Panthers-Buccaneers live updates: Carolina falls to Tom-Pa Bay, Bridgewater injures knee

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The Carolina Panthers enter Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1 p.m. FOX) trying to stop a four-game losing streak and pick up a much-needed win in the NFC South.

Coming away with a victory won’t be easy facing veteran quarterback Tom Brady who, despite the worst loss of his professional career last week against New Orleans, is still arguably the best to ever play the position.

If you’re looking for predictions on this Panthers-Buccaneers game, we have you covered. Our full scouting report is available here.

The Observer has five journalists at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte for today’s matchup, including reporters Alaina Getzenberg and Jonathan Alexander. Follow along here for live scoring updates, highlights, and breaking news from the game.

The third quarter wasn’t kind to the Carolina Panthers Sunday in an 46-23 loss to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Panthers defense had plenty of problems all game, and QB Teddy Bridgewater left in the fourth quarter with a knee injury. And Tampa Bay played much better following a 35-point loss to New Orleans on national TV.

Brady threw three interceptions against the Saints but improved to 8-1 in his career following losses of 20 points or more. Against Carolina, Brady riddled the Panthers secondary with 341 yards passing and three touchdowns. Ronald Jones II ran 23 times for 192 yards and a score. Five different Buccaneers played scored.

But despite all that, Carolina was in good position — until the third quarter.

Tied at 17 at halftime, Tampa Bay got the kickoff to start the third quarter and drove for a field goal. That gave the Bucs a 20-17 lead. And that’s where it all went south.

Carolina was stopped following the Bucs’ score, but got a great punt to pin Tampa at its 2

Next, Ronald Jones busted through a hole and ran for a franchise-record 98-yard scoring run. That put the Bucs up nine.

Next, Jason Pierre-Paul intercepted Panthers QB Teddy Bridgewater at the Carolina 38. Former Hickory High star Ryan Succop hit a field goal a few plays later and Tampa led 29-17.

But the Panthers’ third quarter woes were not over.

At their 40, down 29-17, Carolina tried a fake punt. There were 71 seconds left in the third quarter. The move worked against the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs last week, but it didn’t work Sunday.

Punter Joseph Charlton was tackled and Brady got a short field.

What kept Carolina in the game, at least until that point, was that Brady missed a few opportunities for long touchdown passes. Succop’s fourth field goal of the game came early in the third quarter and gave Tampa a 32-17 lead.

Bridgewater left the game in the fourth quarter after being sacked by Jason Pierre-Paul. He finished completing 18-of-24 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns. Pierre-Paul intercepted Bridgewater once.

ROB GRONKOWSKI TD: BUCCANEERS 46, PANTHERS 23

4:24, Fourth Quarter: After Carolina tried for a fourth down conversion inside its 30, Tampa Bay got the ball at the Panthers 22 and got a 7-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady to tight end Rob Gronkowski.

Carolina QB Teddy Bridgewater sacked, limps off the field

After a third down sack, Carolina QB Teddy Bridgewater limped off the field. On the sideline trainers appeared to be looking at his right knee. Bridgewater was listed with a knee injury and walked to the locker room before the game ended.

Tampa’s Jason Pierre Paul tackled him from behind with his shoulder pads at Bridgewater’s knee level. On fourth and 9, PJ Walker came in and completed a pass that was short of the first down.

Tampa got the ball at the Carolina 22 with less than five minutes to play.

TOM BRADY TD: BUCCANEERS 39, PANTHERS 23

6:18, Fourth Quarter: Following a sudden Panthers score, Tampa Bay drove and may’ve put the game away with a 1-yard QB sneak from Tom Brady, his third rushing touchdown of the season.

TEDDY BRIDGEWATER TD: BUCCANEERS 32, PANTHERS 23

Trenton Cannon put the Panthers in position to score with a terrific kickoff return, receiving the ball in the end zone, running right-to-left, breaking tackles, before arriving at the Tampa Bay 4. After a MIke Davis run, Bridgewater scrambled up the middle for a 3-yard score. A two-point conversion pass attempt failed.

RYAN SUCCOP FG: BUCCANEERS 32, PANTHERS 17

12:42, Fourth Quarter: After the Panthers were stopped on a fake field goal attempt, the Carolina defense forced a field goal attempt after Tom Brady was sacked by Efe Obada. Ryan Succop made his fourth kick of the day from 40 yards out.

Panthers fake punt doesn’t work this time

After having some success on fake punts this season, including against the Chiefs last week, the Panthers tried one Sunday that didn’t end well.

With 1:11 left in the third quarter, the Panthers tried a fake on fourth and 6 at their 40. Punter Joseph Charlton caught the snap and faked as though he was going to throw to his right. Then he tried to run up the middle, where he was met by Tampa Bay’s Justin Watson.

Carolina RB Mike Davis suffers thumb injury

Panthers running back Mike Davis is out with an injury to his left thumb. Davis started in place of Panthers star Christian McCaffrey, who is out with a shoulder injury.

Davis is questionable to return.

RYAN SUCCOP FG: BUCCANEERS 29, PANTHERS 17

3:13, Third Quarter: Jason Pierre-Paul intercepted Panthers QB Teddy Bridgewater at the Carolina 38. On the drive, Tom Brady missed chances for two over-the-top touchdown passes and the drive eventually stalled near the Panthers goal line. Tampa kicker Ryan Succop made his third field goal of the game from 21 yards.

