Despite losing last weekend in a hard-fought divisional game to the Atlanta Falcons, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are right in the thick of things in both the NFC South and NFC Wild Card standings. A win this weekend against the listless Carolina Panthers would be a welcomed way to start the second half of the 2010 season for Raheem Morris's surprising 5-3 Bucs squad. Here's a few notes, stats, and trends for both squads.
Carolina Panthers (1-7) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-3)
NOTES
BUCCANEERS:
- QB JOSH FREEMAN has won 7 of past 11 starts. Has 8 career wins & 6 have been 4th-qtr. comebacks. Threw 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs in last start vs. Car. & had 102.4 rating...
- Rookie RB LE GARRETTE BLOUNT has 238 rush yards (79.3 per game) & 2 TDs in past 3.
- In career, when RB CADILLAC WILLIAMS has 22+ att., Bucs are 13-0 (2-0 in 2010). Aims for 3rd in row at home vs. Car. with rush TD...
- Rookie WR MIKE WILLIAMS had 35-yard TD catch in last game vs. Car. Leads NFL rookies with 559 rec. yards & 5 TD catches. Seeks 4th in row with 80+ rec. yards & averages 92 yards per game over past 3. Aims for 3rd in row with 45+ yard TD.
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KR-WR MICHEAL SPURLOCK had 89-yard KR-TD last week.
- TE KELLEN WINSLOW had 4 catches for 83 yards (20.8 avg.) in last meeting...
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CB AQIB TALIB had INT in last game vs. Car. Has 5 INTs in 7 games, incl. INT-TD. Ties for 2nd in NFL with 5 INTs.
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CB RONDE BARBER is 1 of only 2 players in NFL history with 25+ sacks (25) & 30+ INTs (39).
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DE TIM CROWDER aims for 3rd in row vs. Car. with sack. Has 3 sacks & FF in past 2 meetings.
PANTHERS:
- Rookie QB JIMMY CLAUSEN has made 3 starts...
- RB JONATHAN STEWART has 3 100-yard rush games & 4 rush TDs in past 4 meetings. In only game at TB, rushed for 110 yards & TD (26 yards). When he has 15+ carries, Panthers are 13-0. In 3 career games vs. Bucs with 19+ att.,
- RB DE ANGELO WILLIAMS has rushed for 459 yards (153 per game) & 6 TDs. In career, when he has 18+ att., Panthers are 15-3 (.833)...
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WR STEVE SMITH has 6 100-yard rec. games vs. TB. Has 6,452 rec. yards since start of 2005, 4th most in NFL.
- Rookie WRs DAVID GETTIS (20) & BRANDON LA FELL (17) rank 3rd & 4th among NFC rookie WRs in receptions...
- LB JON BEASON had career-high 2 INTs vs. TB (12/6/09).
- CB CHRIS GAMBLE tied career-high with 2 INTs vs. TB (11/6/05) & had career-best 101 return yards. Ranks 2nd in team history with 24 INTs & needs 1 to tie ERIC DAVIS (25) for franchise record.
- S CHARLES GODFREY is tied for 5th in NFL with career-high 4 INTs...