Game story
In Week 13 of the 2018 NFL season on 2018-12-02, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took care of business against the Carolina Panthers, pulling away with a 24–17 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.
The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.
C. Newton (Carolina Panthers) paced the passing game, with -9.56 total EPA, and +4.8% completion percentage over expected.
On the individual side, J. Winston (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +16.63 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.
The momentum swing (-23.9% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Carolina Panthers changed the game: (1:16) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short left intended for 12-D.Moore INTERCEPTED by 35-J.Elliott at TB 18. 35-J.Elliott pushed ob at CAR 32 for 50 yards (22-C.McCaffrey).
Line score
Final score and points by quarter.
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | — | — | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina Panthers | 7 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 10 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
Stars of the game
Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.
- 1 J. Winston · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Passing · +16.63 total EPA · 42 snaps · +0.40 EPA/play
- 2 C. Godwin · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +10.56 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.76 EPA/play
- 3 A. Humphries · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +3.53 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.39 EPA/play
- 4 C. McCaffrey · Carolina Panthers · Rushing · +3.51 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.32 EPA/play
- 5 C. McCaffrey · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +3.01 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
- 6 C. Brate · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +1.77 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
- 7 D. Moore · Carolina Panthers · Rushing · +1.36 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.68 EPA/play
- 8 I. Thomas · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +1.25 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.25 EPA/play
Player of the game
FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.
J. Winston — TB · Passing
J. Winston posted the highest total EPA (+16.63) in the game, making the biggest overall impact on Tampa Bay Buccaneers's efficiency. Across 42 counted snaps, they averaged +0.40 EPA per play.
The signature play (-6.78 EPA) came from Carolina Panthers: (1:16) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short left intended for 12-D.Moore INTERCEPTED by 35-J.Elliott at TB 18. 35-J.Elliott pushed ob at CAR 32 for 50 yards (22-C.McCaffrey).
Who scored touchdowns and field goals
Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.
Touchdowns
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers — A. Humphries (J. Winston pass)
- Carolina Panthers — C. McCaffrey (C. Newton pass)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers — C. Godwin (J. Winston pass)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers — P. Barber
- Carolina Panthers — D. Funchess (C. Newton pass)
Field goals
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers — C. Santos
- Carolina Panthers — G. Gano
How it unfolded, quarter by quarter
A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.
The opening quarter: Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the period 10–7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the CAR 3 (Q1 54:53) — (9:53) (Shotgun) 3-J.Winston pass short left to 10-A.Humphries for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q1 54:46); Tampa Bay Buccaneers connected on a field goal from the CAR 17 (Q1 51:44) — (6:44) 5-C.Santos 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-89-G.Sanborn, Holder-9-B.Anger.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the TB 8 (Q1 49:20) — (4:20) 1-C.Newton pass short right to 22-C.McCaffrey for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the TB 15 (Q1 49:14) — 9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy..
The second quarter: Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the period 7–0. Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the CAR 13 (Q2 30:20) — (:20) (Shotgun) 3-J.Winston pass short right to 12-C.Godwin for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q2 30:13) — 5-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-89-G.Sanborn, Holder-9-B.Anger..
The third quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 10–7. Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the TB 19 (Q3 26:02) — (11:02) 9-G.Gano 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the CAR 1 (Q3 22:29) — (7:29) 67-M.Liedtke reported in as eligible. 25-P.Barber up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q3 22:23) — 5-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-89-G.Sanborn, Holder-9-B.Anger.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the TB 10 (Q3 17:29) — (2:29) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short left to 17-D.Funchess for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the TB 15 (Q3 17:24) — 9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy..
Turning points
Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.
- Carolina Panthers (Q2 31:16) — (1:16) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short left intended for 12-D.Moore INTERCEPTED by 35-J.Elliott at TB 18. 35-J.Elliott pushed ob at CAR 32 for 50 yards (22-C.McCaffrey).
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q2 40:03) — (10:03) (Shotgun) 25-P.Barber up the middle to CAR 1 for 3 yards. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by CAR-59-L.Kuechly at CAR 0. Touchback.
- Carolina Panthers (Q4 5:19) — (5:19) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass deep middle intended for 10-C.Samuel INTERCEPTED by 26-A.Adams [93-G.McCoy] at TB 14. 26-A.Adams to TB 19 for 5 yards (10-C.Samuel).
- Carolina Panthers (Q4 10:49) — (10:49) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short left intended for 13-J.Wright INTERCEPTED by 26-A.Adams [93-G.McCoy] at TB 29. 26-A.Adams ran ob at TB 29 for no gain.
- Carolina Panthers (Q4 2:51) — (2:51) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton sacked at TB 48 for -4 yards (90-J.Pierre-Paul).
Impact plays
Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.
- Carolina Panthers (Q2 31:16) — (1:16) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short left intended for 12-D.Moore INTERCEPTED by 35-J.Elliott at TB 18. 35-J.Elliott pushed ob at CAR 32 for 50 yards (22-C.McCaffrey).
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q2 40:03) — (10:03) (Shotgun) 25-P.Barber up the middle to CAR 1 for 3 yards. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by CAR-59-L.Kuechly at CAR 0. Touchback.
- Carolina Panthers (Q4 10:49) — (10:49) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short left intended for 13-J.Wright INTERCEPTED by 26-A.Adams [93-G.McCoy] at TB 29. 26-A.Adams ran ob at TB 29 for no gain.
