As Buccaneer Nation sat at Raymond James stadium helplessly Sunday afternoon, the Panthers dug their claws down our throats.
Believe it or not, there were some good things that can be taken out of this 17-3 dismantling. The defense really prevented this loss from being a blowout.
The Bucs starting unit managed to keep Cam Newton neutralized, holding him to just 18/32 for 154 yards, with 1 TD and 1 int. It also took 5 Panthers and 31 rush attempts to reach the 100 yard mark against our depleted defense. They really held their end of the bargain.
Now, let’s discuss the offense, or lack thereof. Famous Jameis Winston finished 21/38 for 210 yards, 0 TD and 2 costly Interceptions. Oh, he also lost a fumble. Winston just doesn’t seem himself, and with the AC Joint sprain in his shoulder, it’s a legitimate question to ask whether or not the coaching staff should see if resting #3 would be in the best interest of him and his health, as well as the team. Remember, he is only 23 years old and has a lot of football ahead of him. There is no reason to put him in the fire when this is pretty much a lost season. At just 2-5, Jameis should be rested until fully healed. Let veteran backup Ryan Fitzpatrick come in and guide the ship. He filled in admirably for Winston when he first went down with the injury in Arizona. Fitzpatrick came in with the team down 24-0 against the Cardinals and almost helped the young team come out victorious in the desert.
The next few weeks will speak volumes for whether the coaching staff is more concerned about salvaging a lost season, or is looking to make sure our franchise stays relevant for years to come.
Edited By: Harmeet Kapur