RONALD JONES TD: BUCCANEERS 26, PANTHERS 17

7:39, Third Quarter: After the Panthers pinned the Buccaneers at their 2 with a great punt and special teams coverage, Tampa Bay running back Ronald Jones made up for a first quarter fumble that led to Panthers points.

Jones ran up the middle and made a jump cut to his left. Then he outran Panthers DB Jeremy Chinn for a 98-yard scoring run the longest in Buccaneers history. Ryan Succop’s extra point, however, was blocked by Panthers defensive lineman Bravvion Roy.

RYAN SUCCOP FG: BUCCANEERS 20, PANTHERS 17

10:58, Third Quarter: On third and goal at the Panthers 7, Tom Brady tried to scramble for a score, but Brian Burns caught him from behind. Ryan Succop kicked his second field goal of the game from 23 yards out.

Panthers safety Sam Franklin injured, Donte Jackson doubtful

With the Buccaneers driving early in the third quarter, Panthers safety Sam Franklin went down with an injury. Defensive back Donte Jackson has apparently re-aggravated an old toe injury. He is doubtful to return.

MIKE EVANS TD: PANTHERS 17, BUCCANEERS 17

27 seconds left, Second Quarter: Mike Evans made a terrific two-handed touchdown catch on a pass from Tom Brady while Panthers DB Rasul Douglas tried to knock the ball away. The big play on the drive was a 44-yard pass from Brady to Rob Gronkowski, who broke a Jeremy Chinn tackle and ran to the Panthers’ 4 with 71 seconds left.

With teams tied at halftime, both quarterbacks are off to hot starts. Carolina’s Teddy Bridgewater is 14-of-17 for 111 yards and two touchdowns. Tampa’s Tom Brady is 16-of-21 for 181 yards and two scores.

JOEY SLYE FG: PANTHERS 17, BUCCANEERS 10

4:01, Second Quarter: After hitting his first 13 passes, Panthers QB Teddy Bridgewater couldn’t hook up Curtis Samuel on third down at the Buccaneers’ 29. Kicker Joey Slye made a 46-yard field goal on the next play to give Carolina a touchdown lead.

RYAN SUCCOP FG: PANTHERS 14 BUCCANEERS 10

9:59, Second Quarter: Former Hickory High star Ryan Succop made a 23-yard field goal to pull the Buccaneers within four. On third and goal at the 5, Tom Brady threw a pass intended for Mike Evans, but Evans appeared to cut the route short.

DJ MOORE TD: PANTHERS 14, BUCCANEERS 7

1:45, First Quarter: One play after a 38-yard pass from QB Teddy Bridgewater to DJ Moore, Moore caught a wide receiver screen and ran in for 25 yards. The Panthers drove 75 yards in four quick plays. In the first quarter, Bridgewater completed 10-of-10 passes for 93 yards and two scores.

Tampa Bay DB Carlton Davis injured

Tampa Bay cornerback Carlton Davis, who suffered a knee injury during practice this week, went down late in the first quarter with the Panthers driving.

CAMERON BRATE TD: PANTHERS 7, BUCCANEERS 7

3:37, First Quarter: After the Panthers score, Tom Brady missed a wide open Antonio Brown on a potential long touchdown pass, but Brady produced a couple of pretty passes, under pressure, to keep the drive going. Finally, Brady hit tight end Cameron Brate with a 5-yard score on third and goal to tie the game.

COLIN THOMPSON TD: PANTHERS 7, BUCCANEERS 0

8:19, First Quarter: Carolina got an early break when Shaq Thompson punched the ball away from Tampa Bay running back Ronald Jones II after Jones caught a short pass from Tom Brady. Carolina recovered and got the ball at the Tampa 33 with 12:19 left in the first quarter.

The Panthers didn’t do much on the first three downs after the turnover, but on 4th and 3 at Tampa 26, Carolina coach Matt Rhule continued his tendency to be aggressive this season. Rhule chose to go for the first down and QB Teddy Bridgewater hit Robby Anderson on a quick pass for a 9-yard gain.

A few plays later Bridgewater hit tight end Colin Thompson with a 7-yard scoring pass on first and goal. It was the first time in his NFL career that Thompson had touched the ball.

Panthers LB Tahir Whitehead injured

Panthers linebacker Tahir Whitehead went down with an injury after the Bucs’ first play on offense Sunday. Carolina went 3-and-out on its possession before Tampa ran one play. The former Raiders player walked off the field holding his side.

Whitehead returned to the game in the second quarter.

What uniforms are the Panthers and Buccaneers wearing?

Carolina is wearing black tops with white pants. The Bucs are wearing white jerseys and gray pants.

Christian McCaffrey is not playing for the Panthers

After getting their All-Pro running back last week, Christian McCaffrey injured the AC joint in his shoulder against the Chiefs and will miss today’s game against the Buccaneers.

Inactive list is out

Some good news on the injury front for Carolina: The Panthers get starting safety/linebacker/do-everything Jeremy Chinn back in time to face Tom Brady.

The full inactive list for the Buccaneers-Panthers game is here.

What channel is the Buccaneers vs Panthers game on?

Sunday’s Tampa Bay vs. Carolina game is on FOX. It will be the game shown in the most homes across the country during the 1 p.m. time slot with a coverage area that stretches from the Pacific Northwest down through most of the Carolinas and Florida.

How to stream Panthers-Buccaneers game

Today’s 1 p.m. kickoff between Panthers and Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte will be broadcast on FOX. You can stream the game on FoxSports.com by logging in through your cable or satellite provider. It’s also available on YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV with a valid subscription.

If you are unable to view the game, we will provide live updates and video and photo highlights on this page.