Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds previews the upcoming Bucs sport with six quick-hitting subjects. What’s at stake for the Bucs and their opponent, what is going to result in a Tampa Bay victory or loss and a few key matchups to look at every week.
The Bucs snapped a four-game shedding streak with a convincing, 30-7 win at New York over a hapless, two-win Giants staff after the bye week. Tampa Bay is now 5-6 and improved its playoff odds with the victory. Now it’s on to Carolina to play Dave Canales and a 3-8 Panthers staff that has gained two of its final three video games and is displaying enchancment.
What’s At Stake For The Bucs
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles – Picture by: Jeffrey Jones/PR
The Bucs have made up some floor within the NFC South race with Atlanta shedding its final two video games after which Tampa Bay getting a win through the Falcons’ bye week. Tampa Bay is now 5-6 and trails 6-5 Atlanta by one sport however wants to complete one win forward of the Falcons due to the tiebreaker Raheem Morris’ staff owns because of the season sweep of the Bucs. A win in Carolina on Sunday coupled with a Falcons loss to the Chargers would assist the Bucs draw even nearer.
Tampa Bay swept Carolina final yr however every sport was shut. The Bucs beat the Panthers, 21-18, in Tampa Bay after which gained the NFC South title with a 9-0 victory in Carolina in Week 18. That sport was even nearer than the rating indicated because the Panthers protection dropped three first quarter interceptions and in addition had a fourth quarter landing known as again attributable to a holding name. Antoine Winfield Jr. additionally prevented a landing by punching the ball out of D.J. Chark’s fingers on the objective line.
The Bucs can’t take this Panthers staff calmly. They’re enjoying exhausting for Dave Canales proper now and practically beat Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs at residence final Sunday, tying the sport at 27-27 earlier than shedding on a last-second discipline objective. To ensure that the Bucs to proceed their playoff push, they should do one thing they haven’t accomplished since Week 2 – win back-to-back video games. Tampa Bay began the season 2-0 however hasn’t posted consecutive wins since.
What’s At Stake For The Panthers
Panthers head coach Dave Canales – Picture by: USA Immediately
The Panthers began 0-2 after which benched quarterback Bryce Younger, the primary general choose in 2023, in favor of veteran Andy Dalton. That transfer produced instant dividends, however Dalton would go 1-5 after which miss a begin attributable to a automobile wreck. Younger was reinserted and produced a win in opposition to the Saints in his first motion since his benching, then helped Carolina beat the New York Giants in Munich in additional time. The Panthers returned residence final week and took the Chiefs all the way down to the wire earlier than shedding within the last seconds.
The ever constructive Dave Canales has his staff enjoying impressed soccer proper now. Carolina’s offense was clicking in opposition to a stout Kansas Metropolis protection and put up 27 factors, together with a last-minute landing and two-point conversion to tie the sport close to the tip. Operating again Chuba Hubbard is on tempo for a 1,000-yard season and Younger has three landing passes and just one interception in his final three begins. As a consequence of its current play, Carolina believes it will probably compete and win and shall be giving most effort in opposition to Tampa Bay on Sunday.
The Panthers wish to end the season sturdy and are counting on plenty of rookies like extensive receiver Xavier Legette, tight finish Ja’Tavion Sanders, cornerback Chau Smith-Wade and linebacker Trevin Wallace to make performs. It is a younger Carolina staff on the rise and can proceed to be harmful so long as Hubbard runs effectively and Younger continues to develop. Canales must get the Panthers fired up by telling his staff how shut it was to beating Tampa Bay twice final yr, which ought to encourage some confidence within the huddle.
The Bucs Win If…
Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr. and Panthers QB Bryce Younger – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Tampa Bay must construct off final week’s win that noticed the offense getting again to scoring 30 factors per sport, and maybe extra importantly, the protection holding the Giants to seven factors, which was the bottom opponent whole of the yr. Todd Bowles’ protection has not performed effectively, notably in protection and the purple zone, however held New York quarterback Tommy DeVito under 200 yards passing and compelled a purple zone takeaway. Carolina has a greater offensive line, a greater quarterback and a greater operating sport than New York does, so Sunday shall be an even bigger problem for Tampa Bay.
Offensively, the Bucs offensive line is enjoying dominant soccer proper now and the Panthers are with out two of their prime defenders in defensive deal with Derrick Brown and linebacker Shaq Thompson, each of whom are on injured reserve. Carolina has struggled attending to the quarterback and have simply 17 sacks on the season, however did document 4 sacks of Patrick Mahomes final week. The Bucs have to proceed to be assertive within the operating sport and management the road of scrimmage. That wears down the line of defense and negates the power to successfully rush the passer because of this.
