Week 3 Game Recap: Carolina Panthers 26, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24

What you need to know

Carolina Panthers

RB DeShaun Foster kept backup RB DeAngelo Williams on the bench. He ran well between the tackles aided by his offensive line controlling the point of attack. Foster had 23 touches in the game as opposed to only four for Williams.

WR Steve Smith showed no ill effects of the hamstring injuries. He was utilized much like he was a year ago on quick outs and wide receiver screens. He looked fast, and accelerated out his breaks with a quick burst. It appeared that Smith was on the field for barely half of the Carolina snaps, but still led Panthers’ receivers with 13 passing targets.

PK John Kasay went four for four hitting field goals from 51, 50, 49, and the game winner from 46 yards out.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

QB Chris Simms took several hard shots and showed tremendous grit playing with what was later determined to be a damaged spleen. He was rushed to the hospital after the game and his spleen was removed. He is in stable condition Monday. During the game, his play looked similar to the past two weeks. He was tentative and threw several questionable balls including an interception on the second Tampa Bay play from scrimmage. However, he did pull it together and showed glimpses of the player that head coach Jon Gruden bought in to last year. He was able to bring his team back from a 16 point deficit and took the lead twice before falling just short in the end.

RB Cadillac Williams ran hard and looked explosive running between the tackles. The Buccaneers’ offensive line opened some holes this week allowing him to post his longest gains of the season. Tampa Bay showed they were dedicated to getting Williams the ball, but the score and game situation dictated his lack of carries for the third consecutive week.

DE Simeon Rice nearly saved the day when it looked as if the Panthers were about to pull away and turn the game into a blowout. He forced consecutive fumbles on the first two Panthers’ drives in the second half. Each led to a touchdown and got Tampa Bay back in the game.

What you ought to know

QB Jake Delhomme, Pass: 22 - 36 - 272 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 2 - 12 - 0

Delhomme executed the Panthers’ offense well except for a few overthrown balls. The problem for Delhomme was holding on to the ball. His two fumbles while getting sacked in the second half both led to scores allowing Tampa Bay to keep it close.

RB DeShaun Foster, Rush: 20 - 82 - 0, Rec: 3 - 7 - 0 (3 targets)

Foster carried the rushing load throughout the game. The Panthers were able to move the ball with the run effectively in spurts, but couldn’t consistently move the sticks and had two drives end in field goals. Foster fumbled at the start of the second Panthers’ drive in the third quarter, but remained in the game and continued to carry the load keeping backup RB DeAngelo Williams on the bench.

RB DeAngelo Williams, Rush: 4 - -1 - 0 (1 targets)

Williams wasn’t given a chance in to follow up on last week’s impressive showing as starting RB DeShaun Foster carried almost all the rushing load. On two of his carries he was hit and dropped in the backfield before he had a chance to take a step.

RB Brad Hoover, Rush: 1 - 4 - 0, Rec: 2 - 19 - 0 (4 targets)

Hoover saw more action Sunday than he saw in the first two Carolina games from this season combined. He got a carry early in the game to go along with his four passing targets.

WR Keyshawn Johnson, Rush: 1 - 4 - 1, Rec: 7 - 97 - 1 (9 targets)

Johnson pulled in a 31 yard touchdown on the first Panthers’ play from scrimmage following an interception by QB Chris Simms. Johnson caught the ball on a deep out. The cornerback simply missed the tackle allowing Johnson to walk in for the touchdown. Johnson scored his second touchdown on an end around from the four yard line. Johnson was consistently targeted throughout the game and made several catches while taking big hits from defensive backs.

WR Steve Smith, Rec: 7 - 112 - 0 (13 targets)

Both of Smith’s first two targets were quick hitters near the line of scrimmage allowing him to use his wheels to turn up field for gains of eight and nine yards. In the second quarter Smith pulled in a deep crossing route and turned it immediately up field for a 33 yard pickup. Smith was targeted eight times before halftime; however, he started the second half on the sideline as a precautionary measure spending extra time stretching his hamstrings. His play on the field showed no indications that his hamstrings were bothering him. After the Buccaneers took the lead Smith bailed out the Panthers with a 41 yard reception down the left sideline. He made a nice move back to the middle of the field to pick up extra yardage.

WR Keary Colbert, Rec: 1 - 16 - 0 (2 targets)

Colbert has dropped to fourth in the Carolina pecking order with the return of WR Steve Smith. His lone catch came in the fourth quarter.

WR Drew Carter, Rec: 1 - 14 - 0 (2 targets)

Carter’s lone catch came in the third quarter. With the return of WR Steve Smith he saw a tremendous drop in his targets.

TE Kris Mangum (1 targets)

Mangum saw one early target, but was a non-factor in the Carolina passing game through the rest of the game.

PK John Kasay 4 - 4 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 14 points

Kasay line up for a long field goal attempt early in the game, but Carolina opted to have Kasay pooch punt the ball deep into Tampa Bay territory. Kasay hit al four of his attempts (three from 50+ yards) including the game winner with only seconds left on the clock.

CAR Rush Defense

The Panthers looked vulnerable against the rushing attack from the Buccaneers, but weren’t tested because of the 16 point deficit that the Panther offense built early in the game. They are still badly missing MLB Dan Morgan.

