Tampa Bay at Carolina

What a difference a year and a new coach with a new attitude makes. The Buccaneers quit early last season and went on to lose their last 10 games, but that isn't the whole story. The Bucs lost their last six by a combined score of 226-105. That’s an average margin of negative -20.2 points per game. It was bad. But this is a new season. This year, Tampa Bay has already eclipsed those 105 points in just their last three games, averaging averaged 37.3 ppg. Over their last five games they have averaged 35.6 ppg - more than any team in the league. This team is 5-4 and they are legitimate playoffs contender. The same can't be said about Carolina. The Panthers made a lot of progress offensively with Cam Newton under center a year ago, but that progress has come to a screeching halt this season. This team has just two wins this season, and they haven't scored more than 22 points in any of their last five games. Newton's numbers are down from a year ago where he rushed for 14 TDs and has just four this season, and has but 8 TD passes, and 10 INTs. The fact is, defenses have figured him out and he hasn't adjusted. The defense allowed 36 last week, and looks to be wearing down as well. This defense hasn't been good in years, which is why Carolina is 8-17 straight up int he Cam Newton era. Over the past three seasons, the Panthers are 2-15 straight-up vs. winning teams. While Carolina looked to be the team turning the corner a year ago, they have regressed. Tampa Bay has not only turned the corner, they have done so in a much more notable way - the win column. Play Tampa Bay to win this game.