TAMPA BAY (5-4) At CAROLINA (2-7)
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
OPENING LINE - Buccaneers by 2
RECORD VS. SPREAD - Tampa Bay 6-2-1; Carolina 4-5
SERIES RECORD - Panthers lead 14-10
AP PRO32 RANKING - Buccaneers No. 13; Panthers No. 28
LAST MEETING - Buccaneers beat Panthers 16-10, Sept. 9
LAST WEEK - Buccaneers beat Chargers 34-12: Panthers lost to Broncos 36-14
BUCCANEERS OFFENSE - OVERALL (12T), RUSH (11), PASS (15)
BUCCANEERS DEFENSE - OVERALL (30), RUSH (1), PASS (32)
PANTHERS OFFENSE - OVERALL (23), RUSH (15), PASS (17)
PANTHERS DEFENSE - OVERALL (16), RUSH (12), PASS (16)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - Bucs have scored 28 or more points in team-record five straight games. ... QB Josh Freeman has 13 TDs and one interception in past five games. He's looking for 100-plus QB rating for sixth straight game. ... Freeman 3-1 in past four meetings with Carolina, with six TD passes on one INT. ... Rookie RB Dough Martin has 858 total yards from scrimmage in past five games, most by rookie in five-game span since Edgerrin James in 1999. ... Martin ranks second in NFL with 1,158 total yards from scrimmage. ... WR Vincent Jackson has five TD receptions in last six games and averaging 18.5 yards per catch during span. ... WR Mike Williams has at least 100 yards receiving or a TD in six of nine games this season. ... CB Leonard Johnson has INT in three consecutive games, including 83-yard touchdown return last week vs. Chargers. ... DB Ronde Barber has sack and interception in Tampa Bay's 16-10 win over Carolina in season opener. ... The Panthers were held to 10 yards rushing in Week 1 by the Bucs. ... Cam Newton struggled in the season opener against Tampa Bay, but has a combined nine TDs - five passing, four rushing - in three games against his NFC South foe. ... RB DeAngelo Williams has four games vs. Tampa Bay with two or more touchdowns runs. ... WR Steve Smith had seven 100-yard receiving games against the Bucs. ... TE Greg Olsen is coming off his best statistical game as a pro with 102 yards receiving and two scores in a loss to Denver. It was Olsen's first career 100-yard receiving game. ... WR Brandon LaFell had career-long 91-yard TD reception in last meeting at home against Bucs. ... DE Charles Johnson has five sacks and DE Greg Hardy 4 1/2 sacks in past three games. ... Rookie LB Luke Kuechly leads team with 88 tackles. ... DT Dwan Edwards had two sacks in last meeting vs. Tampa Bay.
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