Panthers (3-2) vs. Bucs (2-3)
Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London TV: NFL Network
Danny Sheridan’s line: Buccaneers by 1
Panthers’ keys to victory: Get the ball to RB Christian McCaffrey. It doesn’t take an offensive genius to figure this out. McCaffrey finished with 176 rushing yards and two touchdowns in a Week 5 win over the Jaguars but will be met with resistance at the line from Tampa Bay’s top-notch rush defense. That means QB Kyle Allen likely will look to McCaffrey in the passing game, where he’s just as effective. The Panthers should have success against Tampa Bay’s weak secondary.
Buccaneers’ keys to victory: Find a way to stop the Panthers’ passing attack. In the Bucs’ Week 5 loss to New Orleans, they made backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater look like Drew Brees as he shredded them for 314 yards passing and four touchdowns. If Tampa Bay is going to go anywhere this season, the secondary will need to step up.
Matchup to watch: Panthers CB James Bradberry vs. Buccaneers WR Mike Evans. Evans was held without a reception by the Saints. You can expect him to come out aggressively against the Panthers, meaning Bradberry will need to be at the top of his game to stop him. While Bucs WR Chris Godwin commands his share of attention, Evans is the receiver who can demolish secondaries.
Who wins? The Bucs are the designated home team, and their secondary isn’t likely to play as badly against Carolina as it did against New Orleans. Tampa Bay’s offense is reliable enough to put points on the board. It’ll come down to whether the Bucs’ defense can stop Carolina.
Buccaneers, 28-23