Week 9 Game Recap: Carolina Panthers 34, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 14

What you need to know

Carolina Panthers

Carolina won their fifth straight game to climb to 6-2, and ran out a comfortable winner after scoring a touchdown in each quarter.

The passing game was centered around Steve Smith as usual and he posted his fourth straight 100 yard receiving game, and his sixth of the season. Delhomme had a quiet day, and only attempted 18 passes as the Panthers took a big lead and ran out the clock on the ground. Delhomme’s only touchdown went for 35 yards to Smith. TE Kris Mangum suffered a knee injury and left the game after making one catch.

Stephen Davis only ran the ball 12 times, but looked good. He scored twice and averaged 4.0 yards per carry. DeShaun Foster was given more carries but he failed to do much with them.

The Panthers’ defense had a strong game. The pass rush put QB Chris Simms under a lot of pressure, sacking him five times and hitting him repeatedly. Peppers and Rucker each registered two sacks. The defense recovered two fumbles and also had two interceptions; one of which went for a 61 yard touchdown by Chris Gamble.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers started the game slowly and fell ten points behind in the first quarter. LT Anthony Davis was hurt near the end of the first half and Todd Steussie took over.

Chris Simms had a mixed day after being put under continual pressure by the Panthers’ pass rush. He threw a 50 yard touchdown pass to Joey Galloway, but also had two interceptions and lost a fumble. Galloway was by far the most targeted receiver in the game as Simms looked to him 14 times.

Carnell Williams did not have a productive day, losing a fumble on the Buccaneers’ opening drive and ending the day with 29 yards rushing on 11 carries. He didn’t appear injured; he just simply couldn’t find room to run.

The Buccaneers’ defense had not given up more than 16 points in a game before this defeat, but turnovers by the offense were partly responsible. The pass rush was weak, allowing QB Jake Delhomme plenty of time to throw the ball, and the Buccaneers were unable to generate a turnover in the game.

What you ought to know

QB Jake Delhomme, Pass: 11 - 18 - 216 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 1 - 0 - 0

Delhomme began the game well, finding Smith and Colbert with passes of 14 yards and 18 yards for first downs on the opening drive. The Buccaneers were unable to generate much of a pass rush, frequently allowing Delhomme time to find an open receiver. He threw one touchdown pass on the day for 35 yards to Steve Smith. Delhomme looked to Smith eight times and only threw the ball 18 times all day as the Panthers ran the ball after establishing a big lead.

RB DeShaun Foster, Rush: 16 - 23 - 0, Rec: 2 - 16 - 0 (3 targets)

Foster ended with more carries than Stephen Davis after the Panthers built a substantial lead. He only managed 23 yards on his 16 carries, but the Buccaneers knew what to expect with the Panthers attempting to run out the clock. Foster caught two of his three targets for a total of 16 receiving yards.

RB Stephen Davis, Rush: 12 - 48 - 2, Rec: 1 - 1 - 0 (2 targets)

Davis looked good in his limited action. He ran hard and averaged 4.0 yards per carry, finding the end zone from four yards out and then from a yard out. He broke multiple tackles on the four yard score and ended the game with 11 touchdowns on the season. Davis was stopped inches short of the goal line on another drive and then failed to get in on the following play. He broke free for 17 yards on his best effort. He gave way later in the game to DeShaun Foster when the Panthers had built a big lead.

RB Nick Goings, Rush: 3 - 6 - 0

Goings had three carries for six yards and was not a factor in the game.

WR Steve Smith, Rec: 5 - 106 - 1 (8 targets)

The Panthers have targeted Smith on 40% of their passing plays this season. That is by far the biggest ratio of any receiver in the league. Smith had his fourth consecutive 100 yard receiving day, and his sixth of the season. He had a 14 yard catch for a first down on the opening drive, and then an 18 yard reception on the next drive on third and twelve. Smith was forced out of bounds inside the five yard line and drew a penalty on a late hit. He was targeted in the end zone but caught the pass well out of bounds. He showed good strength and broke tackles on several occasions, especially on a 23 yard reception in the second half. His biggest catch of the day was a 35 yard touchdown when he broke clear of Ronde Barber before making the catch. It was only the third passing touchdown allowed by the Buccaneers all season. Despite his heavy workload, Smith continues to return punts. His two returns amounted to a total of 41 yards.

WR Ricky Proehl, Rec: 1 - 62 - 0 (1 targets)

Proehl was only targeted once in the game, but it was a significant one. He brought in a 62 yard reception, which was the longest play of the game. The catch was on third and ten and kept alive a drive that resulted in a second touchdown for Stephen Davis.

WR Keary Colbert, Rec: 1 - 18 - 0 (2 targets)

Colbert was only targeted twice in the game, catching the first for 18 yards and a first down on the opening drive.

WR Rod Gardner (2 targets)

Delhomme threw to Gardner twice. He failed to make a catch but did manage to draw a penalty after being held in the end zone on one of his targets, giving the Panthers first and goal at the one yard line.

TE Kris Mangum, Rec: 1 - 13 - 0 (1 targets)

Mangum converted a third and long on the opening drive of the game, but then suffered a knee injury and did not return.

