Buccaneers vs. Panthers: 3 keys to victory

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are set to face the division rival Carolina Panthers this week. Here is what they need to do to come away with an upset win.

With only a handful of games remaining on the schedule, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in a position to play spoiler. With the Carolina Panthers in the middle of the NFC playoff race, the Bucs can set them back.

Offensively, Tampa Bay should have success. Although the Panthers beat the Bucs back in Week 9,  Ryan Fitzpatrick put up 28 points. However, turnovers kept the Bucs from keeping the contest close.

The defensive side of the ball will be the issue. Carolina’s rushing attack will cause problems for the unit.

Here are three keys to victory for the Buccaneers:

Mike Evans vs. James Bradberry

Last time out, Bradberry dominated Mike Evans. He broke up a handful of passes heading their way. Rarely do corners hold Evans to one catch for 16 yards, but credit to Bradberry who put together a career day.

What makes Bradberry’s performance special is the fact that Ryan Fitzpatrick targeted Evans 10 times that game.

Time after time Bradberry won the battle. Now, it’s time for Evans to exact revenge. He is coming off of back-to-back 100-yard performances, and it should propel him into a crucial matchup on the outside.

The Bucs will need Evans to play at a high level if they hope to upset the Panthers. DeSean Jackson‘s hand injury may force him to miss Sunday’s game. Plus, O.J. Howard, who scored two touchdowns last time these two teams played, won’t play.

Slowing down Christian McCaffrey

Christian McCaffrey has quickly developed into an elite running back. With his ability to catch passes out of the backfield, Tampa Bay needs to keep McCaffrey under wraps.

In their Week 9 matchup, the Stanford product gained 150 yards from scrimmage on 22 touches. He broke tackles with ease, gashing the Bucs defense for long runs.

McCaffrey will get his numbers; there’s no way Tampa has the talent to shut him down completely. However, limiting the big plays will be key. The Panthers put up 42 points the last time these two teams met due to Carolina’s big play ability.

Although quarterback Cam Newton can do damage through the air, it was short passes and the running game that hurt Tampa last time these teams met.

No turnovers from Jameis Winston

The popular knock on Jameis Winston is his propensity to turn the ball over. Despite all of his jaw-dropping plays, Winston’s ability to hand the ball to the other team has cast a dark cloud on his career.

So far this season, Winston has tossed 11 interceptions compared to his 10 touchdowns. Last week Winston had no issues with turnovers, and it helped give the Buccaneers their first win in over a month.

Although the Panthers defense won’t strike fear into an opponents heart, they do have playmakers. Bradberry and linebacker Luke Kuechley are game-changers. If they get a chance to make a play on the ball, Winston better bet that they will make him pay.

The only thing that can stop the Bucs offense is itself. They gain yards at will, but they are prone to shooting themselves in the foot.