CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- As if it was not already looking that way, the Carolina Panthers are probably going to have to rely on defense to get the job done this season. It is clearer that it could work out pretty well.
The Carolina defense hasn't given up a touchdown in back-to-back games. In half of the eight games, the Panthers haven't surrendered a touchdown by their defense.
The Panthers have been solid on defense all along, even when linebacker Luke Kuechly missed time. They're certainly better with him back in the lineup after another absence with a concussion.
Kuechly intercepted a pass and made eight tackles (second most on the team) in the 17-3 victory Sunday at Tampa Bay. He has two of the defense's three interceptions this season.
The Panthers are 5-3 midway through the regular season and, other than a few exceptions, the offense hasn't really gotten untracked. If that comes around, they could be ready to break out in the NFC South.
Head coach Ron Rivera said the offense is on the verge of becoming more productive because he likes the possibilities that exist as young players improve.
Now it's a matter of refining certain areas.
"You do get excited because you see what could happen," Rivera said. "It's just those details on things that you can just clean up."
The Panthers defeated Tampa Bay despite posting only 254 yards of total offense.
By winning, Carolina snapped a four-game losing streak against NFC South teams. There's another divisional foe waiting for the next game when the Atlanta Falcons visit on Sunday.
--The Panthers have thrived on ball-control offense when they've been successful in recent seasons. A drive of more than 8 1/2 minutes for a first-quarter touchdown Sunday against Tampa Bay was another sign it was returning.
"We've done that in the past," head Rivera said. "It's good to get back to that."
Third-down conversions were part of that success on that possession.
What impressed Rivera most after reviewing the footage was that 10 players touched the ball on offense on the drive.
"If we can spread the ball around, it helps our offense," he said.
The Panthers have 13 drives of more than six minutes this season, leading the NFL in that category.
--The Panthers have registered 27 sacks across their first eight games for one of the top marks in the NFL.
The addition of defensive end Julius Peppers has provided a boost in that department, though on the other side defensive end Mario Addison has been active as well.
Rivera said first-year defensive coordinator Steve Wilks has found the right combination. It comes from more than the ends rushing, but a good push up front and the ability to mix in some other elements.
"Guys that can blitz, you look for guys with those tools," Rivera said of the options with the pass rush.
NOTES: RG Trai Turner left the Tampa Bay game with a reinjured left knee after sustaining an initial injury a week earlier at Chicago. Head coach Ron Rivera didn't have an update on his condition Monday. ... S Kurt Coleman was back in action after missing three games with a foot injury. He led the team with nine tackles against Tampa Bay. ... DE Julius Peppers notched a sack at Tampa Bay to give him 151 in his career, pushing him into fourth place on the NFL's all-time sacks list.
REPORT CARD VS. BUCCANEERS
--PASSING OFFENSE: C -- A game-clinching 25-yard pass play from QB Cam Newton to WR Kelvin Benjamin bolstered this grade on what was otherwise a rather mundane game in the passing attack. Newton ended up 18 of 32 with one interception, but 154 passing yards might not do the job on many weeks. Carolina had most of its success with shorter routes, with wide receivers accounting for only eight of the 18 receptions.
--RUSHING OFFENSE: C -- The Panthers reached 100 yards rushing, something that seems like quite a feat for this team. Still, they managed barely 3 yards per carry. Again, QB Cam Newton was the most effective Carolina player in the ground attack by gaining 44 yards on 11 attempts.
--PASS DEFENSE: A -- The Panthers limited the Buccaneers through the air and it was a combination of a good pass rush and some solid coverage. It helped having LB Luke Kuechly back in the lineup. There were even two interceptions in this game after the Carolina defense went six games without a pick. Tampa Bay averaged a league-best 312.3 passing yards per game entering the weekend, and it managed just 194 net passing yards in this game.
--RUSH DEFENSE: A-minus -- The Panthers weren't giving up much here, and they also were alert to keeping Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston in check. The ability to defend well against the rushing attack put the Panthers in good defensive situations and ultimately seemed to make it more difficult for the Buccaneers to throw the ball as well.
--SPECIAL TEAMS: A-minus -- A strong day of punting from P Michael Palardy was part of the success for Carolina in this area, with seven boots averaging 50.4 yards. The Buccaneers managed only 36 return yards in the game. K Graham Gano's lone field-goal attempt was a successful 28-yarder.
--COACHING: B -- The Panthers recovered after a couple of losses and that was a good sign that a downward slide didn't continue. The Panthers lost twice to Tampa Bay last season, so at least that didn't become a trend. There still appears to be issues on the offensive side that need to get sorted out, because the way they played against the Buccaneers might not be enough in many weeks.
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