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CHARLOTTE https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Matt-Kalil-Jersey , N.C. (AP) — Cam Newton can't keep from grinning when he looks around at the playmakers that surround him in the Panthers‘ locker room."The talent level we have on this team is extremely scary," Newton said.The Panthers proved that again Sunday. Newton completed 19 of 25 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns, running back Christian McCaffrey racked up 157 total yards and scored twice and second-year wide receiver Curtis Samuel scored on a 33-yard double reverse and hauled in a 19-yard TD catch midway through the fourth quarter to seal Carolina's 42-28 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.The Panthers (6-2) are on a roll midway through the season, scoring 99 points in the last nine quarters.They have wide receivers that can run the ball, running backs that can catch, a big body receiver, a third-down receiving specialist, one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the league and, of course, a one-time league MVP at quarterback who can do it all.Those weapons were all on display in the first half as the Panthers scored touchdowns on five straight possessions to build a 35-7 lead en route to their 10th straight win at home.Even a little "Fitzmagic" wasn't enough for the Buccaneers (3-5).Ryan Fitzpatrick, who started in place of the turnover-prone Jameis Winston, finished with 243 yards passing and four touchdowns — two each to Adam Humphries and O.J. Howard — and led the Bucs back to within 35-28 in the fourth quarter before running out of steam.Fitzpatrick threw two costly interceptions — one on the game's second possession which led to Carolina's first touchdown, and other late in the fourth quarter that sealed the Bucs' fate."We know we have the talent, it's just we can't keep digging ourselves in these holes, especially on the road," Fitzpatrick said.The deficit — and Carolina's offensive firepower — proved too much.Tight end Greg Olsen called the versatility the Panthers now have on offense with players like McCaffrey, Samuel and D.J. Moore is unlike anything he's seen since his arrival in Carolina in 2011."We have guys who are so explosive, so dynamic and so good in the open space," Olsen said. "We can give them balls on handoffs https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Captain-Munnerlyn-Jersey , throw it to them all — they're very unique in that regard. I don't know what we have had this many guys who are that dynamic with the ball in their hands."That was evident throughout.McCaffrey leaped a defender on a reception in the flat and kept going, racing 32 yards for a first down. Samuel's 33-yard TD on the reverse included the speedster reversing field and running a combined 103 yards , according to NFL's Next Gen Stats. And Olsen, the cagey veteran, hauled in a one-handed catch in the end zone — his third TD in three weeks."We were playing with momentum and when you're playing like that, we have a lot of juice coming our way so it does make it very fun," McCaffrey said.Said Newton: "When it's clicking, it's clicking."BREAKING THE PATTERNBucs coach Dirk Koetter is eager to find a solution for his team, which seems to be stuck in a repeating pattern."We go out, we get behind, we get killed in the second quarter, then rally like (heck) in the third quarter and then everybody thinks we're back in it and then we fade off at the end," Koetter said. "That's definitely the pattern that we're in. If I knew one thing to fix it I'd do it right now, but I don't know what that is."ADDISON TURNS IN TRIFECTAPanthers defensive end Mario Addison had a big game with three sacks to raise his team-leading total to 7½."I'm a pretty strong guy," said the 6-foor-3, 260-pound Addison. "People underestimate me because I look kind of small but I pack a punch. By the time they miss and my hands get on the inside of them, I'm running them back and they're like ‘Dang, this guy's stronger than I thought.'"SLAMMING THE DOORThe Panthers have been touting James Bradberry as their shutdown cornerback and he did quite a number on Tampa Bay's Mike Evans, who finished with one catch for 16 yards despite being targeted 10 times.Panthers coach Ron Rivera called Bradberry's defense "as solid as it gets."THIEVES AVENUEThe Panthers secondary is coming up with big turnovers this season. Carolina has 11 interceptions at the midway point of the season after just 10 picks last season. Jackson https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/David-Mayo-Jersey , a rookie, has four of them."The secondary is shaping up nicely and the more they play together the more chances they will have," Rivera said.NATIONAL ANTHEMPanthers safety Eric Reid took a knee during the national anthem to protest racial and social injustice.INJURIESBuccaneers: None reported.Panthers: Reid left in the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury, but returned to the game.UP NEXTBuccaneers: Host Washington on Sunday.Panthers: Play four of their next five games on the road, beginning Thursday night at Pittsburgh. