Tampa Bay sacked Bryce Young five times and never let Carolina's top-ranked passing attack get comfortable.
The Buccaneers walked into Bank of America Stadium and took the Panthers' good vibes with them on the way out. Carolina had won two straight and come into the game first in the NFC South, with Bryce Young fresh off a bye and putting up numbers that made the Panthers offense look like one of the league's best. None of that mattered once the ball was snapped.
Tampa Bay's defense swarmed Young all afternoon, sacking him five times and keeping Carolina's offense from ever finding rhythm. The Panthers' attack, which had been averaging big passing numbers and ranked near the top of the league in production, simply never showed up.
The loss is a reminder that the Buccaneers, despite their own offensive struggles this season, still have a defense capable of wrecking a game plan. For Carolina, it is a step back after a promising start, and a sign that the division race is far from settled.