Bowles wants to verify he calls a great sport when it comes to clock administration and timeout utilization, particularly if this one is shut within the fourth quarter. And he wants to verify his staff doesn’t get overconfident after final week’s blowout win and take a three-win Carolina staff too calmly. If the Bucs are available in with a “present up and win” mentality, they’ll lose in opposition to a Panthers staff that’s enjoying good soccer proper now.
The Panthers Win If…
Bucs DT Calijah Kancey and Panthers QB Bryce Younger – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
The Panthers finish their four-game residence stand (the Giants sport was a house sport in Munich, Germany) in opposition to the Bucs, and the house crowd needs to be fired up, particularly after seeing Carolina play impressed soccer in opposition to Kansas Metropolis final week. Dave Canales’ squad is attempting to construct some momentum on the finish of the yr to enter the 2025 offseason on a excessive word. Higher execution and successful the turnover battle shall be key for a lesser gifted staff just like the Panthers to tug off an upset of the Bucs in Carolina.
The important thing on offense shall be for Canales to determine learn how to deal with Todd Bowles’ strain packages and successful first down. A 100-yard sport from operating again Chuba Hubbard will go a good distance in the direction of victory and must common a minimum of 4 yards per keep it up first down. Quarterback Bryce Younger should proceed to search for large performs within the passing sport with receivers Xavier Legette and former Buccaneer David Moore. Getting Adam Thielen again wholesome is an enormous plus.
Carolina’s protection received after Patrick Mahomes final week and the go rush should be cranked up once more. The Panthers have to drive Baker Mayfield into an interception – one thing that hasn’t occurred within the final three video games as Tampa Bay’s quarterback has grow to be far more cautious with the soccer. Slowing the Bucs’ operating sport down is simpler mentioned than accomplished because it’s ranked within the High 10 within the NFL.
Bucs’ Key Matchup On Offense
Bucs WR Mike Evans vs. Panthers CB Jaycee Horn
Bucs WR Mike Evans and Panthers CB Jaycee Horn – Picture by: USA Immediately
These two have battled every year since Jaycee Horn entered the league as Carolina’s first-round choose in 2021. At 6-foot-1, 200 kilos, Horn has the dimensions to battle Evans, however Tampa Bay’s prime receiver has gotten the higher of the current matchups. Evans has 4 100-yard video games in opposition to the Panthers, which is tied with Atlanta for probably the most in opposition to another staff. The one downside for Evans and the Bucs is that the final three 100-yard video games he’s had versus Carolina have come at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
Evans went off for seven catches for 162 yards, together with a 75-yard catch-and-run landing in final yr’s 21-18 win over the Panthers. However Horn performed higher in Carolina in Week 18, serving to to restrict Evans to only 22 yards on three catches. Horn additionally had three go breakups in Tampa Bay’s 9-0 win in Charlotte and performed higher. However he’ll have to win this matchup in Carolina if the Panthers are going to have an opportunity of upsetting Tampa Bay.
Evans needs to increase his NFL document 1,000-yard season streak to 11 years, however the math isn’t on his facet. He missed three video games with a hamstring damage and caught 5 passes for 68 yards in his return to motion final week. With 403 yards by means of Week 12, Evans must common 99.5 yards per sport over the subsequent six weeks to hit 1,000 yards. That’s a tall order, particularly since Evans has not even had a 100-yard sport but. However given his historical past in opposition to Carolina it may very well be an enormous day for No. 13.
Bucs’ Key Matchup On Protection
Bucs Entrance 7 vs. Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard
Bucs OLB YaYa Diaby and Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
The Panthers opened some eyes with the contract extension for operating again Chuba Hubbard. Carolina gave him a four-year, $33.2 million deal through the season as a present of religion to the staff that the franchise needs to reward its stars. Hubbard is barely 25 years previous and is the engine that drives Dave Canales’ offense. The previous fourth-round choose has 876 yards and 7 touchdowns on the season and is averaging 4.9 yards per carry. He has three 100-yard video games this season, together with 153 yards in Munich in opposition to the Giants.
Hubbard solely had one 100-yard sport final yr and that was in Tampa Bay, speeding for 104 yards and two touchdowns whereas averaging 4.7 yards per carry. He additionally fared effectively in opposition to the Bucs within the season finale final yr in Carolina, speeding for 83 yards on 23 carries (3.6 avg.). If Tampa Bay goes to stave off an upset in Week 13 stopping Hubbard from going off.
The Bucs protection has struggled stopping the run this yr, giving up seven 100-yard video games on the bottom, together with 244 yards versus the Ravens on Monday Night time Soccer. Tampa Bay solely allowed 75 yards speeding in New York and the entrance seven performed effectively. It begins with the line of defense after which the linebackers and safeties in run assist. The Bucs might want to maintain Hubbard beneath 100 yards to prevail on Sunday.
