NFL Week 5: Who Plays on Monday Night Football?
Taking a look at which two teams will take the field in primetime on Monday Night Football in NFL Week 5
Both the Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 1-3 for 2016. With a depressing record of 6-10 in 2015, it’s not shocking to see the Bucs with a losing record already. Carolina is a different story. After going 15-1 and playing the Super Bowl, it’s shocking to see them in such rough shape just four weeks into the season. Now the NFC South rivals will meet on Monday Night Football.
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In Week 4, Carolina Panthers starting quarterback Cam Newton suffered a concussion. It’s unknown as to if he will play in Week 5, but due to concussion protocol, there’s a high possibility he will be on the bench. If Cam sits, backup Derek Anderson will line up under center. Anderson played for the final 10 minutes against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 4. Completing 17 passes on 23 attempts, with two touchdowns, Anderson almost pulled off a comeback win of epic proportions. But two interceptions, one of which was a pick-six, blew the chance the Panthers had at a comeback performance.
Here’s what Anderson said after the game:
"“We did too much to get to that point to throw the pick-six to lose,” Anderson said. “We did a lot to get back in it, and I didn’t give us a chance there. I tried to pull it back and just hold onto it. It turned into a non-confident throw.”"
The Buccaneers have struggled just about as much as the Panthers. However, their lone win on the season actually came against the Falcons. Since then, though, they’ve been on a downhill slide.
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Offensively, the teams are well matched. The Panthers have outplayed the Buccaneers in rushing yards by 40 yards more, but they’ve only completed seven additional yards in their passing game, giving them a 45-yard difference in total yardage.
Although the Panthers are more well-known for a more challenging defense, the numbers tell the real story. The Panthers only beat the Buccaneers in third down conversion percentage by just 6%. The Bucs have also allowed 2.5 more points per game.
The Panthers have only lost once at home in 15 appearances (against the Vikings in Week 3). Although these two teams are strangely well-matched statistically, expect Derek Anderson to learn from his Week 4 mistakes and lead the Panthers to a 2-3 record.