The Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will meet Monday night in the week 14 installment of ESPN’s Monday Night Football. This game is the biggest of the year for both teams, as they remain tied atop the NFC South standings for the second straight week.
The Buccaneers control their own destiny, as they have the tiebreaker against Carolina thanks to their 27-3 romp of the Panthers in week six. A Tampa Bay victory would mean that the Panthers, with the Broncos, Giants, and Saints still left on their schedule, would have to finish a full game ahead of the Bucs. The Bucs, then, would have the Falcons, Chargers, and Raiders left on the slate, to win the division.
The Panthers are coming off of an emotional win at Lambeau Field last Sunday, a game that saw them squander an 11-point half time lead and eventually come back, in classic ‘Cardiac Cats’ fashion, to pull off the victory.
DeAngelo Williams rushed for a career high and franchise record four touchdowns and Jake Delhomme was smart and efficient with the football, making big plays when he had to. A sore spot for the Panthers was their usually tough defense which allowed 31 points and was exploited by Aaron Rodgers all afternoon.
The Buccaneers are also coming off of a big win. Tampa Bay hung on to beat the New Orleans Saints in a game that the Saints hung around until late when a Matt Bryant field goal was the difference maker.
The Saints are fighting for their playoff lives, and the Bucs look as though they may have laid them to rest. Jeff Garcia is leading the offense well and will be playing one of his favorite opponents in Carolina. Garcia has been successful against the Panthers, dating back to his days with the Philadelphia Eagles, and will look to extend that streak.
The Bucs will be without Earnest Graham, their leading rusher, due to an ankle injury that has him sidelined for the rest of the year. Warrick Dunn, and the now-healthy Carnell “Cadillac” Williams, will handle ground duties for the Bucs. For Williams, he will return to the sight where he suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for over a year when he comes into Bank of America Stadium.
The Panthers Will Win If…
They can continue their success on the ground
If DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart can combine for a big game on the ground, it will open up the possibility for Jake Delhomme and the Panthers’ receivers to make big plays that could change the outcome of the game.
Tampa Bay has only allowed one rushing touchdown this year and has the fourth-ranked defense in the league. If Carolina can change that trend then they will certainly have the upper hand at home.
The secondary keeps the Bucs’ receivers in check
The Panthers secondary had a tough time last week keeping Greg Jennings and Donald Driver in check, and will have their hands full with Antonio Bryant on Monday. The underneath routes for medium gains are what Green Bay
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