Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Special teams error costly to Panthers — again

Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Carolina Panthers

CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 18: Josh Freeman #5 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers warms up prior to his game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on November 18, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Getty Images

The more things change for the Panthers, the more they stay the same.

A week after getting rid of special teams coach Brian Murphy, a costly special teams error cost them an early lead.

The Buccaneers took advantage of a fumbled punt return by Panthers cornerback Captain Munnerlyn, and the short field made it easy to take a 7-0 lead.

Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman stood in against a rush and delived to tight end Nate Byham for a quick score, and the Panthers just drew another flag on the ensuing kickoff.