BUCS vs. PANTHERS

WHEN: Sunday, December 29, 2024 | WHERE: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, FL) | KICKOFF: 1:00 p.m. ET | TV: CBS

PLAY-BY-PLAY: Ian Eagle | ANALYST: Charles Davis | SIDELINE: Evan Washburn

RADIO: 98 ROCK 97.9 FM | PLAY-BY-PLAY: Gene Deckerhoff | ANALYST: Dave Moore | SIDELINE: T.J. Rives

Game day is approaching, and it’s time for the Pewter Report staff to make its weekly game predictions and offer up our game preview of this week’s matchup. Let us know what you think in the article comments section and add your prediction, too.

Scott Reynolds: Bucs Should Win – But Should’ve Won Last Week, Too

Bucs DT Calijah Kancey and Panthers QB Bryce Young – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Panthers should’ve beaten the Bucs back in Charlotte in Week 13, just like the Bucs should’ve beaten the Cowboys last week on Sunday Night Football. Tampa Bay has been 4-1 since the bye week, but most of those wins have come against teams with lesser offenses. And last week’s loss to Dallas backup quarterback Cooper Rush was downright scary. I don’t trust Todd Bowles’ defense, which has an injury-ravaged secondary that I think Bryce Young will exploit.

The Panthers are 3-4 in their last seven games, and had two close, hard-fought losses to the Bucs and Chiefs. Had the ball bounced their way, Dave Canales and Co. could be 5-2 down the stretch. Young has thrown eight touchdowns and just four interceptions in the last seven games, in addition to rushing for three more scores. I think he’ll have his way against the soft middle of the Tampa Bay defense, either through the air or scrambling for first downs and touchdowns.

Liam Coen’s offense will do its part and keep the Bucs in the game, but in the end an untimely turnover or penalty will prove to be costly. Yet in the end, it will be Bowles’ defense that will be the culprit in yet another loss. And this one will likely keep the Bucs home from the playoffs unfortunately, as a nine-win team may not be good enough to make the postseason this year in the NFC.

I hope I’m wrong, but I don’t have a good feeling about this game. Tampa Bay played too tight and made mistakes in Dallas. With their backs against the wall this week, I think a tight Bucs squad loses again unfortunately.

REYNOLDS’ GAME PREDICTION: Panthers 30, Bucs 27
REYNOLDS’ SEASON RECORD: 9-6

Matt Matera: It’ll Be Close, But Eventually Bucs Win It

Bucs WR Mike Evans and Panthers CB Jaycee Horn – Photo by: USA Today

The Bucs are balancing two things at the same time with their team. On the one hand, they have one of the best, high-flying offenses in the league. Over the last month the only obstacle for Tampa Bay’s offense has been turning the ball over, which they can still get by despite the setback. Their defense on the other hand can’t seem to do anything right and has only benefited from playing the worst teams in football. It’s a true power struggle between each side.

While the Panthers have played better, and are even coming off of a win over the Cardinals, it’s their offense that’s improved and their defense has struggled. Let’s remember that in the first matchup between these division rivals, Bucky Irving ran like wildfire and won NFC Offensive Player of the Week. Mike Evans also had a big game when Baker Mayfield was throwing. There’s no reason each player can’t have another huge outing.

Tampa Bay’s defense has shown that it can make a team one-dimensional and still struggle. The Panthers need to be balanced with Chuba Hubbard, but it’s quarterback Bryce Young that will determine if this game is close. With their backs on the line, I think the Bucs find at least one way to get a stop and help Tampa Bay win the game.

MATERA’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 34, Panthers 32
MATERA’S SEASON RECORD: 9-6

Bailey Adams: Bucs Keep Themselves Alive With Hard-Fought Win

Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Photo by: USA Today

Last week was bad, but that’s in the past. The Bucs can’t waste any time in picking themselves up off the mat and getting back in the fight for a playoff spot, as a loss to this lively Panthers team would set the Falcons up for a chance to clinch the NFC South with a win over the Commanders on Sunday night.

Tampa Bay needs to win out to give itself a shot at either the division or a Wild Card spot if Washington loses out, and that starts back at home on Sunday. I like the Bucs to do their part and stay alive – while putting some pressure on the Falcons.

