The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are still in the race for a playoff spot, but they cannot afford any mistakes.
The Carolina Panthers will try to eliminate another playoff hopeful when they play the Buccaneers in Tampa on Sunday afternoon.
“We understand where we are,” said Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles. “It’s great to be playing December football. We just have to take care of ourselves and look up at the end and see where we’re at.”
The Buccaneers (8-7) are tied with the Atlanta Falcons at the top of the NFC South. However, even if Tampa Bay wins all their remaining games, they might not win the division because Atlanta holds the tiebreaker after winning both games against the Buccaneers this season.
“We’re in playoff mode,” said Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield. “We’ve got to take care of business or we have no shot.”
The Panthers (4-11) ended a four-game losing streak last week by defeating Arizona 36-30 in overtime. This victory ended the Cardinals’ playoff hopes.
“It has been my hope all year to build a brand of football that we’re proud of,” said first-year Panthers coach Dave Canales.
Now Canales has the chance to stop his former team. He was Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator before taking the job with the Panthers.
The Buccaneers won the first meeting with the Panthers this season, 26-23 in overtime on Dec. 1 in Charlotte. Carolina took the lead with 30 seconds left, but a 51-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin sent the game to overtime, where McLaughlin made a 30-yard kick to win the game.
Mayfield passed for 235 yards in that game, while Carolina’s Bryce Young threw for 298 yards.
The Buccaneers lost to Dallas 26-24 last weekend, ending a four-game winning streak. That winning streak included three big victories. Mayfield passed for 303 yards in the game against the Cowboys, his highest total in a seven-game stretch.
For the Panthers, six of their last seven games have been decided by six points or fewer, with three of those games going into overtime.
“We’ve got to make sure that our bodies are right for this weekend, especially going down to Tampa, where it’s going to be a little warmer,” said Canales.
In the win over Arizona, Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard ran for 152 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime. He now has 1,195 rushing yards for the season.
“Just the example of consistency, of hard work, Panthers football, our style, all that stuff, personified,” Canales said. “I know if Chuba was up here, he’d be giving all the love to the big boys up front.”
In the first game against Tampa Bay, Hubbard only managed 43 yards on 12 carries.
The Panthers changed their practice schedule this week. Offensive tackle Taylor Moton (knee) and cornerback Jaycee Horn (hip) were both dealing with injuries and missed practice early in the week.
The Panthers are also monitoring the status of rookie receiver Xavier Legette (hip/wrist), who missed the Arizona game but hopes to play again before the season ends. Canales said Legette was moving well earlier in the week, and the receiver participated fully in Wednesday’s practice, which is a good sign for the team.
The Buccaneers might have safety Jordan Whitehead (pectoral muscle) back on Sunday after spending time on injured reserve.
Tampa Bay will finish the season next week at home against New Orleans, while the Panthers will end their season by playing at Atlanta, which could affect the divisional standings.
