BucsGameday Staff Score Predictions: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers

Our staff provides their predictions and analysis for Tampa Bay's regular-season finale.

The end of the regular season has arrived and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers still have plenty to play for despite a dismal loss to the New Orleans Saints last weekend. The Buccaneers are one victory away from clinching for the fourth consecutive year as head coach Todd Bowles and quarterback Baker Mayfield try to salvage a season that looked dead in the water a couple of weeks ago. 

The Panthers are 2-14 and will hold the worst record in the league despite not being in control of their own first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The franchise previously chose to fire first-year head coach Frank Reich as No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young has put together a rocky rookie campaign. Young has completed 59.7% of his passes with 11 touchdowns to 10 interceptions while being sacked 59 times.

Buccaneers Legend Tom Brady Reveals NFL Team He'll Never Cheer For

The Buccaneers defeated Carolina 21-18 in December as star wide receiver Mike Evans racked up seven catches for 162 yards and a score. The team will need another strong performance from its skill players with Mayfield dealing with a rib injury.

Our staff provides their predictions and analysis as the Buccaneers prepare to take on the Panthers.

Dustin Lewis (@DustinLewisNG)

Well, that was embarrassing. With a chance to lock up the NFC South and give their starters a break in the last week of the regular season, Tampa Bay instead laid an egg in what could very well be the team's final game in Raymond James Stadium this year. There's one final chance to rally from the ashes against the worst team in the league.

The Panthers are coming off a decisive 26-0 defeat to Jacksonville and they frankly don't have a ton of motivation to show up for this game. That could play into the Buccaneers' favor with how crucial this contest is for the franchise.

I think Tampa Bay does just enough to sneak into the playoffs and walk out of Charlotte with a victory.

2023 Season Prediction Record: 10-6

Buccaneers 21, Panthers 20

Logan Robinson (@LogansTwitty)

Win and you’re in. It’s that simple. I think we saw last weekend that this Buccaneers team shouldn’t be able to overhype themselves or think they’re better than any team they’re facing moving forward. They should go into this game playing like they’re the underdogs. That’s where they’ve found the most success coming away with wins this season. 

That all comes from the very top in coaching with Todd Bowles but needs to trickle down to the leadership within the team. This team is good but not phenomenal. A mindset change must be made to reach the playoffs and on Sunday they need to bring the right attitude. I think they will but the Panthers are going to put on a fight to try and spoil the season for Tampa Bay.

2023 Season Prediction Record: 9-7

Buccaneers 31, Panthers 21

David Harrison (@DHarrison82)

After a major letdown last weekend against the Saints there's no chance leaders like Lavonte David, Mike Evans, and Chris Godwin let their teammates come out with the same lackluster effort, right? Especially not with the playoffs truly on the line going up against a team that has already traded away the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft. 

My bold prediction is Tampa Bay makes Panthers owner David Tepper 'drink-throwing angry' one last time before the end of the year and clinch the NFC South Division. 

2023 Season Prediction Record: 9-7

Buccaneers 24, Panthers 10

Collin Haalboom (@SI_Buccaneers)

It's a must-win game for the Bucs. Unfortunately for them, there are legitimate question marks surrounding the health of their quarterback, Baker Mayfield, who is dealing with a rib injury from a nasty hit he took late in the fourth quarter vs. the Saints last week.

On the other side of the coin, the Bucs are lucky that they're facing off against the worst team in the NFL to determine whether or not they'll be hosting a playoff game this season. With a healthy Baker, the Bucs would roll in this game. But even if he isn't healthy, I think he does enough to will his team to victory over an inferior opponent. 

2023 Season Prediction Record: 10-6

Buccaneers 24, Panthers 17

Caleb Skinner (@chsnole)

The Bucs will get a second shot at clinching the NFC South in the last weekend of the regular season when they head to Charlotte to take on the Carolina Panthers. There have been some questions regarding the health of quarterback Baker Mayfield, but it appears that he was able to put together a complete practice on Friday after being limited for much of the week with a rib injury he suffered near the end of the Saints game. 

If Baker is able to be his usual self, the Buccaneers offense should continue to hum. With a lot on the line in terms of making the playoffs and player incentives the Bucs should be focused in this one. However, the Panthers won’t be lacking in motivation either as they could knock the Bucs out of the playoffs all together and build some momentum heading into the offseason with a win. Ultimately, the Bucs look to be the better team at this point in the season and have shown to play better on the road than they have at home. The Bucs win this one and clinch a playoff spot.

2023 Season Prediction Record: 8-8

Buccaneers 31, Panthers 21

JC Allen (@JCAllenNFL)

It’s win or go home for the Buccaneers this week with their playoff hopes on the line. On the road in Carolina, these Panthers aren’t just going to roll over for the Bucs and are eager to play spoiler for their division rival. Tampa Bay was embarrassed last week against the Saints and will need to come out fast against the Panthers. This is a winnable game and the one thing the Bucs can’t do is beat themselves. If they can play a clean football game they should be wearing hats and t-shirts after as the NFC South Champs with a home playoff game next week.

2023 Season Prediction Record: 12-4

Buccaneers 27, Panthers 16

Kade Kimble (@kadekimble)

With the Buccaneers’ destiny in their hands, playing a clean football game and not leaving opportunities on the board will be huge. Playing a 2-14 team, the Buccaneers should be able to come away with a win to seal the NFC South and a playoff position. A few crucial defensive plays could be what swings this one in favor of Tampa Bay.

2023 Season Prediction Record: 11-5

Buccaneers 20, Panthers 14

Ben Meyerson (@ByBenMeyerson)

The Panthers are bad, very very bad. Their offense has been a mess, scoring 10 or less points in five of their last seven games. On the defensive side of the ball, the Buccaneers should be able to get pressure on Bryce Young and disrupt their passing game. The Panthers' run game has been awful this year, so they should struggle to produce much offense. 

On offense the Buccaneers had their worst outing of the season against the Saints, they have been great since the halfway point in the season. I expect them to bounce back and have a great game. Rachaad White especially should have a great game as this is a good matchup for him. The Bucs win the division handily.

2023 Season Prediction Record: 9-7

Buccaneers 24, Panthers 9

Cody Haynes (@codyh33)

The final week of the regular season is here and we were all hoping the Bucs would have the division locked up by now. The whole season comes down to this week's 18 matchup vs the Panthers. The Bucs had a rough game last week against the Saints after a few promising games previously. In a game that was supposed to be a divisional-clinching contest, the team took a major step backward. 

They need to clean it up this week to punch a ticket to the postseason. Even though the Panthers are the worst team in the NFL, the Bucs shouldn’t take them lightly. Baker mayfield began throwing the ball Thursday after a horrible late hit that bruised his ribs last game. If Baker can’t go, next man up is obviously Kyle Trask. I imagine Baker will do everything he can to play this week. If he does play, I think the Bucs get back on track and win this week.

2023 Season Prediction Record: 7-5 (joined in middle of season)

Buccaneers 24, Panthers 10

Matthew Hewitt (@BucsTrackerNFL)

With the NFC South total on the line, I don’t see the Bucs losing. This is as big of a regular-season game as you can get. Win and you are in. Lose and you are out.

2023 Season Prediction Record: 7-5 (joined in middle of season)

Buccaneers 24, Panthers 14

CONSENSUS: Buccaneers (10-0)

---

READ MORE: Buccaneers' OC Compares Baker Mayfield to Seahawks' Geno Smith

Stick with BucsGameday and the Locked On Bucs podcast for more coverage, news, and analysis throughout the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2023 season.

Follow BucsGameday on Twitter and Facebook