Panthers, Buccaneers get chippy in the tunnel at BofA Stadium after overtime finish

Players from Carolina and Tampa both had beef to settle before heading towards the locker room, apparently.

Tim Weaver | 3 Hours Ago

DENVER, COLORADO - OCTOBER 27: Sam Franklin Jr. #42 of the Carolina Panthers looks on before the game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High on October 27, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Panthers 28-14. / (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images)

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Carolina Panthers

You could tell how much this one meant to them and how devastating the loss was for the Carolina Panthers just by looking at Chuba Hubbard's face as he sat on the bench following his lethal fumble in overtime that setup a game-winning field goal by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

It's a brutal way to lose any game, especially to a division rival. After it was over, more than one player apparently wanted to settle the score in the tunnel heading to the locker rooms at Bank of America Stadium. For the Panthers, it was safety Sam Franklin Jr. who had to be escorted away from where the Bucs were heading into the bowels of the stadium.

Things got CHIPPY after Panthers-Bucs OT game. pic.twitter.com/9ypps0WBB6
— Sheena Quick (@Sheena_Marie3) December 2, 2024

For the Bucs, it was wide receiver Sterling Shepard who had to be pulled away from going towards the Panthers' side of the building.

Sterling Shepard was looking for someone. Sam Franklin was calling out #33 Ramirez seconds earlier in the tunnel. pic.twitter.com/kwVsczCUAo
— Sheena Quick (@Sheena_Marie3) December 2, 2024

Tampa was lucky to escape this one with a win, but they have now managed to win eight of the last nine matchups with Carolina. That's the kind of dynamic that can lead to particularly nasty fights as pride becomes a factor for the losing side. The next time these teams play in 28 days we might be in for a real slobber-knocker.