***MNF IN THE SWAMP - TB @ CAR***

***TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS @ CAROLINA PANTHERS***

Yet again we get another Prime Time matchup with QB issues as the Carolina Panthers will host division rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers without their starting QB Cam Newton due to injury. Backup QB Derek Anderson will be filling in for Cam and oddly enough the other two times he has done so in the past during his Carolina tenure, were against the Bucs in 2014 in which case he won both games. Tonight could be different though as the Panthers are currently reeling after losing their last two games and are currently sitting with a 1-3 record. I believe Panther Nation is shaken and in a state of shock after almost going undefeated last season and ending it with a trip to the Super Bowl. That being said, very high expectations were on this team to repeat as a Super Bowl contender and ugly start surely has their confidence shaken. Now they will be on the big stage tonight without Cam. Meanwhile the Bucs have been the Bucs and are also currently sitting with a 1-3 record after losing their last three straight in a brutal fashion after beating Atlanta on the road in their season opener. What now looks like an impressive win over the Falcons is ruined by the abysmal display Tampa has put on the last three weeks. This team is banged up on both sides of the ball in key areas and turnovers have been crushing them. Needless to say, tonight is a bit of a toss up due to both teams not being 100% and in must-win mode as nobody wants to go 1-4 to start the season. I will back the road team here catching the points and will look for QB Jameis Winston to have a bounce back night against a shaky Carolina secondary. The absence of Pro Bowl CB Josh Norman has proven to leave a major void for the Panthers when Falcons QB Matt Ryan and WR Julio Jones torched them last week while putting up historic numbers, embarrassing the Panthers defense. I believe this game has done some serious damage to the mental state of the heart of this Panthers team as their defensive unit has been the engine behind their recent success. Now with the pressure on them to improve, Carolina has cut starting CB Bene' Benwikere after the Falcons abused him and are scrambling to make changes to ensure that never happens to them again. Facing Winston tonight will be another test as he is also a threat to get hot and take advantage of their secondary with top WR Mike Evans. Tampa's top two running backs in Martin and Sims will be out this game but don't sleep on third string running back Jaquizz Rodgers. Rodgers is a scat type back and has shown flashes of potential to be a solid all purpose back during his time in Atlanta and Chicago. The Bucs defensive line is also decimated with injuries and will be without their top pass rushers in DT McCoy and DE Ayers which are huge losses for this defensive front. Against the Broncos in the first half last week, Tampa was still able to get to QB Semien often and even injured him in the process. However after some halftime adjustments or Tampa just losing steam, that pass rush fell off during the second half against rookie QB Paxton Lynch. As mentioned previously, tonight they face backup QB Derek Anderson who in my opinion is one of the better backup QBs the league has to offer. He is also prone to mistakes, hence being an NFL backup. The Bucs have some of the best LBs in the league in Kwon Alexander and LaVonte David. I think Tampa will utilize these guys in blitzes to help the rush tonight and force Anderson to make some costly mistakes. The Tampa secondary is getting stronger with youngsters like CB Vernon Hargreaves gaining experience. Hargreaves is getting the promotion to defend the outside tonight and this former Florida CB will be facing a former Florida State player in the big target WR for the Panthers, Kelvin Benjamin. These two have faced off before in the college rivalry and Benjamin was able to score against the college shutdown corner. I like Hargreaves to rise to the occasion tonight and have a big game on MNF. Basically, the Bucs have been owned by the Panthers for a long time now and I like Tampa to smell blood in the water and take advantage of a Panthers team in disarray without Cam Newton. This is definitely Tampa's best shot to beat their divisional big brother, and what better time to do so then on MNF. I mean if not now then when? BUCCANEERS+6