The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hit the road this week to face off against their division rival Carolina Panthers. The Bucs are looking to get back on track after dropping last week’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Brady Expects Bounce Back
In last week’s loss to the Steelers, Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady was visibly upset on the sidelines. With less than a minute left in the first half, Brady was seen screaming at multiple members of the offensive line.
Tom Brady with some words to his offensive line. pic.twitter.com/qBqjD7vfKg
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 16, 2022
However, despite their loss to the Steelers, Brady said he expects the team to turn it around.
Following the loss, Brady took to Instagram to express his feelings of the team’s performance so far this season. Brady admitted that football is hard, but he also said that the team is working to get back to their winning ways.
“Football is hard,” Tom Brady said. pic.twitter.com/PnmwsLdLTT
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) October 17, 2022
Chaos In Carolina
The Bucs will be getting a favorable matchup this week as they head to Carolina to take on the Panthers.
Things have gone from bad to worse for Carolina, as recent transactions indicate that the Panthers may already be looking towards next season.
The snowball began after the Panthers week five loss to the 49ers. The Panthers had a record of 1-4 up to this point, and the team decided to move on from head coach Matt Rhule.
The following week, wide receiver Robbie Anderson got into multiple arguments with coaches on the sidelines during the Panthers loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The situation escalated to a point where Panthers interim coach Steve Wilks had to kick Anderson out of the game.
Panthers coaching staff asked Robbie Anderson to leave the game after getting into a heated discussion with Panthers' WR coach
(via @CBSSports)pic.twitter.com/ePFgPqXpWj
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 16, 2022
The following day, Anderson was traded to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for a sixth-round pick.
To top it all off, the Panthers traded star running back Christian Mcaffrey to the 49ers in exchange for a haul of draft picks Thursday night.
BREAKING: Panthers trading RB Christian McCaffrey to the 49ers. (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/7QQvGcTYLV
— NFL (@NFL) October 21, 2022
Buccaneers Without Offensive Weapons
Brady will be hindered a bit this weekend as he will be without two of his main pass catchers.
Both wide receivers Julio Jones and tight end Cameron Brate have been ruled out for Sunday’s contest. Jones has not played since week four, and Brate was injured in the Bucs’ loss to the Steelers, last week.
Look for tight end Cade Otton to have an increased role with Brate being out.
The #Bucs ruled out WR Julio Jones (knee) and TE Cameron Brate (neck) against the #Panthers, who once again listed QB Baker Mayfield (ankle) as doubtful.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 21, 2022
Kickoff between the Bucs and Panthers is set for 1 p.m. Sunday from Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.