As we enter Week 16, neither the Bucs nor the Panthers have yet stepped up to claim the NFC South division. The Saints might wish for a fresh start after their recent success against both teams, but that’s not how it works. So, here we are with the 7-7 Bucs and the 7-7 Panthers gearing up for two crucial matchups in the final three weeks of the season. What can we expect? The Bucs have shown strength against teams like the Seahawks and 49ers but faltered against the Saints and Falcons. Meanwhile, the Panthers have defeated the Rams and Packers but lost twice to the Saints. Will the real Bucs or Panthers finally stand up?
BUCS WIN IF…
Bucs on Offense: After reviewing the season, it’s clear that the Bucs’ success hinges on Baker Mayfield. He has struggled since the Detroit Lions game, and the team’s record reflects that at 2-6 since then. If Baker continues to lack confidence—whether from injury or uncertainty—our offense will remain underachieving. He needs to play decisively and with assurance. Many teams are dealing with injuries, but that’s no excuse. Good play out of Baker, should lead to a big win on Sunday.
Bucs’ Rachaad White
Josh Grizzard should lean on Bucky Irving, Rachaad White, and Mike Evans to play key roles. Get the ball to your stars… especially the guys that have done it before. Establish the running game and run play action on half the pass plays. Set Baker up for success on early downs.
Bucs on Defense: Unfortunately, I don’t have many answers for the defense right now. Unless we suddenly find a couple of Pro Bowl players or hand defensive duties over to Bill Belichick, it’s tough to see how we can effectively slow down an NFL passing offense. On the bright side, we’re facing a quarterback in Bryce Young who isn’t exactly lighting it up. Yes, he lit up the Rams secondary, but who hasn’t… besides the Bucs? We find a way to make even the most average of quarterbacks, look like stars, so there’s no telling.
The challenge for the Bucs will be to shut down the Panthers run game and not let Panthers’ receiver Tetairoa McMillan expose our coverage. The latter being maybe the most difficult task, as McMillan has proven that he can be a star for years to come.
Coach Bowles has to figure out a way to keep this low-powered Panthers offense from catching fire. Just as I said with Baker, the offense goes how Baker goes… well this defense goes how Bowles schemes. If he can’t scheme a plan to hold the Panthers to less than 20 points, then it’s absolutely time for him to hang up his whistle. It’s on the coach to coach up his plan and go over every detail throughout the week. The last time I saw this defense be detail oriented might have been the Super Bowl. There’s no excuse. Coach’em up.
PANTHERS WIN IF…
Panthers on Offense: Tetairoa McMillan is the player who concerns me the most on the Panthers. He’s a Mike Evans clone—big, fast, and capable of making tough catches. If I were the Panthers, I’d target McMillan as much as possible. The Bucs don’t have anyone who can effectively cover him, and Bowles rarely double-teams a receiver. So, use him to your advantage!
When not targeting McMillan, the Panthers should have Bryce Young turnaround and hand the ball off to Rico Dowdle or Chuba Hubbard. Keeping it simple and safe will be key. They can expect some blown coverages from the Bucs, which they should capitalize on. If they can reach 24 points, they’ll have a solid chance to win.
Panthers on Defense: The Panthers’ defense has been inconsistent. They shut out the Falcons earlier this season and held the Packers to just 13 points last month. They rank around the middle of the league in total yards allowed, but their points allowed rank in the top 10, averaging around 17 points per game.
Panthers’ corner, Jaycee Horn
Derrick Brown can disrupt the Bucs’ offensive line, and Baker needs to be cautious when throwing around Jaycee Horn, who leads the team with five interceptions. Keeping Bucky Irving from gaining momentum early will be crucial, and Rachaad White has had some good games against the Panthers in the past. If they can contain Mike Evans and force Baker to rely solely on his arm, holding the Bucs to 17 points (the Panthers’ average points allowed) will give them a strong chance.
FINAL WORD
This game might come down to which team scores 20 points first. How do you think it will unfold? Are you confident in the Bucs’ chances?
Prediction: Bucs WIN 23-20!
