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BUCCANEERS vs. PANTHERS

WHEN: Saturday, January 3, 2026 | WHERE: Raymond James Stadium | KICKOFF: 4:30 p.m. ET | TV: ESPN/ABC

PLAY-BY-PLAY: Chris Fowler | ANALYSTS: Dan Orlovsky & Louis Riddick | SIDELINE: Katie George & Peter Schrager

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: I Lost Faith In The Bucs Weeks Ago

Many of you have noticed that since the Bucs lost at home to the Saints that I have picked Tampa Bay to lose every week. I picked the Bucs to lose against the Falcons, Panthers and Dolphins. And I’ve been right – unfortunately. So why would you think I would pick Tampa Bay to beat Carolina in Week 18? What evidence is there to convince me that a team that is imploding down the stretch – a team that truly doesn’t do anything well – is suddenly going to get its act together and beat the Panthers?

Bucs HC Todd Bowles and Panthers HC Dave Canales – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Bob Donnan

Why? Because this is likely Lavonte David’s last game and possibly Mike Evans’ last game, too? That doesn’t mean squat to this team. Why do I say that? Because a team is greater than the individuals that comprise it. And this Bucs team has had the opportunity to win the NFC South for weeks now but simply can’t beat lesser teams with losing records and backup quarterbacks to get the job done. If this team can’t win – for the sake of the team’s own postseason future – then what makes you believe it will rally for a linebacker or a wide receiver – no matter their legendary status?

The Panthers have been engaging in a yo-yo streak of alternating wins and losses since Week 7. Carolina lost in Week 15 in New Orleans, but then beat Tampa Bay at home in Week 16 before losing at home last week to Seattle. If the pattern holds, that means the Panthers will once again beat the Bucs this week. Quite frankly, Carolina deserves to win because a victory would be win No. 9 on the season. And a division champion has so much more validity with a winning record rather than an 8-9 record.

REYNOLDS’ GAME PREDICTION: Panthers 23, Bucs 20
REYNOLDS’ SEASON RECORD: 12-4

Matt Matera: Bucs Go Out With A Whimper

What would make anyone believe that the Bucs can win a game, let alone a matchup that is essentially a winner-take-all (until the Falcons tiebreaker came about)? Tampa Bay has lost seven of eight and looked horrible against bad teams. Now, after losing to the Panther just two weeks ago, they will suddenly put it all together? I don’t think so.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: IMAGN – Jim Dedmon

The Bucs defense made silly mistakes in the previous matchup against the Panthers. This time the team will without starting cornerback Jamel Dean. That puts Benjamin Morrison and either Jacob Parrish or Kindle Vildor against star rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan. That sounds like a terrible mismatch. The Bucs generate no pass rush, so Bryce Young has nothing to worry about.

Having Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan back has not led to wins for the Bucs. They’ve balled out on different occasions, but Tampa Bay is 0-3 since they’ve returned. The offense has been even worse in the last two weeks. Is it their fault? No, not at all. But whether it’s Baker Mayfield or Josh Grizzard, things aren’t clicking, and they won’t be fixed on Saturday. The Bucs miss the playoffs for the first time in five seasons.

MATERA’S GAME PREDICTION: Panthers 28, Bucs 23
MATERA’S SEASON RECORD: 10-6

Adam Slivon: I Am Tired Of Picking The Bucs To Win Again

The new year offers hope for a variety of reasons. It is a fresh start, a clean slate for all of the days ahead. When it comes to predicting a winner for this Saturday’s Bucs-Panthers game, that is where the hope dies out on the Tampa Bay side. No matter who they have played over the second half of the season, they have failed to beat anybody (except for the Cardinals). They possess the third-worst record in the NFL across the last eight games, better than just the 2-14 Raiders and the 3-13 Cardinals, the latter serving as their only win since Week 8.

