Entering Week 8 the Carolina Panthers were coming off a dominant defensive performance against the Chicago Bears. Carolina didn’t allow a touchdown but two quarterback Cam Newton’s turnovers were returned for Chicago touchdowns and the Panthers lost their second game in a row.
The Buccaneers had lost their previous three games all by less than one score but had hopes of turning their season around with a divisional win. The first of six such games in the season, Tampa Bay still had an opportunity for a great year with a win over Carolina.
It was the Panthers that rebounded behind another dominant defensive effort and late touchdown strike from Newton to wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin.