Publisher and Bucs Beat Writer Scott Reynolds
The Buccaneers have a chance to win this game with Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback – as long as he brings some FitzMagic to Carolina. Tampa Bay upset New Orleans on the road in Week 1 thank to an NFC Offensive of the Week performance. The Bucs played well in Atlanta and nearly upset the Falcons in Atlanta a month ago. Expect another close NFC South battle on Sunday against the Panthers.

Tampa Bay’s offensive line needs to be stout in pass protection against Carolina’s potent front seven that features defensive tackles Kawann Short and Dontari Poe and defensive ends Julius Peppers and Mario Addison. Kicker Chandler Catanzaro, who has missed his first extra point in the last three games, which is quirky statistic, also needs to step up and be perfect for once.

Panthers QB Cam Newton – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

In the first year in Norv Turner’s offense, Cam Newton is completing a career-high 66.4 percent of his passes while throwing for 13 touchdowns with only four interceptions. Slowing Newton down will be paramount, and the fact that the Bucs won’t have Kwon Alexander – or Kendell Beckwith – for this game doesn’t help. Lavonte David can’t spy Newton and cover Christian McCaffrey, who is having a big year running and receiving, out the backfield at the same time. Having defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and defensive end Vinny Curry in the lineup this week would help if it happens. Both are listed as questionable.

Newton is averaging five yards per carry and four touchdowns. The Bucs defense needs to get to Newton to rattle him but maintain rush lanes otherwise he can bust off big runs. Jason Pierre-Paul, who has eight sacks, including at least one sack in the last six games, needs to have a huge multi-sack game for Tampa Bay to be successful.

The Bucs need a lot of things to go right in Carolina to come out with a win. Tampa Bay has to win the turnover margin, and that means getting a takeaway on defense, which is something that hasn’t happened in in four straight games now. And the Bucs have to be perfect in the kicking game. Can it happen? Yes, if there is a great deal of FitzMagic. But 5-2 Carolina is a good team that makes their own magic at home at home – with a perfect 4-0 record – and won’t let that happen.

Reynolds’ Score Prediction: Panthers 31, Buccaneers 27
Reynolds’ Pick-To-Click: QB Ryan Fitzpatrick

Editor and Bucs Beat Writer Mark Cook
Can you say must win? Most likely the most overused phrase in sports, but one that Dirk Koetter says is his team’a mantra every week. And for Koetter and his crew, every game is a must win, at least until until they get the magical win total needed to save his job. Of course what that number, only the Glazers know. So Koetter is taking the right approach.

Koetter’s must win plans began with replacing Jameis Winston with Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback for this Sunday’s game against Carolina. And rightfully so. Winston was awful against the Bengals last week and needs to sit and clear his head and hopefully understand that playing quarterback in the NFL is a privilege not a right, and he can’t continue to hurt the team with his carelessness.

Now on to Sunday. This one scares me. And if Mike Smith were still the defensive coordinator, I would be even more frightened by what might take place on Sunday. This game worries me that it could turn into another Bears game. I am not a huge Cam Newton fan, and I would take Matt Ryan, Drew Brees and even Winston – just kidding – but I would take the other two NFC South QBs over Newton all day.

Panthers QB Cam Newton – Photo by: Getty Images

That is no means a knock on his talent level. His ability to take games over with his feet more so than his arm is uncanny, and he has been a Bucs killer for a long time. Built like an outside linebacker, with the speed and toughness of a running, Newton presents challenges without question. But he is nowhere in the class of Ryan or Brees when it comes to passing. But this offense is built around what Newton does best, and the Panthers have surrounded Newton with some very good weapons including tight end Greg Olson, running back Christian McCaffrey and even wide receiver Devin Funchess.

While I believe the Buc offense can score on a very good Panthers defense, I also see the Panthers making fewer mistakes than the Buccaneers and win the game in the second half. However, if the Bucs offensive line gives up six sacks and nine QB hits as they did last week against the Bengals, this is where the game turns into another Bears debacle. I hope I am wrong, but it still worries me. Now if the Bucs line can protect like they did in Week 1 at New Orleans, it will be a slugfest and a possible Bucs win.

The good news for Bucs fans is, Tampa Bay is a very confident bunch. They will walk into Bank of America Stadium expecting to win. The leadership – and production – of Jason Pierre-Paul on defense and Ryan Fitzpatrick on offense, helps make this team feel they come home on Sunday evening sitting at 4-4.

I am still skeptical however, and feel the Panthers find a way to eek out a win over Tampa Bay. Give me the Panthers on a late Graham Gano field goal and the Bucs losing another heartbreaker like they did last week in Cincinnati.
Cook’s Score Prediction: Panthers 31, Buccaneers 29
Cook’s Pick-To-Click: TE O.J. Howard

Buccaneers Beat Reporter Trevor Sikkema
It sure feels like this is the Bucs’ season, doesn’t it?

They always say that division games are worth a little more than just one win or loss on the record books, and that is certainly the case here. If the Bucs were to fall to the Panthers on Sunday, that would force them to basically win every game out for the rest of the season to reach the playoffs — a feat I wouldn’t bet on.

