Buccaneers vs. Panthers 2013: Ron Rivera deserves some credit for Carolina’s winning ways

The Panthers just keep winning and put an end to a three-game winning streak of the Buccaneers on Sunday.

Dec 2, 2013, 8:55 PM UTC

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

A three-game winning streak for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers came to a grinding halt on Sunday when they were handed a decisive 27-6 loss from the Carolina Panthers. After throwing five touchdowns and one interception over the winning streak for the Buccaneers, rookie passer Mike Glennon struggled against the strong Carolina front, accumulating only 180 yards passing with an interception and no touchdowns.

On Sunday afternoon, Sander Philipse of SB Nation’s Buccaneers blog, Bucs Nation, said that the loss puts the job security of head coach Greg Schiano back into question:

After three straight wins and steady improvement, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers today looked like the team that started 0-8. Missed tackles, coverage breakdowns, a resurgence of conservative decisions, an inability to run the ball and a second-half collapse combined to see the Bucs blown out after four promising performances. This could have been a signature game for Greg Schiano, but instead it will lead to questions as to whether he will be fired at season’s end.

For the Panthers, it was an eighth consecutive victory for a team that looks every bit like a Super Bowl contender. With quarterback Cam Newton playing as well as any quarterback in the league and a strong defense, the Panthers look primed to continue their winning ways.

Edgar Salmingo, Jr. of SB Nation’s Panthers blog, Cat Scratch Reader, says that head coach Ron Rivera deserves plenty of praise for the team’s recent success as well:

Rivera and his “riverboat” ways came to the forefront again, and again his calculated risk-taking coaching style led to a Panthers victory, this time over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, by a score of 27-6. His gutsy call to go for it on 4th and 1 before the end of the 1st half proved to be turning point of the game, and would end up burying the Bucs.

The Panthers will look to keep their winning ways alive in Week 14 with a road trip to play the New Orleans Saints in a game that will have huge playoff implications. The Buccaneers will look to get back on track when they head back home to host the Buffalo Bills.