The Bucs are looking to rebound from last week’s 9-0 loss to the Saints with a win against the Panthers in Carolina. A victory by Tampa Bay means the Bucs clinch the NFC South title for the first time since 2007 and a home playoff game. The Bucs enter the game with a 10-4 record, while the 5-9 Panthers are reeling from four straight losses. Carolina is expected to start Cam Newton at quarterback, but play Sam Darnold, who has been cleared for contact following a mid-season shoulder injury.

SR’s Fab 5 returns next week, but here are my four match-ups to watch on both offense and defense. These match-ups typically appear in each week’s SR’s Fab 5 column.

4 Matchups To Watch: Bucs Offense vs. Panthers Defense

Bucs WR Antonio Brown vs. Panthers CB Stephon Gilmore

Bucs WR Antonio Brown – Photo by: USA Today

The Panthers traded for Gilmore earlier in the season and he’s responded with a pair of interceptions and a couple of pass breakups in seven games. With Donte Jackson out for the year, Gilmore has become the Panthers’ top cover corner opposite fellow cornerback C.J. Henderson, who has been a disappointment so far. Gilmore was limited in practice this week with a knee injury, and that’s not good news for Carolina’s defense, which has to contain Brown.

Brown returns to the lineup after missing time due to a heel injury and a three-game suspension. The Bucs need him in the worst way, with Chris Godwin out for the year with a torn ACL. The Bucs will likely miss Mike Evans too, due to a hamstring injury. Brown needs to shake off any rust and be prepared to separate from Gilmore and get open for Tom Brady. Tampa Bay would love to see Brown have a 100-yard day as the primary receiver, which is a role he has yet to play in red and pewter.
ADVANTAGE: Brown

Tampa Bay LT Donovan Smith vs. Carolina DE Yetur Gross-Matos

Bucs LT Donovan Smith – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Gross-Matos, a second round pick from a year ago, has been slow to develop in Carolina. Yet he may have turned a corner last week with a 2.5-sack effort at Buffalo along with a forced fumble. Gross-Matos has 3.5 sacks on the season as a designated pass rusher, and should see increased snaps against Tampa Bay this week as a result.

Smith struggled last week with New Orleans defensive end Marcus Davenport, allowing several pressures, but no sacks. At 6-foot-5, 265 pounds, Gross-Matos has a similar build as Davenport and is coming off a great game last Sunday. Smith will also likely see speed rushers Brian Burns and Haason Reddick, as the Panthers will mix up their defensive fronts. After being snubbed for the Pro Bowl despite having his best season, Smith will likely be in a foul mood on Sunday and will want to rebound from a subpar showing against the Saints.
ADVANTAGE: Smith

Bucs TE Rob Gronkowski vs Panthers SS Jeremy Chinn

Bucs TE Rob Gronkowski – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Malcolm Jenkins did a great job covering Gronkowski last week, holding him to just two catches for 29 yards on 11 targets. But Chinn, who is in his second season, is no Jenkins. At 6-foot-2, 211 pounds, Chinn has decent size, but will be at a disadvantage against the 6-foot-6, 260-pound Gronkowski. He’s coming off a solid game in Buffalo, where he recorded his first interception of the season. Chinn has fared well in coverage, allowing just a 65.1 percent catch rate per Pro Football Focus.

Gronkowski needs to rebound from his worst game of the season against the Saints. With Godwin out and likely Evans, too, Brady will need Gronkowski to be the Bucs’ main weapon down the seam. Gronkowski may need to come up with his second 100-yard game of the season and a touchdown or two to help Tampa Bay’s ailing offense get by Carolina and win the NFC South division title on Sunday. If Chinn can’t handle Gronkowski, look for the Panthers to use linebacker Shaq Thompson in coverage, too.
ADVANTAGE: Gronkowski

Tampa Bay RT Tristan Wirfs vs. Carolina DE Brian Burns

Bucs RT Tristan Wirfs – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Burns is the Panthers’ second-leading sacker behind Reddick’s 11 and uses speed and quickness to get to the quarterback. Although he rushes from both sides of the line, he’ll square off against Wirfs a fair amount on Sunday. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound Burns has added size since entering the league as Carolina’s first-round pick in 2019. Burns can use his long arms to swat the ball out of a quarterback’s hands if he can’t to the QB on the ground, evidenced by a pair of forced fumbles this season.

