The Buccaneers’ backups proved to be better than the Panthers’ backups, Roberto Aguayo made a clutch kick, and nothing makes sense any more.
Also, the NFL can no longer wonder why ratings are down.
Tampa Bay stunned Carolina with a 17-14 win Monday night, somehow winning a game no one seemed interested in.
Poor Buccaneers kicker Roberto Aguayo, bless his heart, missed two more field goals but hit the game-winner from 38 yards out to make everyone forget for a second they traded up to take him in the second round. He’s now 4-of-8 as a pro, after leaving Florida State as the most accurate kicker in college football.
But nothing was easy Monday for either side, as the odd collection of reserves and injury replacements struggled to commit football.
The Panthers turned the ball over four times, with backup quarterback Derek Anderson reminding us that no one is laughing.
Anderson threw two interceptions and fumbled, as the defending NFC champions fell to 1-4, with Cam Newton not even in the stadium as he’s in the concussion protocol.
For the Bucs, Jacquizz Rodgers finished with 30 carries for 101 yards, doing good work replacing the top two Bucs backs. With Doug Martin inactive and Charles Sims on IR, against a defense that used to be good, they were not supposed to be able to run the ball. But they did, and improved to 2-3.
Somehow.