Panthers (1-10) at Bucs (4-7)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
TV: CBS
Spread (BetMGM): Buccaneers by 5.5
Panthers’ keys to victory: Carolina is arguably the worst team in the NFL and has a new interim head coach this week (Chris Tabor), but Tampa Bay has weaknesses to exploit. To exploit them, the Panthers will have to spread the ball around and expose the Bucs’ poor passing defense. Doing this will mean not defaulting to WR Adam Thielen, who will be covered by Tampa Bay’s best. On defense, the team should limit Tampa Bay’s options by ensuring WR Mike Evans is covered at all times.
Buccaneers’ keys to victory: Limit penalties. Their roster is far more talented than the Panthers’ is, and Carolina has lost to far worse teams. But penalties have been an issue since the Bucs came back from a Week 5 bye. Tampa Bay’s defense should be able to get the job done as its offense comes together more each week.
Matchup to watch: Panthers QB Bryce Young vs. Buccaneers secondary. This matchup could be telling in two ways: If Young shreds the Bucs passing defense through the air, it’ll prove that he can be the player the Panthers thought he was when they drafted him first overall last spring. If Tampa Bay can contain him, the defense will get a much-needed morale boost after allowing opposing quarterbacks to put up video game numbers in multiple games this season.
Who wins? Tampa Bay needs this win to stay in NFC South contention, and the Panthers don’t have a lot to play for in either direction with their first-round draft pick having been traded to the Bears. The Bucs will get it done.
Buccaneers, 24-17
River Wells, Bucs Wire