Strong defence leads Tampa Bay Buccaneers to Victory over Carolina Panthers - NFL Recap
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano’s debut game ended exactly the way he planned as this new look Bucs side beat the Carolina Panthers 16-10 on Sunday, September 9, 2012 at the Raymond James Stadium.
In what was a brilliant defensive performance from a team that boasted the worst defence in 2011, the Buccaneers kept Panthers quarterback and face Cam Newton firmly in check while picking up points themselves to win a close fought and gritty encounter.
Schiano implemented the same system in Tampa Bay’s defence that brought him so much joy when he was head coach for Rutgers University and his move paid immediate dividends as Newton’s passing and rushing were both limited with the Bucs defence standing tall.
Newton threw just a single touchdown pass during the game and covered 303 yards.
Buccaneers defensive veteran Ronde Barber praised the team’s collective effort in the victory.
After the game he said:
"This was fun to watch this defence go out and play the way they played."
Adding further he said:
"I don't think anybody really knew what we were going to get. We had one real good showing in the preseason against New England. I don't think I even knew how it would translate to Sundays. Today, the way we played is something to be proud of. My individual
performance was just a reflection of the way the defence played as a whole."
Barber himself had a pretty eventful game and delivered one of his best performances at Tampa Bay to help the team to victory.
Newton who threw two interceptions during the game blamed the turnovers for his team’s poor performance in offence and said:
"You can't win with turnovers. Without any of those interceptions, I think we find a way to win this football game."
Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman started the scoring in the first quarter after he threw a six-yard pass to Mike Williams for the game’s first touchdown.
A 36-yard field goal from kicker Connor Barth gave Tampa Bay a 10-0 lead heading into the second quarter.
The Buccaneers increased their lead in the second quarter after Barth sent another field goal this time from 20-yards to make it 13-0.
Newton finally got a touchdown pass out in the third quarter passing to Brandon LaFell with 8:55 left for a 22-yard touchdown and the Panthers first points of the game.
With the score at 13-7 the game was still anybody’s for the taking.
Barth sent another field goal in the fourth quarter from 40-yards to make it 16-7. The Panthers though could not break through a determined Bucs defence and scored just one more field goal as the game ended 16-10.
A great start for Tampa Bay Buccaneers and they will take great confidence from this win for the tough fixtures ahead.
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