Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers hung 24 points on the Tampa Bay defense in the first half, as the Bucs put forth a discouraging first half effort. Trying to end a five game losing streak with quarterback Josh Freeman out is difficult enough, but the defense has provided little resistance for Newton.
Newton is 7 for 13 for 125 yards through the first thirty minutes. Newton hit Legedu Naanee for a 19 yard touchdown in the second quarter. The play was set up by the Panthers rookie sensation scrambling for 22 yards on third and eight inside Tampa territory.
As for the Bucs' offense, Josh Johnson and LeGarrette Blount have yet to find the end zone. After two big weeks in a row, today Blount has only nine yards rushing on eight carries. Connor Barth has hit four field goals to keep it from being a rout.
For more on the Panthers head over to Cat Scratch Reader. For more on the Buccaneers, check out Bucs Nation. Follow the rest of Week 13 at SB Nation NFL.