Overview
- Kickoff is Saturday, Jan. 3 at 4:30 p.m. ET at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, televised on ABC/ESPN.
- The Panthers enter 8-8 and win the NFC South with a victory, while the 7-9 Buccaneers need a win plus a Saints win over the Falcons to keep hope via a three-way tie scenario.
- Oddsmakers list Tampa Bay as a slight favorite by about a field goal, including BetMGM at 2.5 points and Paddy Power at three.
- Carolina won the Dec. 21 meeting 23-20, though Tampa Bay has taken four of the past five overall, and recent form shows the Bucs dropping seven of eight while the Panthers have alternated results.
- Injury notes include Bucs cornerback Jamel Dean out and Zyon McCollum on IR, with DT Calijah Kancey aiming to return, while Carolina activated RG Robert Hunt’s practice window as QB Bryce Young and Bucs QB Baker Mayfield headline the offenses.