PK John Kasay 2 - 2 FG, 4 - 4 XP, 10 points

Kasay made all his kicks in this game, including field goals of 30 yards and 20 yards.

CAR Rush Defense

The Panthers held Carnell Williams to 29 yards on 11 carries and forced a fumble on the Buccaneers’ opening drive. The score helped limit Tampa’s carries, but the Panthers were quick to tackle and the longest run they gave up was seven yards. The Buccaneers ended the day with 44 net rushing yards.

CAR Pass Defense

Chris Simms was not given much time to throw the football. The Panthers sacked him five times and knocked him down frequently. Julius Peppers had two sacks in the first half, while Rucker (two) and Wallace (one) had sacks in the second half. Rucker forced a fumble with one of the sacks and Buckner recovered for the Panthers. Chris Gamble jumped in front of Michael Clayton to intercept a Simms pass on the Buccaneers’ opening drive of the second half. He returned the ball 61 yards for a touchdown to give the Panthers a 24-7 lead.

QB Chris Simms, Pass: 25 - 42 - 259 - 1 TD / 2 INT, Rush: 1 - 0 - 0

Simms started the game well. After losing the ball on a Carnell Williams fumble on Tampa’s opening drive, Simms threw the ball 60 yards in the air straight down the middle to find Joey Galloway for a 50 yard touchdown. Simms was pressured often by the Panthers’ pass rush and was sacked five times, losing the ball on a fumble on one occasion. He telegraphed a pass on the opening drive of the second half, enabling Chris Gamble to jump in front of Clayton and take the ball in for a 61 yard interception return. Gamble had his second pick of the day at the end of the game when Simms looked long for Galloway.

RB Cadillac Williams, Rush: 11 - 29 - 0, Rec: 3 - 25 - 0 (3 targets)

Williams did not appear to be slowed by injury in this game, but the Panthers’ defense did not give him much room in which to run. He was held to 23 yards on 11 carries as the Buccaneers fell behind and abandoned the run. Williams caught all three balls thrown his way for a total of 25 yards. He fumbled away possession on Tampa’s opening drive.

RB Michael Pittman, Rush: 5 - 14 - 0, Rec: 4 - 29 - 0 (6 targets)

Pittman had five carries for 14 yards in relief of Williams, and caught four of his six targets. His longest gain was a 26 yard reception late in the game. Pittman was targeted once in the end zone by Simms, but the pass was overthrown.

RB Mike Alstott, Rush: 1 - 1 - 1, Rec: 2 - 21 - 0 (2 targets)

Alstott converted Tampa’s second touchdown from one yard out. He also had two catches in the game, one of which was for a first down after he broke a tackle and spun for an 11 yard gain.

WR Joey Galloway, Rec: 5 - 83 - 1 (14 targets)

Galloway was by far the favorite target of Chris Simms in this game. His biggest contribution came on the Buccaneers’ second drive when he caught a 50 yard touchdown pass, beating Mike Minter at the goal line. Galloway was targeted in the end zone on a fourth down play and drew a pass interference call to set up a Mike Alstott touchdown from the one yard line. Galloway does not appear to have lost any of his speed and Simms seems to be as focused on him as Griese was.

WR Ike Hilliard, Rec: 4 - 28 - 0 (5 targets)

Hilliard caught four of his five targets for a total of 28 yards, including one for 12 yards and a first down.

WR Michael Clayton, Rec: 2 - 22 - 0 (8 targets)

Clayton was targeted eight times as Tampa fell behind and chased the game. He had a ten yard reception on their opening drive to bring up a first down. His only other reception was on third and four where he brought in the catch for a 12 yard gain. Clayton was the intended target when Chris Gamble intercepted Simms for a 61 yard touchdown. Clayton dropped two passes, one of which would have given Tampa a first down.

TE Alex Smith, Rec: 3 - 41 - 0 (3 targets)

Smith did well with his limited opportunities, catching all three of his targets. He caught a high pass for 17 yards and a first down and started the second half with a 15 yard catch for another first down.

TE Anthony Becht, Rec: 2 - 10 - 0 (2 targets)

Becht caught both balls thrown his way for a total of ten yards.

PK Matt Bryant 0 - 0 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 2 points

Bryant converted his two extra point attempts.

TB Rush Defense

Tampa Bay did reasonably well against the run, allowing 77 net rushing yards on the day. The defense stopped Stephen Davis inches short of the goal line, and followed up by stopping him for a two yard loss. The stop ended the Panthers’ perfect record of 16 touchdowns from 16 goal to go situations this season. The main problem was that Davis had already scored twice before that happened, once from four yards and another from a yard out. Tampa Bay effectively contained DeShaun Foster as he tried to run out the clock, limiting him to 23 yards on 16 carries.

TB Pass Defense

The pass defense struggled to apply pressure on Jake Delhomme. They only allowed one passing touchdown, a 35 yard play to Steve Smith. It was only the third passing touchdown allowed by Tampa this season. Smith was able to gain over 100 yards on the day. The defense registered one sack on Delhomme when Dewayne White tackled him for a six yard loss.