Bucs rally past Panthers

The Buccaneers late heroics were particularly surprising considering that the game appeared to be well in hand for the Panthers early in the fourth quarter. After an 80-yard drive, Martin went up and over the left side of the line for what appeared to be a Tampa touchdown, but the ball popped out of his hands right on the line and found the arms of the Panthers in the end zone.

Fantasy studs: Doug Martin had an awesome day with 138 yards rushing and 23 yards receiving, but he did lose a fumble. Vincent Jackson also continued his hot streak with 94 yards and touchdown. Brandon Lafell had an excellent day for Carolina, catching five passes for 93 yards and a score.

He has been a great focal point in this new-look Bucs offense.

Fantasy Analysis: Martin is on pace to break 100 yards on the ground alone. He is having another solid game for the Buccaneers who have come to depend on him. Martin is a versatile all-purpose weapon in this Greg Schiano offense, which makes him a treat for fantasy owners.

Kudos to Freeman for his backyard football skills -- can you imagine the reaction had Jon Gruden been calling this game? He would have been all over this.

Applewhite missed all three practices this week and missed the last three games for the Panthers due to a hamstring injury. Applewhite has five tackles and one sack in five games this season.

Tampa Bay will be without defensive tackle Corey Irvin. Irvin has five tackles in nine games for the Buccaneers this season.

Carolina is only 1-4 at home this season, as the Panthers have struggled through close losses and blowouts alike. After a statistically impressive rookie season, Newton has also regressed, throwing for 2,143 yards, eight touchdowns and 10 interceptions so far this season.

In allowing 24.0 points per game, the Panthers rank 21st in the league, while their scoring average of 18.1 points per contest is good for 27th in the NFL. Newton leads the team in rushing, with 354 yards on the ground and four touchdowns.

Tampa Bay is 5-4 straight up, and 7-2 against the spread. The struggling Panthers are faring a little better with the points, going 2-7 straight up but 4-5 against the spread.

The total in the game is 48.5 points, a number Tampa Bay has missed in only two of their nine games. Carolina and their opponents have combined for less than 48.5 in six of their nine contests. The first meeting between the two totaled only 26 points. Overall, the Bucs have come in over the total seven times, and the Panthers only four.