Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tickets

The Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are two teams that started playing each other fairly recently. Since 2002 the Panthers and the Buccaneers, due to the league wide reorganization, ended up in the new NFC South Division. This meant that they would meet on the field twice a year in the regular season and battle it out for dominance in their division. Since the two started playing each other more regularly, their matchups have morphed into a heated rivalry. Their games have been characterized as being particularly violent and physical with several players on both sides sustaining injuries which effectively ended their seasons. They are also known for getting into altercations off the field. Who will come out victorious in the two games that the Panthers and the Buccaneers will play against each other in the 2024 NFL season?

Memorable Matchups between the Panthers and the Buccaneers

Panthers/Buccaneers games usually turn into heated affairs. Here are some of their most memorable moments on the field.

Simms Loses His Spleen

September 24, 2006 – In the third quarter of the game, Buccaneers quarterback Chris Simms was hit on a two-yard bootleg play. The hit was severe enough that he had to momentarily leave the game, returning after a few minutes. Once he was back on the field and leading a go-ahead field goal drive, he was hit several more times very viciously, which made his condition worse. With seconds left on the clock, the Panthers would ultimately win the game 26-24 thanks to a game winning field goal. After the game, Simms had to be rushed to the hospital because it was found that he had a ruptured spleen and was bleeding internally. Had the injury not been discovered, it could have been fatal for the Buccaneers quarterback.

Concussions on the Cards

October 18, 2009 – Dante Wesley, the Panthers cornerback, rammed into Clifton Smith, the Bucs’ return specialist, while he was waiting to catch a punt return. The hit was so brutal that Smith suffered a concussion and was placed on injured reserve. The Panthers were given a 15-yard penalty and Wesley was thrown out of the game. He would also get a one game suspension without pay.

A History of their Meetings

The Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have played each other a total of 33 times in the regular season. The statistics for the Panthers from all of those encounters are as follows:

The Panthers and the Buccaneers have not faced each other in the postseason.

Top Players behind the Panthers and the Buccaneers

Although a relatively young team in the NFL, the Panthers have still had an impressive line-up over the years. The lineup includes players like Steve Smith, one of the Panthers’ most celebrated players. Jake Delhomme, the franchise’s all-time passing leader, and Sam Mills, the franchise’s star linebacker and the only Panther to have his number retired to date. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had incredible talent on their rosters as well. The list includes the likes of Derrick Brooks, the Pro Hall of Fame linebacker who made it to 11 Pro-Bowls. Warren Sapp, one of the best defensive tackles in NFL history, and Mike Alstott, the fullback who was one of the best power runners in the NFL.