Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds previews the upcoming Bucs sport with six quick-hitting matters. What’s at stake for the Bucs and their opponent, what’s going to result in a Tampa Bay victory or loss and a few key matchups to observe every week.
The Bucs had their four-game profitable streak snapped in Dallas, 26-24, by a spunky Cowboys group on Sunday Night time Soccer. That loss led to Atlanta transferring forward of Tampa Bay within the NFC South. The Bucs not management their very own playoff future and have to beat each the Panthers and the Saints and get some assist from both the Falcons or Commanders to be able to have an opportunity to succeed in the postseason.
What’s At Stake For The Bucs
Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Picture by: USA Immediately
All of the Bucs needed to do to win the NFC South for a fourth straight season was win out. However a loss in Dallas, 26-24, coupled with a win by Atlanta, 34-7, over the New York Giants final Sunday has derailed Tampa Bay in the intervening time. If the Bucs are going to make the postseason, the group has two paths. Both win the division by ending with another victory than the Falcons, or enter the playoffs because the No. 7 seed as a substitute of the Commanders. The Falcons and Commanders play one another in Washington this Sunday. An Atlanta loss within the subsequent two weeks could be preferable for Tampa Bay, however Washington dropping out would even be useful so long as Tampa Bay wins out and finishes 10-7.
Apart from a playoff berth, head coach Todd Bowles’ job could also be on the road. Bowles completed 8-9 in his first season as Tampa Bay’s head coach in 2022, but the Bucs received the NFC South as a result of the division was so dangerous. A 31-14 loss to the Cowboys within the residence Wild Card sport meant that Bowles wanted to point out enchancment in 2023 to be able to proceed to guide the franchise. That occurred with a 9-8 file and a convincing residence playoff win over the Eagles final 12 months, 32-9.
Bowles and the Bucs noticed one other promising 3-1 begin dissolve right into a 4-6 file earlier than rebounding down the stretch for a second straight season. After dropping 4 straight heading into the bye, the Bucs received 4 straight popping out of the bye to enhance to 8-6 earlier than Sunday’s loss in Dallas. If Tampa Bay doesn’t make the playoffs, the franchise might take into account parting methods with Bowles, particularly with how the protection has underperformed this 12 months. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen has emerged as a sizzling head teaching candidate and the group might not need Coen to go away to run one other group, as Dave Canales did final January in Carolina.
What’s At Stake For The Panthers
Panthers head coach Dave Canales – Picture by: USA Immediately
Former Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales took over the most important rebuild job within the NFL when he signed on because the Panthers’ new head coach. Saddled and not using a first-round choose and one of many worst rosters within the NFL, Canales’ infectious spirit has helped will Carolina right into a formidable foe down the stretch. After a disastrous 1-8 begin, which noticed the benching of former first-round choose Bryce Younger after simply two video games, the Panthers have confirmed indicators of life, profitable three of the final seven video games, together with a 36-30 extra time thriller in opposition to the Cardinals final week.
Along with these three victories down the stretch, Carolina had Kansas Metropolis on the ropes earlier than dropping 30-27, and misplaced to Tampa Bay in extra time, 26-23. So the case might be made that with a positive bounce of the ball in each of these video games, Carolina might have two extra wins and a complete of six victories on the 12 months.
Regardless, Canales has the Panthers enjoying good soccer heading into the 2025 offseason and the group might play the function of spoiler for both the Bucs or the Falcons as the ultimate two video games of the 12 months are on the highway in Tampa Bay and Atlanta. The arrow is pointing up for Canales and the Panthers and with one other win or two to finish the 12 months, Carolina might end with some momentum heading into subsequent season.
The Bucs Win If…
Bucs DT Calijah Kancey and Panthers QB Bryce Younger – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Tampa Bay was lucky to win in extra time at Carolina. With the Panthers driving into discipline objective vary, Bucs exterior linebacker Anthony Nelson stripped working again Chuba Hubbard of the ball and Yaya Diaby recovered the fumble. That led to a game-winning drive capped off by a Chase McLaughlin discipline objective as Tampa Bay lastly received an extra time sport beneath Todd Bowles. The Bucs might want to drive some turnovers on protection, particularly after dropping the turnover battle 3-0 in Dallas.
Not solely do the Bucs have to take the ball away on protection, they should defend it on offense. Tampa Bay had three giveaways in Dallas, together with the fifteenth interception of the season by quarterback Baker Mayfield and two fumbles, together with one by Rachaad White on what might have been the game-winning drive on the group’s closing possession. Mayfield threw two picks in opposition to the Panthers in Carolina and should play turnover-free.
