Panthers-Buccaneers live updates: Musical QBs with Cam Newton and Sam Darnold flopped

Editor’s note: Live updates on this story are complete.

A disappointing season for the Carolina Panthers is winding to an end as they play their final home game this afternoon at Bank of America Stadium.

For the Panthers fans who decide to spend their Boxing Day in uptown, a win seems unlikely against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (Even if our own Scott Fowler picked Carolina to pull the upset.) The Bucs are 10.5-point favorites today in Charlotte after being shut out last week against New Orleans.

The big news for the Panthers this week is the return of quarterback Sam Darnold, who was brought off of injured reserve after missing the past five games. Cam Newton (four games) and PJ Walker (one) have started each week since.

This could also be Newton’s final home game as a Carolina Panther. The contract worth up to $10 million he signed with the team mid-season expires at the schedule’s conclusion and it’s unlikely he’ll be brought back in 2022 unless the two parties can agree on a team-friendly deal.

Fowler wrote last week that the Panthers should give Newton a curtain call late in the game so the home fans can give him a standing ovation.

The Observer has six journalists at Bank of America Stadium for today’s 1 p.m. Panthers-Buccaneers game, including beat reporters Jonathan M. Alexander and Ellis Williams and columnist Scott Fowler. We’ll have you covered here for live updates throughout the afternoon on this page (refresh for the latest) and expanded coverage on CharlotteObserver.com after the game.

What’s the Panthers score right now?

FINAL: Buccaneers 32, Panthers 6

That’s six straight home losses for the Panthers, who drop to 5-10 on the season. The Buccaneers move to 11-4.

Ryan Succop FG: Buccaneers 32, Panthers 6

Not much more to say here but another field goal for the Bucs, this one from 48 yards. There’s still 7:59 to play.

Ronald Jones TD: Buccaneers 29, Panthers 6

This one is now getting out of hand with the Buccaneers up by three scores late in the third quarter thanks to a 7-yard touchdown run by Ronald Jones.

Ryan Succop FG: Buccaneers 22, Panthers 6

The Panthers keep hanging around, holding the Buccaneers to their third field goal of the game despite getting the ball inside the Carolina 5. Ryan Succop hit a 21-yard field goal to end the drive, keeping it a two-score game.

Cam Newton started the second half for the Panthers and will start the next drive.

HALFTIME: Buccaneers 19, Panthers 6

The Panthers trail at halftime but will get the ball back to start the third quarter.

Here’s a quick look at each Panthers quarterback’s targets in the first half:

Cameron Brate TD: Buccaneers 19, Panthers 6

It didn’t take long for Tom Brady to make the Panthers pay for leaving Tampa Bay time on the clock before halftime.

The Bucs took over at their own 31 with 1:41 until halftime after a Carolina punt, and on the first play, Brady found Cyril Grayson open down the right side for a 62-yard pass. Three plays later, he hit Cameron Brate for a 4-yard score. The Bucs went for two but didn’t convert.

The entire scoring drive took 22 seconds.

Succop FG: Buccaneers 13, Panthers 6

Carolina’s defense holds again. Ryan Succop’s 43-yard field goal makes it a 7-point game.

Hajrullahu FG: Buccaneers 10, Panthers 6

Try to follow this ...

Sam Darnold enters the game as the Panthers take over first-and-10 at their own 25 and is booed by the crowd at Bank of America Stadium. On his second snap, he escapes a collapsing pocket and throws a 63-yard pass to Shi Smith. Then Darnold gets yanked for Newton on the next play — first-and-goal from the 10. Newton runs two plays and gets two yards, then Darnold replaces him on third down and walks onto the field to an ovation before getting sacked.

Lirim Hajrullahu then kicks a 29-yard field goa.

Sam Darnold enters the game

Time for Sam Darnold to get some playing time. He enters the game in relief of Newton on the Panthers’ third series.

Succop FG: Buccaneers 10, Panthers 3

Carolina’s defense held tough after Cam Newton’s interception, limiting the Bucs to three points — a 36-yard Ryan Succop field goal.

Cam Newton picked off

Panthers quarterback Cam Newton tried to force a pass into traffic, and it was unclear who he was throwing to — Tommy Tremble or Shi Smith. It was deflected by Shaq Barrett and intercepted, giving Tampa Bay the ball at midfield.

Ke’Shawn Vaughn TD: Buccaneers 7, Panthers 3

That leaky Panthers defense gets struck again. Bucs running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn weaved his way down the left side of the field, slipping the tackles of CJ Henderson and Juston Burris on his way to a 55-yard touchdown run.

Hajrullahu FG: Panthers 3, Buccaneers 0

The Panthers had second-and-goal from the 5 on a drive that was highlighted by a 33-yard Cam Newton run, but wouldn’t get any closer. But Carolina was able to still get 3 points out of it on a 24-yard field goal by Lirim Hajrullahu to give them an early lead.

Coin toss

Panthers won the toss and elected to defer. The Buccaneers will receive and move from left to right across your screen.

Inactive players for Bucs vs Panthers

BUCCANEERS: Kyle Task, Bradley Pinion, Mike Evans, Pierre Desir, Antoine Winfield Jr., Jason Pierre-Paul.

PANTHERS: PJ Walker, Kamal Martin, Frank Herron, Phil Hoskins, Cam Erving, Darryl Johnson.

Uniform update

The Panthers are wearing black on black. The Bucs are wearing white tops and gray pants.

Will Cam Newton or Sam Darnold start?

Panthers coach Matt Rhule said this past week that Newton will start for Carolina against the Buccaneers but that Darnold will play a significant role.

Darnold is expected to be back on the team next year (he’s owed about $18 million) and could be their starting quarterback again if they don’t pick one in the first round of the draft.

Perfect weather in Charlotte for Panthers and Bucs

It’s sunny with a high of 75 today in Charlotte. The temperature at kickoff is expected to be 73 degrees.

Not bad for the day after Christmas.

What radio station is the Panthers game on?

Here is a list of Panthers Radio Network affiliates to listen to the Panthers vs. Buccaneers Week 16 NFL game.

How to watch the Buccaneers vs Panthers game

Today’s 1 p.m. kickoff between the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, is being broadcast on FOX. If you’re watching in Charlotte, that means WJZY-Fox 46. The Panthers-Bills NFL game can be streamed online with a subscription to YouTube TV or Hulu+ Live TV, so long as you are viewing from inside the broadcast footprint — a map of which can be found below via 506 Sports.

This story was originally published December 26, 2021 at 10:19 AM.

Matt L. Stephens

The Charlotte Observer

Matt L. Stephens is the Senior Sports Editor for The Charlotte Observer and oversees sports coverage for the Raleigh News & Observer, The State in Columbia, S.C., and McClatchy’s other properties across the Southeast. Before coming to Charlotte in July 2019, Matt was an award-winning editor, columnist and investigative reporter at The Denver Post and Fort Collins Coloradoan.