The Panthers return to Bank of America Stadium for their first of two games against division rival Tampa Bay over the final three weeks of the season. Carolina holds a 25-24 advantage in the all-time series, although the Buccaneers have won the past five meetings.
The Panthers are 13-12 in 25 home games in the series. The teams last met in Charlotte in Week 13 of last season, a 26-23 Tampa Bay victory in overtime that featured five lead changes and QB Bryce Young passing for a season-high 298 yards.
With victories over Atlanta in Weeks 3 and 11, the Panthers can win three division games in a season for the first time since 2022 (four).
Carolina can also secure their first season with five home wins since 2022.
The Matchup
About Carolina
- Under Head Coach Dave Canales, the Panthers have posted a 10-5 record (.667) in one-score games, tied for the fourth-best winning percentage in the league since 2024. Since becoming the Panthers head coach, Canales has gone 4-1 in overtime games, tied with Atlanta (1-4) for the most overtime games played since 2024.
- This season, the Panthers offense has 23 conversions on 33 fourth down attempts, the most in the league. They rank fifth with a 69.7% conversion percentage, while their fourth-down EPA on offensive plays is 49.75, the second highest in the league. In their seven wins, the Panthers have gone 16-of-19 on fourth down (84.2%), while converting a fourth down on four of their five game-winning drives this season.
- On the season, RB Rico Dowdle ranks ninth in the league with 978 yards rushing. Among players with at least 125 carries this season, Dowdle’s 4.7 yards per carry ranks 12th in the league, while his 19 explosive runs (12+ yards) are tied for sixth in the league. In total, Dowdle has produced 1,237 scrimmage yards, tied for the ninth best, including 1,134 (113.4 per game) since Week 5, the seventh most in the league.
- Since entering the league (2023), QB Bryce Young has led 11 game-winning drives in the fourth quarter/overtime in his career, including four this season. His 11-career game-winning drives are tied for the second most by a player before turning 25 since 2000, and the most among all quarterbacks since 2023.
- WR Tetairoa McMillan, the Panthers 2025 first-round pick (eighth overall), leads Carolina with 59 receptions for 851 yards, the most second-most receiving yards and third most receptions by a rookie this season.
- Since entering the league in 2020, DT Derrick Brown has produced 28 passes defensed, the second most among defensive linemen in that span.
About Tampa Bay
- Since Baker Mayfield’s arrival in 2023, Head Coach Todd Bowles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are tied for the third-most wins (11) and the third-highest winning percentage (.733) of any team in Weeks 13-18.
- In Week 15, Tampa Bay’s top four wide receivers took the field together for the first time, combining for 16 receptions, 254 yards and a touchdown. In his first game back from his collarbone injury, Mike Evans’ 132 receiving yards were sixth-most across the NFL in week 15.
- Since joining the Buccaneers in 2023, Baker Mayfield ranks second in the league in touchdown passes and third in passing yards. Mayfield has rushed 24 times on third down this season, with 17 going for first downs (70.8% success rate). That is the second-highest first-down rush percentage on third-down attempts among all quarterbacks with 10+ third down carries and the fifth-highest mark in the entire NFL.
- Through Week 15, Emeka Egbuka leads the Buccaneers in receptions (58), receiving yards (870) and receiving touchdowns (six). His 870 receiving yards lead all rookies.
- Under Head Coach Todd Bowles’ direction, the Buccaneers have collected 20 takeaways, with just 11 offensive turnovers, giving them a +9 turnover margin — tied for the fourth-best turnover differential in the NFL this season. Tampa Bay has seven games with multiple takeaways this year, tied for the third-most in the NFL through Week 15, trailing only Chicago and Jacksonville.
Panthers vs Bucs
How to Watch
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET FOX: Play-by-Play: Chris Meyers; Analyst: Mark Schlereth; Sideline: Jen Hale
Radio: WRFX 99.7FM in Charlotte market –Play-by-Play: Anish Shroff; Analysts: Luke Kuechly & Jake Delhomme; Sideline: Kristen Balboni
Per Release