Buccaneers vs Panthers: 3 Matchups to Watch

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CINCINNATI, OH – OCTOBER 28: Ryan Fitzpatrick #14 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates after converting a two point conversion to tie up the game late in the fourth quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati defeated Tampa Bay 37-34. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

This weekend the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face off with their division rivals, the Carolina Panthers. What are some key matchups to look for in the game?

Games against the Carolina Panthers did not work out well for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season. The Bucs dropped both of their matches to Carolina; the first a not-even-close 17-3 drumming, and the second a very-close 22-19 last second loss.

Both teams look to be in better shape than they were last year, and the Buccaneers will have a new quarterback at the helm. Can Ryan Fitzpatrick have better luck than Jameis Winston did in the pair of 2017 losses?

As far as match-ups go, both teams bring X-factors to the table. The wide open air-raid attack of the Buccaneers will keep Carolina’s defensive backs on their heels throughout the game, while the diverse, complex attack of Carolina’s offense will have the heads of Buccaneer defenders spinning.

I think the edge overall goes the way of the Panthers in large part because of Tampa’s helpless defense, but Tampa should be able to hold their own.

Let’s check out some of the more specific match-ups within this game, and break down what each of them means for the game.

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