NFC Notes: Buccaneers, Panthers, Saints

Buccaneers

Buccaneers WR Antonio Brown told reporters after Sunday’s game that it’s been a “long journey” for him to get back to this point.

“I’m just grateful that these guys believe in me,” said Brown, via ESPN.com. “To get the opportunity to come here, be a part of the team, to put my hand in the pile to help these guys win. They were excited for me. I’m super grateful for it.”

“It’s been a long journey for me,” Brown added. “As soon as I caught it, I went straight to my knees and called God and gave praise. [I’m] extremely grateful to be here with Tampa Bay and have the opportunity to live out my dream and play football — it’s something I love to do. I know not only was I excited, but I know my close friends and family and my kids are all excited for me.”

Panthers

A consistent theme for the Panthers in 2020 has been close, but not quite good enough. Nothing encapsulated that better than the play of the game in Saturday’s 24-16 loss to the Packers, when Panthers QB Teddy Bridgewater, handpicked by the team to start the next era of Carolina football but 0-8 in game-winning drive attempts on the year, tried to reach the ball across the goal line on a sneak and had it knocked away. It changed the complexion of the game from a potential 14-10 battle to a 21-3 blowout, and HC Matt Rhule said it never should have happened. 

“We don’t reach the ball over the goal line until fourth down. It’s just kind of a principle. We don’t do it. We never do it,” Rhule said via SI.com’s Bill Huber. “You get to the moment and you can’t do new things. You know, you are at Lambeau in December playing a good team. You just have to trust yourself. I’m not talking about just Teddy, but the whole team. That play was emblematic. You talk about dramatic shift. Had he done that on fourth down, I can live with it, just not on first down, especially when I think we ran the ball well when we did run it tonight. That’s just a principle of our team. We don’t reach the ball across the goal line until fourth down.”

• Rhule mentioned he’s hopeful RB Christian McCaffrey (shoulder) will play in Week 16 after ruling him out from Saturday’s game. (David Newton)
• Panthers DE Brian Burns and fourth-round CB Troy Pride are undergoing MRI’s Sunday. Burns is questionable for next week with an MCL injury while Pride is doubtful with a hip injury. (Newton)

Saints

• Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reported on Sunday that Saints QB Drew Brees‘ isn’t 100 percent healed from the rib fractures he’s been dealing with, but he felt good enough to play. Glazer added that Brees couldn’t get a recent chest scan because “it’s just too much radiation” after his prior scans. 
• After the game, Brees said he still has “little ways to go” and he’s not 100 percent yet: “Hahaha. No, but I’m on my way.” (Nick Underhill)
• Regarding the decision to place WR Michael Thomas on injured reserve, Saints HC Sean Payton said he has a nagging injury that they want to see progress, which is hard to do when he’s still playing. Payton added that they’re doing the right thing by placing Thomas on injured reserve so he can get healthy. (Katherine Terrell)
• Ian Rapoport reports that Saints S Marcus Williams suffered a low-ankle sprain that doesn’t appear to be too serious.
• Saints tried out WR Jake Lampman. (Aaron Wilson)