I don’t think this will be easy for Todd Bowles’ team, though. Dave Canales has his squad playing much better over the second half of the season, and it was only four weeks ago that he and his team almost took down Bowles and Co. in Charlotte. If not for a crucial forced fumble by Anthony Nelson in overtime, the Panthers might’ve dealt a knockout blow to the Bucs and their playoff chances back then. I think Carolina will put up a similar fight in the rematch at Ray Jay.

But I think it’s the Buccaneers run game that will propel them to a season-saving win. Bucky Irving ran wild for 152 yards on 25 carries the last time these two teams met, and Rachaad White ran for 76 yards on 11 carries himself. As long as Baker Mayfield protects the football and doesn’t run into sacks the way he did in last week’s loss to Dallas, I think Liam Coen’s offense will lead the way to victory.

Bowles’ defense just has to make sure it doesn’t completely fall all over itself against Bryce Young and the Panther offense. I think Young will make some plays, but the defense should do just enough to keep Tampa Bay alive in the divisional race.

ADAMS’ GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 31, Panthers 27
ADAMS’ SEASON RECORD: 10-5

Josh Queipo: Bucs Lose Game In Heartbreaking Fashion

Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard and Bucs ILB Lavonte David – Photo by: USA Today

In a divisional rematch that went into overtime just three weeks ago, the Panthers had the Bucs dead to rights before an Anthony Nelson forced fumble turned the tides and helped the Bucs narrowly escape Charlotte, NC with a win. But the same issues that plagued the Bucs in that game, turnovers and a defense that struggled to sack Panthers quarterback Bryce Young or cover the middle of the field well are still there.

Young is now coming off of one of the best games of his career and possesses the one trait that turns out to be the kryptonite for the Bucs defense. He is incredibly difficult to sack. Among qualifying quarterbacks Young is Top 10 in both total sacks as well as pressure to sack rate.

And for Tampa Bay’s defense to work they really have to create negatives by bringing down the quarterback or creating turnovers. With the Bucs losing yet another defensive back to injury, I just don’t see the latter happening. The Bucs will allow more than 20 points in this game. And in games where the defense allows 20 or more points Tampa Bay is 3-7 this season.

The offense will continue to look unstoppable for multiple drives in this game. But they will stop themselves on 3-4 drives with pre-snap penalties and turnovers. It will be just enough to allow victory to elude them and could be the final nail in the team’s coffin, depending on the outcome of the Falcons-Commanders game.

QUEIPO’S GAME PREDICTION: Panthers 26, Bucs 24
QUEIPO’S SEASON RECORD: 9-6

Adam Slivon: Somehow Someway, Bucs Come Away With Win Over Panthers

Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard and Bucs ILB Lavonte David – Photo by: USA Today

As was the case last season, the Bucs’ playoff hopes are hinging on how the team finishes to close the year. It did not go as expected for the team in Dallas, having lost a close one to a Cowboys squad that overmatched them. A couple of weeks earlier, the Panthers put up a good fight against Tampa Bay, nearly coming out with a win in a back-and-forth game that went to overtime. Expect more of the same as the two teams square off again on Sunday afternoon. 

Despite being 4-11, the Panthers have been scrappy in the second half of the season. Bryce Young has looked like a different quarterback under center, and he and the team are coming off their best performance of the year after defeating the Cardinals, 36-30, in overtime.

Young put together an efficient day through the air and on the ground, as did Chuba Hubbard, with the offense running 36 times for 243 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Dave Canales has gotten the most out of his offense, which is a cause for concern looking at the Bucs’ defense. Opposing offenses have torched them across the middle of the field and things have gotten dire at safety. Unless things change, it could turn into a shootout.

The Bucs offense has had no trouble putting up points in nearly every game, but turnovers have become an issue. Baker Mayfield is tied for the second-most interceptions with 15, which has been his undoing in some games. Taking better care of the football is paramount, and expect a reliance on Bucky Irving and Rachaad White facing Carolina’s 32nd-ranked run defense that allows 175.2 rushing yards per game.

It will not be easy and will come down to the wire, but I expect the Bucs to control the time of possession and limit the Panthers enough to eek out another close win over their NFC South rivals.

SLIVON’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 24, Panthers 20
SLIVON’S SEASON RECORD: 9-6