The Panthers close out their 2025 regular-season schedule at division rival Tampa Bay with an opportunity to secure their sixth NFC South title in franchise history and first since 2017. A victory would also clinch the franchise’s seventh overall division title, having also won the NFC West in 1996.
If the Panthers clinch the division, it would mark their sixth time winning the NFC South since the divisions re-aligned in 2002, second most, breaking a tie with Tampa Bay, and one shy of the seven division titles by New Orleans.
After defeating the Buccaneers 23-20 in Week 16, the Panthers are seeking a season sweep of Tampa Bay for the 10th time in franchise history and the first since 2017.
The Panthers lead the all-time series, 26-24. The two teams have split their all-time series in Tampa, 12-12, with Carolina’s last win on the road coming in 2019.
Of the last 10 Panthers-Tampa Bay matchups, nine have come in December/January, including three three-point decisions in their last five meetings.
A Carolina victory would mark their fourth division win of the season, the 10th time the franchise has won four games in a season against the NFC South and first since 2022.
This game marks the 10th Saturday contest in Panthers history (3-6). Despite the record, Carolina has outscored their opponents 240-228 on Saturday, with their three wins coming by an average of 21.0 points, including a 32-point win on Christmas Eve vs. Tampa Bay (12/24/11), the largest winning margin in the Carolina/Tampa Bay series history. Their last appearance on Saturday was a 37-23 win vs. Detroit in 2022, also on Christmas Eve.
The Mathcup
About Carolina
- This season, the Panthers offense has 25 conversions, on 38 fourth down attempts, the most in the league. They rank fifth with a 65.8% conversion percentage, while their fourth-down EPA on offensive plays is 51.83, the second highest in the league.
- Since entering the league (2023), QB Bryce Young has led 12 game-winning drives in the fourth quarter/overtime in his career, including six this season. His 12-career game-winning drives are the second most by a player before turning 25 since 2000, and the most among all quarterbacks since 2023.
- On the season, RB Rico Dowdle ranks 12th in the league with 1,066 yards rushing. Among players with at least 125 carries this season, Dowdle’s 4.7 yards per carry rank 17th in the league, while his 20 explosive runs (12+ yards) are tied for seventh in the league.
- WR Tetairoa McMillan, the Panthers 2025 first-round pick (eighth overall), leads Carolina with 65 receptions for 929 yards, the second most receiving yards and third most receptions by a rookie this season. McMillan also leads all rookies with seven touchdowns.
- Since entering the league in 2020, DT Derrick Brown has produced 28 passes defensed, the second most among defensive linemen in that span. Against the New York Jets (10/19), he registered three passes defensed, a new single-game high, and the sixth multi-PD game of his career, tied for the sixth most among active defensive linemen.
- This season, CB Mike Jackson leads the leads the league with a single-season best 19 passes defensed. After finishing tied for third in passes defensed last season, his first with the Panthers, Jackson has totaled 36 passes defensed, the most in the league since 2024. He has registered at least one pass defensed in 25 of his 33 games played as a Panther.
About Tampa Bay
- In Week 16, Lavonte David eclipsed 1,700 tackles for his career, becoming the seventh player to officially reach that milestone per StatsPass records (available since 1994). He has recorded 100+ tackles in 12-of-14 seasons.
- Since joining the Buccaneers in 2023, Baker Mayfield ranks second in the league in touchdown passes and third in passing yards. Mayfield has rushed 27 times on third down this season, with 20 going for first downs (74.1% 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.
- Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson are 2-of-4 rookies in the NFL this season with 300+ receiving yards and 5+ receiving touchdowns. They are just the second set of drafted teammates since 2000 with 300+ receiving yards and 5+ receiving touchdowns each during their rookie season joining Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez (2010 New England Patriots).
- Mike Evans is the only receiver in NFL history with 1,000+ receiving yards in each of his first 11 season. Evans also tied Hall of Famer Jerry Rice for the most consecutive 1,000-yard seasons overall.
- Sinve 2023, among RBs, Rachaad White T-No. 3 in receiving touchdowns (9); No. 5 in yards after catch (1,432); No. 7 in receptions (153); No. 7 in receiving yards (1,142)
Panthers vs Bucs
How to Watch
Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. ET ESPN: Play-by-Play: Chris Fowler; Analyst: Dan Orlovsky & Louis Riddick; Sideline: Katie George & Peter Schrager
Radio: WRFX 99.7FM in Charlotte market –Play-by-Play: Anish Shroff; Analysts: Luke Kuechly & Jim Szoke; Sideline: Sharon Thorsland
Per Release