It’s GAME DAY at Glory Days Grill – Come watch football all season long!
Bucs game day is approaching, and it’s time for the PewterReport.com staff to offer up its weekly game predictions.
Let us know what you think in the article comments section and add your prediction, too.
BUCCANEERS vs. PANTHERS
WHEN: Sunday, January 9, 2022 | WHERE: Raymond James Stadium | KICKOFF: 4:25 p.m. ET | TV: CBS
PLAY-BY-PLAY: Jim Nantz |ANALYST: Tony Romo | SIDELINE: Tracy Wolfson
RADIO: 98 ROCK 97.9 FM | PLAY-BY-PLAY: Gene Deckerhoff | ANALYST: Dave Moore | SIDELINE: T.J. Rives
SPANISH RADIO: 96.1 FM | PLAY-BY-PLAY: Carlos Bohorquez | ANALYST: Martin Gramatica
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live game day chat, starting at noon ET on Sunday all the way through to the final whistle.
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– Game Days At Glory Days Grill –
Glory Days Grill is featuring a NEW entrée that will have you wanting more. General Tso’s Chicken Wings are made with Glory Days Grill traditional wings tossed in General Tso sauce and served with red peppers and steamed broccoli. Topped with sesame seeds and scallions. Who’s trying these out?!
Glory Days Grill
Brandon | Brooksville | Carrollwood | Fort Myers | Lakeland | New Tampa | Odessa/Lutz | Palm Harbor | Riverview | Sarasota | St. Petersburg | Tallahassee | Tyrone | Wesley Chapel
Scott Reynolds: Bucs Get Historic 13th Win In Blowout Fashion
Carolina shows up to Tampa Bay with absolutely nothing to play for. The Panthers have lost six straight games, including the Week 16 game at Carolina to the Bucs, 32-6. Their offensive line is an absolute mess and they’ve given up seven sacks in each of the last two games, which is pitiful. Trading for Sam Darnold and then picking up his fifth-year option was a mistake, especially without a better group of pass protectors up front. Look for the Bucs to have at least five sacks in this game as a result – even with Shaq Barrett out with COVID and a knee injury, and Jason Pierre-Paul out with a shoulder injury.
Bucs QB Tom Brady – Photo by: USA Today
Tom Brady needs 10 yards to get reach 5,000 passing yards. And he needs 130 yards to surpass Jameis Winston as the single-season franchise passing leader. Mike Evans needs 54 yards to reach 1,000 yards receiving for the eighth straight season, which would extend his NFL record. But the real number the Bucs want to get to is 13 – as in the 13th win of the season. That would set a new single-season franchise record and put Tampa Bay at 13-4. The previous best was the Bucs going 12-4 in 2002 en route to winning the Super Bowl.
Another record could fall with a victory, which is most home wins. The Bucs would be 7-1 at home this year for the first time, and that will happen with a triumph over the Panthers. Look for this one to get out of hand by the third quarter and for Blaine Gabbert to make another appearance. Tampa Bay is 5-0 in games in which Gabbert takes a snap at quarterback. Make it 6-0.
Reynolds’ Season Record: 11-5
Jon Ledyard: Bucs Stomp Out Battered Panthers
Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Even against a depleted Bucs offense, this one is going to be tough for the Panthers. Tom Brady and Mike Evans will be gunning to get the star wide receiver over 1,000 yards. And Rob Gronkowski needs a 100-yard game to lead all tight ends in NFL history in that area. Big games could be in store for both players, especially if Tristan Wirfs and Donovan Smith lock up Brian Burns and Haason Reddick again.
Ledyard’s Score Prediction: Buccaneers 31, Panthers 10
Ledyard’s Season Record: 13-3
Matt Matera: Despite Recent Distractions, Bucs Get The Win
After the whole Antonio Brown saga this week, it’d be easy to forget that the Bucs have a game on Sunday. While Tampa Bay and Carolina are going in two different directions, this is still an important game for the Bucs in terms of NFC playoff seeding. If the Bucs can win and the 49ers beat the Rams, then Tampa Bay can move up to the two seed and guarantee themselves that they wouldn’t have to leave Tampa unless they make it to the NFC Championship Game. The Bucs won’t overlook that.
Bucs WR Mike Evans and QB Tom Brady – Photo by: USA Today
We have a lot to figure out with the Bucs offense now that they’re down to Tom Brady, Mike Evans, Gronk and a supporting cast. The Bucs were always going to force feed Evans the ball so he can keep his 1,000-yard seasons record intact, but it makes it easier since Carolina’s secondary is either injured or on the COVID list. Someone else will step up and be another receiver that Brady can rely on for the playoff stretch. Whether it’s Cyril Grayson, Jr., Tyler Johnson or Breshad Perriman – that’s up to them.
This is a good “get yourself right” game for the Bucs defense this week. The Panthers offense is in shambles, and let’s not forget that Tampa Bay sacked Carolina seven times just two weeks ago. Will we see the type of Bucs defense that can get sacks and turnovers from that game, or the one from last week that played soft defense, recorded one sack and no takeaways? I think we’ll see them bounce back and help the Bucs win their last regular season game before their playoff run begins.