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Minnesota Vikings are trending toward one of the top spots in the NFC, but the Carolina Panthers haven’t given up on that thought either.The teams meet Sunday afternoon at Bank of America Stadium, insisting their focus is on each other and not the big picture with four games remaining in the regular season.The Vikings (10-2) are contending for a spot that could result in home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.“We’ve got four games left,” Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer said. “My only thoughts are on the Carolina Panthers and trying to get a win this week. All that stuff is nice to talk about, but for us we’ll go about our business.”The Vikings are on the verge of wrapping up the outright NFC North title, needing just one more victory to do that.The Panthers (8-4), who face a divisional leader for the second week in a row, missed their chance to move to the top of the NFC South standings with last week’s loss at New Orleans. Still, they could rise to first place with a strong finishing stretch.“There’s still things in our future that can get us on the right track again,” Carolina quarterback Cam Newton said.But Panthers coach Ron Rivera isn’t interested in discussing how his team stacks up in the standings.“I think what’s most significant is that we have to take one at a time and focus on the opponent,” Rivera said. “It doesn’t matter what happens anywhere else.”The Vikings are coming off a 14-9 road victory against the Atlanta Falcons, who are one of Carolina’s NFC South rivals.The combination of quarterback Case Keenum and receiver Adam Thielen has been one of the strongest in the NFL this season.But Minnesota running back Latavius Murray, who has 75 or more rushing yards in each of the past three games, has turned into a consistent option.“Running the ball is important for us https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Devin-Funchess-Jersey , not just getting yards but play-action,” Keenum said. “I think there has been good balance.”The Vikings will be counting on that type of mixture against a Carolina defense that’s bound to be anxious to crank up the pressure.“If they want to not rush, that would be great by me,” Keenum said. “We’re going to expect them to rush the passer. That’s something we have to work on … and be ready to get the ball out.”Rivera said he’s wary of Minnesota’s explosiveness, a concern that’s probably heightened because the Panthers have been victims of big-yardage plays the past couple of weeks and they might be without linebacker Shaq Thompson (foot injury).On offense, the Panthers will want to re-establish a ground attack. They’ve found that the most effective way to make headway overall on offense. That could be the key to cracking the Vikings.“Our guys take a lot of pride in playing the run,” Zimmer said. “They all take a lot of pride in it. It’s important to try to make teams one-dimensional.”Newton said too many three-and-outs have hindered the offense and impacted the Panthers in general.“We have to get our defense more rest time,” Newton said.Rivera said the Panthers are expecting a heavy dose of man coverages from the Minnesota defense.Zimmer said the Vikings looked faster on special teams last week and that’s an area that he has hoped would show strides. The Panthers had several mishaps with the special-teams units last week, so that’s an area worth monitoring.There are several connections between the Vikings and Panthers.Look for some of the spotlight to fall on Carolina left tackle Matt Kalil, who was a Minnesota first-round draft pick in 2012. He left the Vikings during the past offseason to sign with the Panthers.It hasn’t always been smooth transition, but he drew praise this week.“He’s a guy who fights,” Rivera said, noting there are often interesting elements emerging with a player faces his former team. “I think he’s learning to develop into our system.”Carolina cornerback Captain Munnerlyn spent the past three seasons with the Vikings before returning to the Panthers prior to this season.Vikings right offensive tackle Mike Remmers started 42 consecutive games with Carolina before joining Minnesota for this season.Those storylines aside, both teams understand the importance of the matchup.The Panthers want to rid the taste of a defeat that might have seemed devastating but doesn’t have to be the end-all.“One game doesn’t define you,” Carolina linebacker Luke Kuechly said.The Vikings see the next few games as providing an avenue to better things.“These December games are really going to be important as we continue to move forward,” Zimmer said.