers 9.

10:05 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, BUCCANEERS. Chris Godwin is on the receiving end of a wide-open strike from Winston on a 20-yard score. Buccaneers 10, Panthers 6.

10:00 p.m.: Winston finds Evans deep for a 41-yard completion and the Bucs are within striking distance.

9:58 p.m.: Panthers go quietly on offense and punt it back to the Buccaneers. Wilson has trouble with the punt but falls back on it. Tampa Bay to start another drive.

9:54 p.m.: Carolina locks up Tampa's next drive. Panthers will start within their own 10.

9:47 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, PANTHERS. Slye is perfect from 37 yards to give the Panthers the lead. Panthers 6, Buccaneers 3.

9:40 p.m.: Winston goes down on third-and-long and Tampa Bay is set to punt it back to Carolina. McCloud snags the punt and takes it 37 yards into Tampa territory.

9:34 p.m.: A penalty-filled drive ends with a batted pass on 3rd-and-19, forcing a Panthers punt.

First quarter: Buccaneers 3, Panthers 3

9:24 p.m.: Carolina forces a stop and get the ball back late in the first quarter. Ray-Ray McCloud muffs his second punt of the night but the Panthers retain possession.

9:19 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, PANTHERS. Joey Slye is good from 32 yards out to tie the game. Buccaneers 3, Panthers 3.

9:16 p.m.: Tampa Bay will be without a key defensive player the rest of the way:

9:14 p.m.: Newton goes deep to Curtis Samuel down the left sideline for a 40-yard gain. Panthers in Tampa Bay territory.

9:11 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, BUCCANEERS. Matt Gay knocks home a 40-yard field goal for the first points of the game. Winston tried an endzone shot to Mike Evans on third down but it fell incomplete. Buccaneers 3, Panthers 0.

9:07 p.m.: Back underway at Bank of America Stadium after a 27-minute delay.

9:00 p.m.: We're getting closer to resuming.

8:49 p.m.: According to the NFL Network, the game will resume at 9:05 p.m. ET. 

8:41 p.m.: The game is currently on delay.

8:37 p.m.: Newton keeps it on a read option on 4th-and-short but is just shy of the first down after a measurement.

8:29 p.m.: Storms in the area will be monitored throughout the evening.

8:26 p.m.: Panthers force an early punt and will set up their first drive at their own 10.

7:55 p.m. : Cam Newton is showing off yet another fancy outfit pre-game. 

6:28 p.m. : Christian McCaffrey could set a Panthers franchise record before the night is over:

Eli Boettger