Wirfs was just named to his first Pro Bowl, which is well-deserved. However, he’s coming off a game against New Orleans where he surrendered a sack to Cameron Jordan and didn’t play up to his high standards. Wirfs may want to atone for last week’s showing with a shutout performance that will likely come at Burns’ expense. With the Bucs expected to lean on Ronald Jones II a little more in the running game, Wirfs will have a chance to excel on first and second downs in that capacity, too.
ADVANTAGE: Wirfs

4 Matchups To Watch: Bucs Defense vs. Panthers Offense

Bucs NT Vita Vea vs. Panthers C Sam Tecklenburg

Bucs NT Vita Vea – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Pat Elflein took over for the injured Matt Paradis at center and the outcome wasn’t been great. At 6-foot-3, 303 pounds, Elflein was just average in the run game, as he doesn’t have the size or power to move the line of scrimmage unless it’s on a double team. Now he’s out with COVID, so the Panthers are down to third-string center in Tecklenburg. While left guard Michael Jordan has allowed four sacks and right guard John Miller has surrendered five, Tecklenburg has played in just 57 snaps this season and is largely unproven in his second year in the league.

Vea has three sacks on the season, which matches his career high. More importantly, he has helped shut down opposing teams’ interior running game. Vea is roughly 30 pounds heavier than Tecklenburg, who won’t be able to handle Tampa Bay’s massive nose tackle without help. Getting a sack on Tecklenburg or Jordan would be nice for Vea, but clogging the middle on early downs and getting the Panthers into third-and-long situations is what the game plan calls for.

Tampa Bay OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka vs. Carolina LT Cam Erving

Bucs OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Erving is one of the lowest-rated left tackles in the league when it comes to pass protection. He has a 49.7 PFF grade for the season and has allowed the most pressures (21) and the most QB hits (7) of any Panthers linemen. Erving has surrendered three sacks, which is tied for the third-most of any Carolina linemen. Whether it’s against Jason Pierre-Paul or Tryon-Shoyinka, Erving should have his hands full on passing downs.

Tryon-Shoyinka should be starting over the injured Pierre-Paul. He’s had 32 pressures and four sacks on 241 pass rush opportunities, while Pierre-Paul has only 24 pressures and three sacks despite having 147 more pass rush chances this season due to his starter status. Tyron-Shoyinka is coming off a game where he had five pressures and a sack on 12 pass rush plays against New Orleans. Meanwhile JPP didn’t even register a single pressure versus the Saints.
ADVANTAGE: Tryon-Shoyinka

Bucs CB Carlton Davis III vs. Panthers WR D.J. Moore

Bucs CB Carlton Davis III – Photo by: USA Today

Without running back Christian McCaffrey, Moore is the Panthers’ top weapon. The Bucs need to account for him on every play. He’s missed some practice time with a hamstring injury and will be a game-time decision. Without Moore, the Panthers just don’t have much of a passing attack, as he is their primary weapon. Moore is 14 yards away from his third straight 1,000-yard season and has 14 touchdowns on the year. Last season in two games against Tampa Bay, Moore totaled 12 catches for 216 yards and a touchdown.

Davis may or may not travel all over the field to cover Moore. We’ll see what defensive coordinator Todd Bowles has in mind. But Davis is Tampa Bay’s top cover corner and usually camps on the left side of the defense. At 6-foot-1, he has the size and physicality to match up with the 6-0, 210-pound Moore, and this has been a spirited match up in years past. In 2020, Davis had one interception and two pass breakups defending Carolina’s top playmaker.
ADVANTAGE: Push

Tampa Bay CB Jamel Dean vs. Carolina WR Robby Anderson

Bucs CB Jamel Dean – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Anderson has largely underwhelmed this year, but could be thrust into a major role on Sunday if Moore is limited or can’t play due to his hamstring. With Cam Newton expected to start and Sam Darnold, who is coming off a shoulder injury, expected to play, Anderson might have to shoulder a bigger role versus Tampa Bay. Anderson signed a two-year, $29.5 million contract extension this year and really hasn’t earned it with just 39 catches for 401 yards (10.3 avg.) and four touchdowns.

Dean has really struggled with injuries this year. First it was a knee injury, then a bruised shoulder, followed by a concussion. Lingering effects from his concussion forced Dean to miss last Sunday’s game against New Orleans. He should return to action where the Bucs will need his speed against Anderson. Although he’s averaged just 10.3 yards per catch this year, Anderson’s career average is 13.4 yards per catch. He had four catches of 30 yards or more last year, including a 75-yarder. At 6-foot-1, 205, Dean has the size to match up with the 6-foot-3, 190-pound Anderson on the weakside of the formation.
ADVANTAGE: Dean