Week 2 of the NFL's 100th season gets underway on Thursday, September 12 (8:20 PM ET, NFL Network) as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers travel to Bank of America Stadium to take on the Carolina Panthers in an early season NFC South showdown. The Buccaneers and Panthers meet for the 38th time with Carolina holding the all-time series advantage at 23-14. In Week 13 of the 2018 season, Tampa Bay quarterback JAMEIS WINSTON passed for 249 yards with two touchdowns and a 114.4 passer rating in the Buccaneers' 24-17 victory over Carolina.
Last week, Winston surpassed VINNY TESTAVERDE (14,820 passing yards) for the most passing yards in franchise history. Buccaneers wide receiver CHRIS GODWIN registered a touchdown reception in the team's Week 1 loss and has six touchdown catches in his past seven against the NFC South. In 2018, Tampa Bay wide receiver MIKE EVANS, who holds the franchise records for receiving yards (6,131) and touchdown catches (40), joined A.J. GREEN & Pro Football Hall of Famer RANDY MOSS as the only players in NFL history with at least 1,000 receiving yards in each of their first five seasons.
Carolina running back CHRISTIAN McCAFFREY had 128 rushing yards and two touchdowns, along with 10 receptions for 81 yards, in the Panthers' Week 1 loss. McCaffrey, who also had 125 rushing yards and 11 receptions in Week 12 of the 2018 season, is the first player in the Super Bowl era to record at least 120 rushing yards and 10 receptions in multiple games. In 13 career games against Tampa Bay, Panthers quarterback CAM NEWTON has 29 total touchdowns (20 passing, nine rushing), his most against any opponent. Panthers defensive tackle GERALD McCOY spent nine seasons (2010-2018) with Tampa Bay and totaled 54.5 sacks, the third-most in franchise history.
Thursday's contest marks the first of seven games exclusively televised on NFL Network this season and will be produced by FOX. The game will feature Joe Buck, Pro Football Hall of Famer Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews and Kristina Pink on the call.
For the Week 2 Tampa Bay-Carolina capsule, click here.
