Buccaneers dominate Panthers to win their first game of the season

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers earned their first win of the season in a game that showed improvement and promise.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were looking for their first win of the season in their home opener albeit an empty Raymond James Stadium. Tom Brady and the Bucs started on offense and once again came out to a flying start. They ended up going 4 and out on their first possession of the game but made up for it on defense as Jordan Whitehead was able to intercept Teddy Bridgewater pass on the Panther’s first drive of the game.

Brady went back to work on offense driving down the field and capped off the run by handing the ball off to Ronald Jones Jr who would run in a 7-yard touchdown to open the scoring and make it 7-0 for the Bucs. Things got worse for Bridgewater and the Panthers as on their next drive they would fumble the ball and it was recovered by Jason Pierre Paul.

The next play Brady threw to Mike Evans who ran in a 23-yard touchdown to increase their lead to 14. It was a much better start for the Bucs and you could see the chemistry was starting to form and the defense was doing a better job than in week 1. Brady was doing a way better job this week throwing the football and he was looking way more comfortable with his throws and targets.

With 10 minutes left in the first half, the Bucs had their first miscue of the game as Brady was handing off the football to Ronald Jones and Jones would end up fumbling the ball. The Panthers would recover but again the Bucs defense came up big forcing another stop. On the next Brady possession, he orchestrated another amazing drive that finished with Leonard Fournette running in a 1-yard touchdown for his first touchdown as a Buccaneer.

Jason Pierre Paul came up big once again on the Panther’s next offensive possession when he was able to sack Bridgewater, The first half finished with the Bucs up 21-0.

Brady didn’t have the best start to the second half as on his first drive of the half he tried to throw a pass to Rob Gronkowski but threw over his head and into the arms of Lavonte David. The Panthers would take over on offense and end up scoring when Christian McCaffrey would run in a 1-yard touchdown run to make it 21-7.

He continued his dominance in the 3rd quarter adding another touchdown this one a 7 yard run into the endzone to make it 21-14. The Panthers were starting to make this a football game and we were curious to see if the Bucs could respond to widen the gap. The defense was doing a good job and with 10 minutes left in the game Carlton Davis picked off Bridgewater for his first interception of the game.

The change of possession would end with Ryan Succop kicked a 33-yard field goal when Brady was unsuccessful at scoring a touchdown to make it a 10 point lead 24-14. The Panthers would kick a field goal of their own when they were unable to score as well when Joey Slye would kick 24 yards to make it 24-17.

The Panthers would attempt an onside kick to try and recover the football but couldn’t recover putting the Bucs in great field position. Brady took full advantage on the first play of the drive when he threw the ball to Leonard Fournette for a 46-yard touchdown and his second of the game.

The final whistle would blow and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had their first win of the season and that should give them some confidence as they head in Week 3 where they will face the Denver Broncos.