Panthers defeat Buccaneers, 37-23, move to 4-0

TAMPA, Fla. _ When you create five turnovers and your opponent wastes good drives with missed field goals, you don’t need much offense.tmpplchld The Carolina Panthers waxed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 37-23 Sunday with only 124 passing yards from quarterback Cam Newton as the defense intercepted rookie quarterback Jameis Winston four times on the day in his worst game as a pro.tmpplchld Cornerback Josh Norman, who was the key to victory in Week 1 and sealed the win last week against New Orleans, had two interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown in the first quarter.tmpplchld The game also saw the first offensive touchdown of the season that Newton did not account for. On a third-quarter rush by Jonathan Stewart, the ball came free but popped right into the hands of tight end Ed Dickson, who rushed the remained 57 yards for the score.tmpplchld The Panthers are now 4-0 for the second time in franchise history and the first time since 2003, when the team went to the Super Bowl.tmpplchld ___tmpplchld Three who matteredtmpplchld Ryan Delaire: On Washington’s practice squad just a week ago, the undrafted rookie out of Towson had two sacks and almost had a third until Winston grounded the ball late in the fourth quarter.tmpplchld Brenton Bersin: Bersin had a career-high four catches for 54 yards as he led all Panthers’ receivers.tmpplchld Kawann Short: Short, a third-year defensive tackle, tipped a Winston pass that would be his second interception of the game. Short continued his play as the most consistent defensive lineman for the team.tmpplchld ___tmpplchld Observationstmpplchld _Thomas Davis finished the game with 11 tackles, tied for his most since the Week 5 game last year against Chicago.tmpplchld _The weather was unpredictable throughout the game. The teams began in the rain, then it cleared, then it rained harder before getting a mostly dry second half.tmpplchld _The Panthers extended their streak of games with more than 100 rushing yards to 15 after the 133-yard performance Sunday. It’s tied with Seattle for the longest active streak in the league.tmpplchld _It’s breast cancer awareness month in the NFL but there wasn’t a lot of pink on the field. Players don’t have to wear pink, so there were only a handful of towels and cleats that were pink.tmpplchld _After Ted Ginn Jr.’s second touchdown of the day, he scanned the nearby crowd for a child to give the ball to. Ginn couldn’t find a Panthers fan in the area so he gave it to a child wearing a Bucs shirt.tmpplchld ___tmpplchld Worth mentioningtmpplchld _Receiver Kevin Norwood was inactive for a second consecutive game as the Panthers went with Bersin and Joe Webb over the player they traded for in the preseason.tmpplchld _The Bucs extended their home losing streak to 11 games. The last time Tampa won at home was December 2013.tmpplchld _Ron Rivera is 9-for-24 all-time on challenges after winning one in the first half and losing a second one late in the fourth quarter.tmpplchld ___tmpplchld They said ittmpplchld “I rode Delta and I got penalized for it.” _ Panthers CB Josh Norman on his unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for celebrating his interception for a touchdown by riding the football horseback.tmpplchld “We still haven’t played the football we are capable of.” _ Panthers quarterback Cam Newton.tmpplchld ___tmpplchld (c)2015 The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)tmpplchld Visit The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.) at www.charlotteobserver.comtmpplchld Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.tmpplchld