CAROLINA (3-8) At TAMPA BAY (4-7)
Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox
OPENING LINE - Buccaneers by 3 1/2
RECORD VS. SPREAD - Carolina 6-4-1; Tampa Bay 4-7
SERIES RECORD - Panthers lead 12-9
LAST MEETING - Buccaneers beat Panthers 31-16, Nov. 14, 2010
LAST WEEK - Panthers beat Colts 27-19; Buccaneers lost to Titans 23-17
PANTHERS OFFENSE - OVERALL (5), RUSH (6), PASS (9)
PANTHERS DEFENSE - OVERALL (24), RUSH (28), PASS (15)
BUCCANEERS OFFENSE - OVERALL (15), RUSH (23), PASS (12)
BUCCANEERS DEFENSE - OVERALL (31), RUSH (30), PASS (28)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - First of two meetings between NFC South rivals within four-week span. Buccaneers have lost five straight games - six of seven overall - following 3-1 start. ... Panthers, playing on road for third consecutive week, snapped three-game skid with last Sunday's win over winless Indianapolis. ... Rookie QB Cam Newton has thrown for 1,521 yards and four touchdowns, while also rushing for 190 yards and seven TDs in five road starts for Carolina. With 3,093 yards passing, Newton fourth rookie in league history to top the 3,000-yard plateau, joining Peyton Manning, Matt Ryan and Sam Bradford. ... Panthers WR Steve Smith leads NFC with 1,060 yards receiving. He has six career 100-yard games against Tampa Bay, and 56 yards shy of 10,000 for career. ... Bucs QB Josh Freeman injured right shoulder during final minute of last week's loss at Tennessee. He's also played through team's rough stretch with sprained right thumb, an injury aggravated when a pistol he was firing at a shooting range recoiled during Tampa Bay's bye week. In two victories over Carolina last season, Freeman completed 30 of 48 passes for 419 yards, four TDs and no interceptions. ... Through 11 games, Freeman has 12 TD passes, 16 interceptions. A year ago, he threw for 25 TDs, six interceptions. ... Bucs first-round draft pick Adrian Clayborn tied for third among NFC rookies with five sacks. ... Tampa Bay RB LeGarrette Blount coming off consecutive 100-yard games. He gained 107 in loss at Green Bay and had 103 against Tennessee last week. When second-year pro has at least 19 carries, Bucs are 6-2.
