Dec 14, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) catches a touchdown as Carolina Panthers free safety Tre Boston (33) and cornerback Josh Norman (24) defend in the first quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Derek Anderson has made two starts this year for the Carolina Panthers.
Both times, he has beaten the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Anderson, who beat the Bucs 20-14 in Week 1, threw for 277 yards and a touchdown as the Panthers edged the Bucs 19-17 at Bank of America Stadium Sunday afternoon.
Stepping in for the injured Cam Newton, Anderson and the Panthers (5-8-1) offense put up 390 yards and had possession of the football for 37:31.
With the loss, the Bucs (2-12) remain in pole position for the No.1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft.
This is the 6th loss Bucs will take this season while scoring exactly 17 points. Again, NFL-high 7 losses while allowing 22 points or less.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) December 14, 2014
The Panthers got three first half field goals from Graham Gano while McCown hit Mike Evans for an 8-yard touchdown strike that gave the Bucs an early 7-3 lead.
Patrick Murray kicked a 48-yard field with two seconds left in the half to give Tampa Bay a 10-9 lead at the break.
The Panthers re-took the lead on their first possession of the second half as Anderson hit Jerricho Cotchery for a two-yard score.
On the opening play of the fourth quarter Josh McCown threw incomplete but a Panthers challenge ruled that he had in fact fumbled.
Two plays later, in what was a game-changing decision by the refs, Orie Lemon picked off a deflected Anderson pass but a very harsh roughing the passer call on Larry English negated the interception.
The Panthers would add another field goal to conclude that drive before McCown answered on the next drive with a 16-yard scramble. The Bucs got the ball back on their own 10-yard line with 23 seconds left but McCown was intercepted by Luke Kuechly two plays later to end the game.
McCown threw for just 154 yards on 13-of-28 passing. Doug Martin had his best game of the season as he ran for 96 yards on 14 carries, including a 63-yard burst that set up the Bucs’ opening touchdown. However, in the second half, he ran for just four yards on six carries.
Vincent Jackson had six catches for 70 yards. Evans had just two catches for 13 yards but tied Mike Williams’ franchise record for touchdowns for a rookie with 11.
The Bucs secondary was torn apart by Greg Olsen (10 catches, 110 yards) and Kelvin Benjamin (eight catches, 104 yards).
Bradley McDougald had a game-high 15 tackles while Lavonte David had 12, including his first sack of the season. The Bucs lost star defensive tackle Gerald McCoy in the first half to a right leg injury and he did not return.
Tampa Bay will host Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers next Sunday.