What does that mean for Week 18? Well, it has just been more of a broken record. The life has been sucked out of this team, and no longer do the Buccaneers control their own destiny. Carolina is an inconsistent team in its own right, one that has gone 5-5 over the last 10 games alternating wins and losses. For Tampa Bay to win, they must find offensive balance and limit explosive plays defensively.

Sounds simple enough, right? Over the course of the season, though, it has been difficult to beat the opponent and themselves, and time has run out for answers.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles and Panthers HC Dave Canales – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Bob Donnan

Offensively, a lot rests on Baker Mayfield’s shoulders. Josh Grizzard can still free him, but Mayfield has to limit turnovers and get into a groove. It is hard to do that by stubbornly sticking with the run, but all the talent is there to put points up. Bryce Young is not a world-beater, and the Bucs did limit Rico Dowdle in Week 16.

There is reason to look at the regular-season finale and talk yourself into believing. After doing so in recent weeks and thinking this team would turn a corner, I just cannot do it anymore. It will be close; it will be competitive. For all of the talk about having the fire and energy, that is all it has been – talk. It is hard to pick a struggling team that has fallen so hard.

SLIVON’S GAME PREDICTION: Panthers 27, Bucs 24
SLIVON’S SEASON RECORD: 9-7

Bailey Adams: I’m Just Over It With This Bucs Team

It doesn’t even make sense that the Bucs are still in a position to possibly sneak into the playoffs with a win and a Falcons loss in Week 18. They don’t deserve it. They’ve been one of the worst teams in the NFL over the second half of this season thanks to a porous defense that can’t rush the passer, cover or take the football away and an offense that can’t operate efficiently or score nearly enough points to make up for the defense’s shortcomings. And don’t even get me started on the special teams unit, outside of Chase McLaughlin at least.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: IMAGN – Jim Dedmon

As for the game on Saturday itself, what reason have the Bucs given me to pick them to come through with a victory in a must-win game? They’re 0-4 in must-win games over the last four weeks, and they’ve lost control of their own destiny and find themselves close to losing their NFC South title and playoff streak as a result. The Panthers haven’t been the most consistent team either, but they’re simply the more reliable squad this year. And that’s saying a lot considering the loss-win-loss-win streak they’re on right now. With last week’s loss, though, they’re scheduled for a win in this one.

I don’t trust Baker Mayfield right now, and I certainly don’t trust the Bucs defense at full strength much less a version of the unit without its top two corners in Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum. I gave this group the benefit of the doubt against a seventh-round rookie cornerback in Miami last week and regretted it shortly after that game kicked off. I can’t pick Tampa Bay this week. Carolina wins and the matchup between New Orleans and Atlanta on Sunday ultimately means nothing outside of divisional placing and draft positioning.

Just end the season.

ADAMS’ GAME PREDICTION: Panthers 24, Bucs 20
ADAMS’ SEASON RECORD: 11-5

Josh Queipo: I’m Going Down With The Ship!

There are very few logical arguments for me to stick with the Bucs. Their play of late has been lackluster at best. No two parts of the team are working together in unison, and each unit takes turn letting their compatriots down. Naturally, they should win! Look it comes down to this for me. The Bucs still have the better roster.

Bucs ST coordinator Thomas McGaughey, OC Josh Grizzard and HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Tampa Bay has a better defensive line than the Panthers. The offensive line is better. They have better skill position players, and a better quarterback. Will all of those components play to their talent-level and actually show they are better. I could lose that argument handily.

But I go back to the Bucs’ 23-20 loss to the Panthers in week 16. That was about as bad an offensive gameplan as I could have imagined. And Tampa Bay still only lost on the road by three points. Three.

If Todd Bowles and Josh Grizzard can muster even a slightly better plan of attack on Saturday…well that should be the difference in the game.

Bonus prediction: It will be all for naught as the Saints lose to the Falcons on Sunday to still give the division to the Panthers.

QUEIPO’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 24, Panthers 20
QUEIPO’S SEASON RECORD: 8-8