CAR Pass Defense

DE Julius Peppers was able to get to QB Chris Simms once early in the game, but other than a few hits the Panther defense wasn’t able to consistently bring enough pressure to force Simms into mistakes that could have put the game out of reach. CB Chris Gamble recovered from a miserable week two loss by intercepting a pass early and shutting down WR Joey Galloway for most of the game.

QB Chris Simms, Pass: 13 - 24 - 139 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 2 - 1 - 1

Simms began the game by throwing an interception on the second play from scrimmage. Simms planted his back foot on a three step drop and tried to force a pass that shouldn’t have been thrown. He followed that up by directing the Buccaneers’ offense to three consecutive three and outs. However, he bounced back to lead Tampa Bay down the field on an 82 yard touchdown drive capped by his scoring toss to WR Joey Galloway. Getting RB Cadillac Williams rolling aided the drive because it allowed Simms to utilize play action effectively twice during the drive. He scored on a rollout after play action at the goal line getting Tampa Bay the lead. Simms had to leave the game at the end of the third quarter heading to the locker room. Reports were that he cramped up and was given fluids intravenously. He returned to the game after missing one drive and completed three straight balls to take Tampa Bay into the red zone to get the Buccaneers the lead with five minutes left in the game. Simms was noticeably affected putting his hands on his knees between plays.

After the game, Simms was rushed to the hospital where it was determined he’d damaged his spleen during the contest. In emergency surgery, his spleen was removed. It was obviously a very serious situation and it required a blood transfusion. He apparently had suffered internal bleeding during the game and played through the injury leading his team in the fourth quarter in one of the toughest performances you’ll ever see from a quarterback.

RB Cadillac Williams, Rush: 19 - 48 - 1, Rec: 2 - 16 - 0 (3 targets)

Williams showed no visible signs of pain from his previous back injuries. When holes were available Williams showed the necessary burst to shoot through for solid gains, but they were few due to the game situation. Down 16 points early made it difficult to go back to the run game. His touchdown came on a two play drive. From the 15 yard line after a turnover Tampa Bay gave the ball to Williams for an 11 yard gain followed by his four yard plow straight up the gut into the end zone.

RB Mike Alstott, Rush: 3 - 12 - 0, Rec: 2 - -3 - 0 (3 targets)

Alstott saw his typical dose of short yardage carries. He entered the game midway through the third quarter when the Buccaneers had the ball second and one from the two yard line. He attempted to leap over the pile, but was stopped short of the goal line. They ran play action on the third down play and QB Chris Simms rolled out and ran it in for the score.

RB Michael Pittman, Rush: 1 - 3 - 0, Rec: 2 - 25 - 0 (2 targets)

Pittman continued to fill his role as the third down running back and fills in on obvious passing downs. Pittman also returned kickoffs in this game.

WR Ike Hilliard, Rec: 1 - 16 - 0 (2 targets)

Hilliard was able to draw a pass interference call on a short pass to begin the second quarter. His only reception was at the start of the fourth quarter during the drive that got the Buccaneers the lead for the last time in the game.

WR Michael Clayton, Rec: 1 - 14 - 0 (3 targets)

Clayton made his first reception on a third down slant route in the third quarter. He did a nice job of securing the ball knowing he was about to get popped by the safety after making the catch. He was clearly the second option in the passing game as QB Chris Simms first option is almost always towards WR Joey Galloway.

WR Joey Galloway, Rec: 1 - 8 - 1 (7 targets)

Galloway was targeted on the second play of the game at the line of scrimmage on a quick hitter, but he allowed the cornerback to slip in front of him and intercept the pass. He pulled in an eight yard touchdown crossing the back of the end zone to put Tampa Bay on the board for the first time in the game. Galloway led Tampa Bay in targets for the second consecutive week. His single reception was a good indicator that QB Chris Simms was forced to get rid of the ball quickly throughout the game. Galloway was targeted on the final play from scrimmage deep down the left sideline on third and five when a first down would have ended the game.

TE Alex Smith, Rec: 4 - 72 - 0 (5 targets)

Smith pulled in a 22 yard reception on a flea-flicker play at the start of the second quarter. The play got the Tampa Bay offense started after looking lethargic and led to the Galloway touchdown. Smith also made three key receptions on scoring drives in the third and fourth quarter.

TE Doug Jolley, Rec: 1 - 7 - 0 (1 targets)

Jolley saw his only target and reception just short of the goal line in the third quarter.

PK Matt Bryant 1 - 1 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 6 points

There was nothing of significance to report from the Tampa Bay kicking game.

TB Rush Defense

RB DeShaun Foster had his best game of the season after looking anemic the first two weeks. The Buccaneers’ front seven didn’t do a good job at the point of attack, but didn’t allow Foster to break any longer runs. CB Ronde Barber was everywhere on the field (12 tackles) helping against the run as well as being used as a blitzer on passing downs.

TB Pass Defense

At the start of the third quarter DE Simeon Rice blew by LT Jordan Gross and changed the momentum of the game. Previous to that play the Tampa Bay front seven wasn’t getting pressure on QB Jake Delhomme. Two plays later RB Cadillac Williams plowed into the end zone to pull the Buccaneers within six points in a game that felt as if it were on the edge of becoming a blowout.