The Bucs additionally want to attain first, proper? Tampa Bay is 8-1 when scoring first, however is winless when it doesn’t for some motive. So profitable the coin toss looks like a key to victory, then rating a landing on the opening drive. That really occurred in Carolina in Week 13, however it might be good to see the Bucs draw back from the Panthers as a substitute of the sport coming all the way down to the wire.
The Panthers Win If…
Panthers QB Bryce Younger – Picture by: USA Immediately
Carolina did every part it wanted to do in opposition to Tampa Bay earlier within the season apart from seal the deal. The Panthers had been driving into discipline objective vary in extra time earlier than Chuba Hubbard had the ball stripped out of his palms. The Bucs capitalized on that turnover and drove down for a profitable discipline objective. Studying to learn how to end video games is a crucial a part of progress for dangerous groups on the trail in the direction of being good, and the Panthers took a giant step in that path final week with a 36-30 extra time win in opposition to the Cardinals.
So Dave Canales’ group ought to come into Raymond James Stadium filled with confidence and perception that they’ll beat the Bucs after going toe-to-toe and blow-for-blow with them again in Week 13 at Carolina. Quarterback Bryce Younger is enjoying significantly better down the stretch with eight touchdowns and 4 interceptions over the past seven video games. However as a result of the offense will not be terribly explosive, the Panthers protection must step up and maintain the Bucs to 23 factors or much less to be able to have an opportunity to win.
Carolina is enjoying significantly better on each side of the ball, and is as much as almost 23 factors per sport offensively. Tampa Bay is surrendering a mean of 23.5 factors per sport proper now, and simply gave up 26 factors to backup quarterback Cooper Rush in Dallas on Sunday. With Todd Bowles’ protection combating defending the center of the sphere, search for Canales to assault that space within the passing sport and exploit it.
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
As soon as once more it’s Mike Evans versus star cornerback Jaycee Horn, who was Carolina’s first-round choose in 2021. At 6-foot-1, 200 kilos, Horn has sufficient measurement to battle Evans, however Tampa Bay’s prime receiver went off in Carolina within the final assembly. Evans recorded his first 100-yard sport of the season in Tampa Bay’s 26-23 extra time win, and he had a dramatic landing catch over Horn within the first quarter. Evans now has 5 100-yard video games in opposition to the Panthers, which is essentially the most in opposition to every other group. Three of these 100-yard video games by Evans have additionally 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 12 months’s 21-18 win over the Panthers and Horn struggled in that sport. Horn battled again in Carolina in Week 13 with six tackles and two cross breakups, however couldn’t stop Evans from topping 100 yards. He’ll have to win this one-on-one battle in Tampa Bay if the Panthers are going to have an opportunity of getting an upset win.
Evans is near extending his NFL file 1,000-yard season streak to 11 years, however must have one other massive outing. After lacking three video games with a hamstring harm he’s had two 100-yard video games throughout the final 4 weeks. With 818 yards by way of Week 16, Evans must common 91 yards per sport over the ultimate two weeks to hit 1,000 yards. That’s doable, particularly given his observe file for giant video games in opposition to Horn and the Panthers previously.
Bucs’ Key Matchup On Protection
Bucs Entrance 7 vs. Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard
Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard and Bucs ILB Lavonte David – Picture by: USA Immediately
Carolina confirmed quite a lot of confidence in working again Chuba Hubbard with a hefty contract extension earlier this season. The Panthers gave him a four-year, $33.2 million deal as a present of religion to the group that the franchise desires to reward its stars. The 25-year previous Hubbard is the catalyst for Dave Canales’ offense. The previous fourth-rounder rushed for 902 yards and 5 touchdowns final 12 months, however is having a profession 12 months with 1,195 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. And he’s elevated his common from 3.8 yards per carry final 12 months to 4.8 yards per carry this 12 months.
Hubbard solely had one 100-yard sport final 12 months and that was in Tampa Bay, speeding for 104 yards and two touchdowns whereas averaging 4.7 yards per carry. However he’s topped 100 yards 4 instances this season, together with 153 yards in Munich in opposition to the Giants and 152 yards in final week’s extra time win versus the Cardinals. Hubbard had his first 100-yard sport final 12 months in opposition to the Bucs at Raymond James Stadium in a 21-18 loss. However Tampa Bay held him in test in Carolina in Week 13 this season with simply 43 yards on 12 carries, plus forcing him to fumble in extra time.
The Bucs protection has been unbelievable in stopping the run because the bye week after giving up seven 100-yard video games on the bottom earlier within the season, together with 244 yards versus the Ravens on Monday Night time Soccer. Tampa Bay held Dallas to only 31 yards and a landing on 12 carries (1.6 avg.) final week, and has a Prime 10 speeding protection. The Bucs will certainly want to carry Hubbard beneath 100 yards to prevail on Sunday.
