The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made an early statement at Raymond James Stadium today against the Carolina Panthers and lead at halftime 21-10.
After rookie first round pick Gerald McCoy forced a fumble on the opening possession, the Buccaneers wasted little time to move the ball 47-yards and into the end zone on an Arrelious Benn acrobatic pylon diving 8-yard touchdown. On their next possession LeGarrette Blount took over with 70 yards on 4 carries including a 17-yard hurdling touchdown to cap the 87-yard drive.
The Panthers would answer that drive after Elbert Mack muffed a punt setting up Carolina with a short field, scoring with a Josh Vaugn 2-yard touchdown. The Bucs would come right back thought, orchestrating a two minute drill that was punctuated with Kellen Winslow’s first touchdown of the a season; a dazzling catch in the end zone between double coverage while being interfered with.
The Offensive explosion has led the Buccaneers to a 21-10 halftime lead and the Buccaneers will get the ball first in the third quarter. Tampa Bay will hope that Josh Freeman wont have to make a lead leaguing 5th 4th-quarter come from behind drive and instead can just hand the ball off to Blount the rest of the way and work the clock to preserve a win.