Matera’s Score Prediction: Buccaneers 27, Panthers 17
Matera’s Season Record: 11-5
JC Allen: Bucs Make Franchise History, Capture 13th Win
The Bucs have a chance to make Franchise history as they head into their final game of the season. If the Bucs win this game they will have secured the most wins and best record in team history at 13-4. While giving themselves a real shot at the number two seed, depending on the results of the Rams and 49ers game as well. The team in their way? The Carolina Panthers.
Bucs RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn – Photo by: USA Today
It’s been just two weeks since these teams faced off with the Bucs winning decisively, 32-6. Despite having one of the league’s top defensive units, Tampa Bay was able to move the ball at will. Now without keys members of their defense, such as Stephon Gilmore, the Panthers will be in an even tighter spot. Of course, the Bucs are facing issues of their own. They are without their top two running backs. Relying on second-year back Ke’Shawn Vaughn to carry the load. They are also without their leading receiver from the Week 16 contest. The Bucs will need someone to step up on offense and be a play-maker for the team.
On the defensive side of the ball, it appears the entire secondary will be intact and able to play for just the second time this year. Last week late arrivals by Jamel Dean and Sean Murphy-Bunting, who also suffered an injury early that knocked him out of the game, through off what was supposed to be there first game together all season. The Bucs will also be without Shaq Barrett, who injured his knee in that game and has been out since. The team’s pass rush will need to step up big against a team that has let up 50 sacks this season, 29th in the NFL. Less predictability on the offense and scheming guys open instead of relying on talent will be key aspects to win this game. If they can do that, contain the quarterback and deliver constant pressure there’s no reason the Bucs can’t win big on Sunday.
Allen’s Score Prediction: Buccaneers 30, Panthers 16
Allen’s Season Record: 12-4
Paul Atwal: Patchwork Bucs Offense Finds Answers In Win
It feels like it’s been half a season since the Bucs last played the Panthers. That’s the AB Effect. And now Byron Leftwich has to recalibrate his offense again. Does he go into more two tight packages (like he did in Carolina), thus allowing him to get into the hip slot formations he loves? Or does he continue riding the 11 personnel wave? Both strategies are understandable. Leftwich’s answer will come from this question: out of Cameron Brate, O.J. Howard, Breshad Perriman, Tyler Johnson, and Cyril Grayson Jr., who do ya like? The recalibration should not include more first down runs – but history tell us that this will likely be a part of Leftwich’s plan. And with all that in play, Tom Brady will have to be damn near perfect.
Bucs ILB Devin White – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Defensively, this unit has thrived on splash plays, but its down-to-down consistency has room to improve. Sam Darnold and co. provide the opportunity to work on both. It’s understandable that there would be a drop-off with Lavonte David out, because he’s a football savant. His anticipation and awareness prompt several rewinds when watching tape. However, excuses aside, Devin White needs to play better. He has earned his 88th ranking amongst 99 qualifying linebackers in PFF defensive grade. Last year, after an up-and-down regular season, he turned it up in his three playoff appearances. Can he string together another run like that? If so, especially if David returns, this defense could take it to another level.
This will be the third straight week where I’m more interested in the scheme than the result of the game, because the result should be a given. Of course, the NFL doesn’t work that way. Regardless, I have confidence that the Bucs can dominate this match-up, again.
Atwal’s Score Prediction: Buccaneers 28, Panthers 17
Atwal’s Season Record: 13-3
Kasey Hudson: Backups Step Up As Bucs Crush Panthers
Through ups, downs, and an unruly number of injuries, we have made it to Week 18. For the last hoorah of the season, the Bucs face the Panthers for the second time in three weeks. Tampa Bay took the first game, 32-6, but the second game is more important for playoff seeding. In light of the team’s challenges over the last week, we have seen some emerging talent in guys like Cyril Grayson, Jr. and Ke’Shawn Vaughn. Vaughn has led the running back group in the last two games and Grayson spared the Bucs the embarrassment of losing to the Jets. With Ronald Jones II ruled out, another player we can see more of is Le’Veon Bell. Bell had three receptions for 30-yards in significant downs against New York. But who are we kidding? This game will be about Tom Brady getting Mike Evans to 1,000-yards as he only has 54-yards to go.
Bucs CB Carlton Davis III and OLB Cam Gill – Photo by: USA Today
The Panthers are not without their challenges either. Carolina will enter this game with a six-game losing streak. They will also be without cornerback Stephon Gilmore, defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos and wide receiver Shi Smith, who are all on the Reserve/COVID list. In addition, wide receiver Robby Anderson is questionable and has not participated in any practices this week. In the Week 16 game, Anderson and Smith were the Panthers leading receivers against the Bucs. Making this offense very controllable as long as they Bucs’ defense doesn’t give up a bunch of runs like they did with the Jets.
Regardless of depletion, Tampa Bay should play well on both sides of the ball. The defense needs to redeem itself from Sunday’s near loss, and fans want to be reassured that the offense can move the ball without Antonio Brown and Chris Godwin. A big win is a must for the Bucs to close out this season.
Hudson’s Score Prediction: Buccaneers 34, Panthers 10
Hudson’s Season Record: 12-4
