Panthers to play Buccaneers in London this fall

https://www.wwaytv3.com/2019/01/21/panthers-to-play-buccaneers-in-london-this-fall/
The Carolina Panthers are headed across the pond this fall to face a division rival.

The team announced today that it will play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in London.

It’s the first time the Panthers have played in England. They had been one of only three franchises, along with Green Bay and Houston, not to have played in London since the NFL launched games there in 2007.

“I’ve had the chance to play and coach in London before and those were unbelievable experiences,” head coach Ron Rivera, who played in London with the Bears in the 1986 preseason and coached in London with the Chargers in the 2008 regular season, said. “The fans are outstanding, and they have such fervor for the game. It’s a great opportunity for our franchise and for our players and coaches to get international exposure.”

The date, time and venue of the Panthers-Bucs game will be announced when the NFL schedule comes out this spring. The game will be a home contest for Tampa Bay. That means the Panthers will still have eight regular season games at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

“It’s amazing to hear the Panthers are going to play in London,” said defensive lineman Efe Obada, who grew up in the city. “One of the goals I set, beyond making the roster, was to play in London, be in front of the English fans and get a sack. It would be coming full-circle to be on that field. Now I have to make the team again. It’s added motivation.”

Carolina’s contest will be part of five International Series games the NFL announced today, including four in the UK and one in Mexico. Two of the UK games will be played at the Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium with two more at Wembley Stadium.

Last year, the Panthers traveled the fewest total miles in franchise history in a season (approximately 4,060), while in 2019 they will travel the most miles in franchise history in a season (approximately 11,022).