Since the 2016 preseason ended a month ago, rookie Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker ROBERTO AGUAYO has been beaten up by the media and among NFL fans across the United States because of his missed field goals and extra points. But tonight, he closed the collective mouths of the media and those fans with his game-winning 38-yard field goal as time expired in his teams’ 17-14 victory over the Carolina Panthers.
Aguayo came into this game with a 1 for 3 field goal ledger and he also missed two field goals in this game. But it was that game-winning kick that mattered. And for a week, Aguayo is a hero in the Tampa Bay section of the Sunshine State.
With this win, the Buccaneers run their all-time record against the Panthers to 13-19 (.406 winning percentage). Tonight’s win also represented the first time the Buccaneers have beaten the Panthers since Week 11 of the 2012 season, a 27-21 victory for the Buccaneers.
As for Aguayo’s teammates, quarterback JAMEIS WINSTON (18 of 30 for 219 yards, 1 touchdown and no picks) was another beleaguered Buc that needed a good game tonight in prime time to get the media and football fans off his back. His night wasn’t off the charts, but he made the plays later in the game that helped his team run their record to 2-3 overall and 2-0 in the NFC South.
Winston’s 26-yard scoring strike to receiver MIKE EVANS (6 catches for 89 yards and 1 score) down the left sideline late in the third quarter, helped the Bucs get out of their touchdown scoring funk in this game.
That touchdown pass to Evans ended up being one of the game-deciding plays of this contest. That scoring pass to Evans was also Winston’s first touchdown strike since September 25 2016, when the Bucs lost 37-32 to the Los Angeles Rams.
Winston really needed that scoring pass and this win. This win gives the Bucs a spot at the top of the NFC South. While on the other hand, this loss drops the Panthers to 1-4 overall and 0-2 in the NFC South.
After two whole quarters and almost nine minutes of elapsed time in the third quarter, somebody finally scored a touchdown in this defensive battle of a game. Panthers second-year running back CAMERON ARTIS-PAYNE (18 carries for 85 yards and 2 scoring runs) took it upon himself on 4th and goal, to dive over fallen Panther and Buc bodies into the end zone. That 1-yard touchdown dive gave the Panthers a 7-6 lead with 9:12 to go in the third quarter.
Later in the third quarter, Artis-Payne did it again. He scored his and the Panthers’ second touchdown of the game, when he took an Anderson handoff and ran 12 yards to just inside the left pylon for a touchdown. With 6:03 to go in the third quarter the Panthers had a 14-6 advantage.
The Buccaneers finally got on the board as far as touchdowns were concerned, when Winston found Evans down the left sideline for a 26-yard scoring play. Then backup receiver ADAM HUMPHRIES tied the game when he caught a Winston pass just near the beginning of the end zone. With 4:27 left in the third quarter the score was tied at 14-14.