But, there is some hope here.

With Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback, we’ve seen him put up historic numbers with this offense. In most of his action this season, Fitzpatrick has orchestrated this offense and its weapons to a beautiful tune, one that certainly caught the New Orleans Saints by surprise.

I believe that how Fitzpatrick performs and just how much he can do will be the deciding factor in this one, but even though it’s possible, it’s hard to predict it.

Bucs QB Ryan Fitzpatrick – Photo by Mary Holt

The Carolina Panthers are having a great start to their season. They had a major comeback against the Eagles two weeks ago, which only propelled them to play even better and totally dominate one of the best defenses in the NFL in the Baltimore Ravens the week after. It’s hard to imagine that Panthers quarterback Cam Newton would be limited more by this Buccaneers team than he was either the Ravens or the Eagles.

For that, I have to say the Panthers will likely win this one in a close battle that comes with plenty of points.

Sikkema’s Score Prediction: Panthers 31, Buccaneers 27
Sikkema’s Pick-To-Click: QB Ryan Fitzpatrick 

Pewter Report Intern Matt Matera
I have this weird feeling that the Bucs are game to pull off the upset and come out blazing hot. The switch at quarterback with Ryan Fitzpatrick getting the call had an instant effect during last Sunday’s game. Now the Bucs get the entirety of it.

Surprisingly, despite not playing in the last three games, Ryan Fitzpatrick statistically is either at the top or in the top five of most important passing categories. I don’t like to have stats control the narrative of everything, but that’s a big deal considering he’s only played in three and a half games. As far as body language, the Bucs offense, which already averages close to 30 points a game, just seems to hum better with Fitz as the passer.

You know DeSean Jackson will be happy about having his guy back. Even Mike Evans should be happy too, as each of his touchdown receptions have came from passes thrown by FitzMagic. All they need to worry about is not turning the ball over, but I didn’t need to tell you that.

When I said I expect the Bucs to come out blazing, I meant the defense too. They still have some injuries to deal with, but for the first time in a long time, they will have almost all of their defensive line healthy on the field. Gerald McCoy and Vinny Curry are expected to be back, and they hopefully will be able to cause a stir to Carolina’s offense, even if that means giving some breathers for Jason Pierre-Paul.

The Bucs are tilting on the edge of a cliff at 3-4. If this were boxing, they are on the ropes, and it’s time to punch back. 4-4 makes a big difference than 3-5, and quite frankly, the Panthers are due for a loss. Though they’re 5-2, Carolina had a victory come over the one-win Giants on a 63 yard field goal. They also came back from a 17 point fourth quarter deficit at Philadelphia after a meltdown by the Eagles. They’re a good team, but they’ve had some great fortune. Now it’s the Bucs turn to get some of that.

I’m looking to see that same Bucs offense that won Ryan Fitzpatrick back to back NFC offensive player of the week. The defense played a great second half, and they can carry that momentum facing a Cam Newton’s offense that is tough, but doesn’t have receiving weapons outside of Christian McCaffrey that are as dangerous as other NFC South opponents. The Bucs get back on track in this one.

Matera’s Score Prediction: Bucs 27, Panthers 23
Matera’s Pick-To-Click: WR DeSean Jackson

Pewter Report Intern Taylor Jenkins
The Bucs head to North Carolina this Sunday to take on the Panthers in another divisional road game with Ryan Fitzpatrick back at the helm.

The Panthers have been a trendy pick this week, surging in most people’s power rankings after Norv Turner’s offense – led by the ever-frustrating Cam Newton – hung 36 on the board against the Ravens last week. But you know what? I don’t care.

This Bucs offense is the best in the league, the best in franchise history and quite frankly shouldn’t have to ever worry about keeping up with teams, but unfortunately an awful, injured defense and turnover issues on both sides of the ball have left the Bucs with a revolving door at the quarterback position and a defense that’s managed just one interception all year.

The good news is the revolving door has stopped at Ryan Fitzpatrick for the time being. While only playing in four and a half games this season Fitzpatrick has as many touchdowns as Cam Newton and Aaron Rodgers (13) and he leads the league in yards per attempt and yards per completion. He’s the factor that took me from arguably not picking the Bucs to win another game this season to me picking them to go into Charlotte and upsetting the Panthers.

While long-term injuries to the Bucs defense still leave them hobbled, if Gerald McCoy and Vinny Curry can find their way off of the injury report and into the lineup on Sunday it could do wonders for a front seven that will have to be at their best.

Jason Pierre-Paul will enter the game with 8.0 sacks on the season and he’s riding a streak of six consecutive games with at least one sack.

The Panthers have run the ball as well as anyone in the league, ranking second in the league at 138.9 rushing yards per game on 5.1 yards per carry.

Carolina has also found incredible success by taking advantage of playmakers Christian McCaffery and D.J. Moore who have combined for 1,165 total yards of offense, so look for them to be heavily involved.

Jenkins’ Score Prediction: Buccaneers 37, Panthers 31
Jenkins’ Pick-To-Click: TE O.J. Howard