Tampa Bay Buccaneers Face Off Against Carolina Panthers in Week 13: Key Highlights and Incidents

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Carolina Panthers clashed in a pivotal Week 13 matchup on Sunday, December 1, 2024. The game, held at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, saw the Buccaneers aiming to continue their momentum after ending a four-game losing streak last week with a 30-7 victory over the New York Giants.

The Panthers, despite their 3-8 record, entered the game with renewed morale following a strong performance against the Kansas City Chiefs in their previous outing. They had sacked Patrick Mahomes five times and tied the game at 27 with just 1:46 left to play, although they ultimately lost to a late field goal. This effort has sparked hope that quarterback Bryce Young, the No. 1 overall pick in 2023, may be regaining his form.

The game was marked by an early incident involving umpire Carl Paganelli, who was carted off the field just 45 seconds into the game after colliding with a Tampa Bay player. Paganelli, an official since 1999, appeared to be holding his lower leg and did not get up, forcing the game to continue with six officials instead of the usual seven.

Heading into the game, the Buccaneers were favored by 6 points, with the over/under set at 46.5 points. The Bucs have dominated the recent series, winning eight out of their last 10 games against the Panthers, including three consecutive victories.