The Carolina Panthers will travel to ‘The Sunshine State’ to face NFC South foe Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. The Panthers’ final two matchups of 2024 will be in the NFC South as they travel to Atlanta next week to face the Falcons in the season finale.
This will be the 49th matchup between the two division rivals, with the Panthers leading the series 25-23. The first matchup between the two teams came earlier this month in Week 13, an eventual 26-23 overtime win for Tampa Bay. The Panthers hold a 12-11 advantage over the Buccaneers in games played in Tampa.
The Panthers come into Week 17 following a 36-30 overtime victory over the Arizona Cardinals, the Panthers third overtime game this season, their most in a single-season since 2003 (four). Last Sunday was Carolina’s first overtime win in team history where they scored the winning points on a touchdown. The Panthers defense notched three sacks against Kyler Murray and the Cardinals. Since Week 10, Carolina has 19.0 sacks, tied for the fifth-most in the NFL during that stretch (despite having their bye in Week 11)
The Buccaneers return home following a 26-24 loss to the Cowboys in Dallas on Sunday Night Football. Tampa enter the matchup with an 8-7 record and are currently second in the NFC South. Third-year head coach Todd Bowles has led the Bucs to a 25-24 record during his tenure.
The Matchup
About Carolina
- In five of the last seven games, Bryce Young has led the Panthers on game tying or game winning drives. Since returning as the team’s starter in Week 8 against the Broncos, Young has completed 157-of-257 passes (61.1%) for 1,650 yards with 10 touchdowns and six interceptions, good for an 83.0 passer rating. He has also rushed 30 times for 191 yards and three touchdowns since Denver. His 11 completions of 25 or more yards are his most in a eight-game stretch in his career. On the season, Young has 14 total touchdowns, a career-high.
- Chuba Hubbard ranks sixth in the NFL in rushing yards (1,195) this season. He is also sixth in carries (250), tied for sixth in rushing first downs (62), tied for ninth in rushes of 10+ yards (26) and 13th in yards per carry (4.78). A native of Alberta, Canada, Hubbard ranks second all-time in rushing yards (3,175) among Canadian-born players in NFL history.
- In Week 16, OLB Jadeveon Clowney reached 400 career tackles. He is one of just nine active players to have at least 400 total tackles, 50.0 sacks and 100 tackles for loss. According to TruMedia, the former first-overall pick is joined by Panthers Hall of Famer Julius Peppers as the only two players in NFL history to record at least 360 total tackles, 50.0 sacks, 100 tackles for loss and score at least four defensive touchdowns.
- In 14 games this season, A’Shawn Robinson has set career-highs in total tackles (73), solo tackles (42), sacks (5.5), sack yards (45.5), quarterback hits (eight), and tackles for loss (eight). He leads the league in total and solo tackles among defensive lineman this season.
About Tampa Bay
- The Buccaneers are 8-2 (.800) in December/January games dating back to the start of 2023 and 20-6 (.769) dating back to the start of the 2020 season. Tampa Bay’s eight-such wins in such games since 2023 are tied for the second-most in the NFL during that span.
- Tampa Bay has amassed 400+ yards of offense in a game nine different times this season – the most 400-yard outings in the NFL. The Buccaneers also rank tied for first in 20-point games this season (14). Tampa Bay is 1-of-3 teams with multiple 500-yard performances in 2024.
- The Buccaneers are 8-4 this season with Mike Evans active (0-3 without) and 8-2 in games in which Evans has five-or-more targets. Despite missing three games, Evans remains tied for fifth in the NFL in receiving touchdowns, with nine. Evans needs three receptions and 182 receiving yards in the final two games of the year to keep his 1,000- yard and 60-catch streaks alive (10 consecutive seasons).
- Entering Week 16, Baker Mayfield has the highest passer rating (103.5) by a Tampa Bay quarterback through the first 15 games of a season. Mayfield ranks second in the NFL in passing touchdowns (62) and passing yards (7,964) since arriving in Tampa in 2023.
Connections
Panthers K Eddy Piñeiro (Miami), S Sam Franklin Jr. (Iverness), TE Feleipe Franks (Crawford) are all from Florida. President of Football Operations/General Manager Dan Morgan attended high school in Coral Springs, Fla. Piñeiro (2016-17), Franks (2017-19), and QBs Will Harriger (2012-13 GA) all spent time at the University of Florida while CB Mike Jackson (2015-18), OLB D.J. Johnson (2017), and Morgan (1997-2000) played at the University of Miami.
Buccaneers WR Kameron Johnson (Rocky Mount), CB Tyrek Funderburk (Indian Trail), OLBs George Edwards (Siler City), and PGC Josh Grizzard (Zebulon) all grew up in North Carolina. Funderburk (2023) and Edwards (1992-95) both spent time at Appalachian State, Johnson (2020-23) played at Barton Collegem, and C Graham Barton (2020-23), LS Evan Deckers (2022), Edwards (1985-89, 96), and Grizzard (2013-16 GA/QC) all played at or were on staff at Duke. Oc Tom Moore (1969 OC) coached at Wake Forest. WRs Bryan McClendon (2016-19) spent time at the University of South Carolina while DT C.J. Brewer (2016-21) went to Coastal Carolina and WR Ryan Miller (2018-22) attended Furman.
Panthers vs Bucs
All-Time Series (Regular Season): 48 matchups | Carolina leads 25-23
Last Regular Season Game: 12/1/24 | Tampa Bay 26 at Carolina 23 (OT)
Series Record in Tampa: 23 matchups | Carolina leads 12-11
How to Watch
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET CBS: Play by Play – Ian Eagle; Analyst – Charles Davis; Sideline – Evan Washburn
Radio: WRFX 99.7FM in Charlotte market – Play by Play – Anish Shroff; Analyst – Luke Kuechly; Analyst – Jim Szoke; Sideline – Kristen Balboni
Per Release