Panthers fans had a good chuckle when division rival Tampa Bay traded up to take kicker Roberto Aguayo in the second round of this year’s draft.
That chuckle turned into laugh while Aguayo struggled mightily in the preseason and started his NFL career 3-of-7, including two misses Monday night.
So of course Aguayo would nail a 38-yard game-winner at the buzzer.
The Panthers’ Super Bowl hangover has turned into long, head-pounding, gut-wrenching headache.
Everyone in the building knew Anderson would lean on Olsen like he did in their other nine quarters together. Somehow, the Bucs continued to let Olsen get open and midway through the fourth, he had nine catches for 181 yards, tied for the 6th-most in Panthers’ history.
But you can’t fool the Bucs a 10th time ...
Anderson made his worst decision of the night at a highly inopportune time, forcing a pass to Olsen in double-coverage on first-and-goal from the 1. When CB Brent Grimes skied to grab the interception, the Panthers missed their best chance to break a 14-all tie.
Before the Week Seven bye, the Panthers will wrap up their opening stretch of 2016 in New Orleans on Sunday. It’ll be the second straight 1-3 opponent for the Panthers, but they’ll be on a short week playing a team coming off the bye.
Desperately need some good news?
Chances are good the Panthers will have QB Cam Newton and RB Jonathan Stewart back for that game in the building where the 2014 season suddenly turned.