Carolina Panthers (4-11) will face off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7) this Sunday at 1 p.m. EST, broadcast on FOX. According to BetMGM, the Buccaneers are favored by 8 points in this matchup. The Panthers have a 7-8 record against the spread, while the Buccaneers are at 9-6. Historically, the Panthers hold a narrow lead in the series with a record of 25-23. The last encounter saw the Buccaneers outlast the Panthers in overtime, winning 26-23 on December 1, 2024, in Carolina.
In their most recent games, Carolina emerged victorious over the Arizona Cardinals, winning 36-30 in overtime, while the Buccaneers suffered a close defeat to the Dallas Cowboys, falling 26-24. The current performance metrics for each team show that the Panthers rank 30th in overall offense, 16th in rushing, and 30th in passing, collectively scoring the same as the 26th best team in the league. On defense, they sit at 31st overall, 32nd against the run, and 10th against the pass. The Buccaneers, on the other hand, boast the third-best overall offense, ranking 7th in rushing and 3rd in passing, with scores that put them 5th in the league. Defensively, they are 25th overall, 10th against the run, and 30th against the pass, with scoring defense ranked 22nd.
A key player to watch from the Panthers is running back Chuba Hubbard. Last week, he had an impressive performance, rushing for 152 yards and scoring two touchdowns, including the decisive 21-yard touchdown in overtime against the Cardinals. This performance somewhat compensated for his earlier fumble that led to a loss against the Buccaneers in overtime. Currently, Hubbard has racked up 1,195 rushing yards this season, marking the fourth highest total in team history, and has reached the end zone 10 times.
For the Buccaneers, former Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield has demonstrated resilience since joining the team. He remains undefeated in three meetings against his former team, although the victories have been tightly contested. The Buccaneers clinched their last NFC South title with a narrow 9-0 victory over the Panthers last season. Mayfield has seen a resurgence in his performance, throwing for a career-high 34 touchdowns this season, leading a high-powered Buccaneers offense that ranks prominently in yards and scoring.
An important aspect to monitor is the matchup between Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving and the Panthers’ defensive line. In their previous meeting, Irving rushed for a career-high 152 yards and scored once, contributing to the Buccaneers’ total of 239 rushing yards. The Panthers have struggled significantly against the run, allowing nearly 200 rushing yards per game over the past seven contests. Last week, Irving had 68 yards on 16 carries along with a touchdown against the Cowboys.
In terms of injuries, the Panthers are optimistic about the return of wide receiver Xavier Legette. The Buccaneers will be without safety Antoine Winfield Jr. due to a knee injury, and the status of tight end Cade Otton, linebacker K.J. Britt, and receiver Sterling Shepard remains uncertain. Safety Christian Izien has been placed on injured reserve, while safety Jordan Whitehead is working his way back from IR and may return as early as this weekend.
The recent series has heavily favored the Buccaneers, who have won eight of the last nine matchups, including four consecutive wins. Since being released by the Panthers, Mayfield has maintained a perfect record against them and is undefeated in four overall confrontations. As for statistical trends, the Panthers have managed only one win in six games on the road this season under first-year head coach Dave Canales. Quarterback Bryce Young showcased his mobility last week against the Cardinals, recording a career-high 68 rushing yards.
Hubbard ranks sixth in the NFL for rushing yards entering Week 17. Additionally, wide receiver Adam Thielen surpassed 8,000 career receiving yards recently, distinguishing himself as only the fourth undrafted player to reach this milestone in the past 56 years. The Buccaneers have shown improvement in December and January regular-season games, winning 8 of their last 10 such matches.
For fantasy football enthusiasts, Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans is on the verge of achieving his 11th consecutive season with over 1,000 receiving yards. He has historically excelled against the Panthers, tallying impressive stats in his 20 previous games against them, including 110 receptions for 1,598 yards and 12 touchdowns. He recorded eight catches for 118 yards and a touchdown in their earlier meeting this season.