- Carolina Panthers (Q4 5:19) — (5:19) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass deep middle intended for 10-C.Samuel INTERCEPTED by 26-A.Adams [93-G.McCoy] at TB 14. 26-A.Adams to TB 19 for 5 yards (10-C.Samuel).
Quarterback report card
C.Newton led all passers in efficiency for Carolina Panthers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.
- C.Newton (Carolina Panthers) · 51 dropbacks · 54.9% completion · +4.8% CPOE · -0.19 EPA/play · -9.56 total EPA
- J.Winston (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) · 42 dropbacks · 47.6% completion · +1.1% CPOE · +0.40 EPA/play · +16.63 total EPA
Team stats comparison
Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.
| Stat | Carolina Panthers | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive EPA/play | -0.048 | +0.011 |
| Offensive success rate | 50.0% | 40.7% |
| Pass EPA/play | -0.189 | +0.396 |
| Rush EPA/play | +0.366 | -0.691 |
| Defensive EPA/play | -0.011 | +0.048 |
| Defensive success rate | 59.3% | 50.0% |
By the numbers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.01 vs -0.05), even if the scoreboard told a different story.
- Carolina Panthers: 12 drives, -3.95 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 11 drives, +0.88 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
Key takeaways
What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
- One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
- J. Winston (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
- C. Newton (CAR) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
Every scoring play
Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q1 54:53 · CAR 3 · Score 0-6
(9:53) (Shotgun) 3-J.Winston pass short left to 10-A.Humphries for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Tampa Bay Buccaneers XP (+1) — Q1 54:46 · CAR 15 · Score 0-7
5-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-89-G.Sanborn, Holder-9-B.Anger. PENALTY on CAR-26-D.Jackson, Defensive Offside, 5 yards, enforced between downs. - Tampa Bay Buccaneers FG (+3) — Q1 51:44 · CAR 17 · Score 0-10
(6:44) 5-C.Santos 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-89-G.Sanborn, Holder-9-B.Anger. - Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q1 49:20 · TB 8 · Score 6-10
(4:20) 1-C.Newton pass short right to 22-C.McCaffrey for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q1 49:14 · TB 15 · Score 7-10
9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy. - Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q2 30:20 · CAR 13 · Score 7-16
(:20) (Shotgun) 3-J.Winston pass short right to 12-C.Godwin for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Tampa Bay Buccaneers XP (+1) — Q2 30:13 · CAR 15 · Score 7-17
5-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-89-G.Sanborn, Holder-9-B.Anger. - Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q3 26:02 · TB 19 · Score 10-17
(11:02) 9-G.Gano 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy. - Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q3 22:29 · CAR 1 · Score 10-23
(7:29) 67-M.Liedtke reported in as eligible. 25-P.Barber up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. - Tampa Bay Buccaneers XP (+1) — Q3 22:23 · CAR 15 · Score 10-24
5-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-89-G.Sanborn, Holder-9-B.Anger. - Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q3 17:29 · TB 10 · Score 16-24
(2:29) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short left to 17-D.Funchess for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q3 17:24 · TB 15 · Score 17-24
9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy.
Frequently asked questions
Who won Carolina Panthers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Carolina Panthers 24-17 in Week 13, 2018 on 2018-12-02.
What was the final score of Carolina Panthers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
The final score was Carolina Panthers 17, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24 (CAR 17-24 TB) in Week 13, 2018 on 2018-12-02.
What was the score by quarter in Carolina Panthers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
Q1: Carolina Panthers 7, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10; Q2: Carolina Panthers 0, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7; Q3: Carolina Panthers 10, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7; Final: Carolina Panthers 17, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals in Carolina Panthers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers touchdown — A. Humphries (J. Winston pass) (Q1 54:53) Carolina Panthers touchdown — C. McCaffrey (C. Newton pass) (Q1 49:20) Tampa Bay Buccaneers touchdown — C. Godwin (J. Winston pass) (Q2 30:20) Tampa Bay Buccaneers touchdown — P. Barber (Q3 22:29) Carolina Panthers touchdown — D. Funchess (C. Newton pass) (Q3 17:29) Tampa Bay Buccaneers field goal — C. Santos (Q1 51:44, 3 pts) Carolina Panthers field goal — G. Gano (Q3 26:02, 3 pts) Extra points followed each touchdown unless noted in the play-by-play.
How did the quarterbacks play in Carolina Panthers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
C. Newton (Carolina Panthers), 54.9% completion, +4.8% CPOE, -0.19 EPA per dropback, -9.56 total passing EPA. J. Winston (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), 47.6% completion, +1.1% CPOE, +0.40 EPA per dropback, +16.63 total passing EPA.
Who was the most impactful player in Carolina Panthers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
J. Winston (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) led the game in total EPA with +16.63 on passing plays. across 42 snaps. The top single-play swing was (-6.78 EPA): (1:16) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short left intended for 12-D.Moore INTERCEPTED by 35-J.Elliott at TB 18. 35-J.Elliott pushed ob at CAR 32 for 50 yards (22-C.McCaffrey).. The biggest win-probability swing was -23.9%.
Was Carolina Panthers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers a close game?
Yes — the margin was 7 points. Tampa Bay Buccaneers won 24-17 in a game that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.
Season records after this game
Carolina Panthers
Entered 6-5 Now 6-6 L
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Entered 4-7 Now 5-7 W
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