The Tampa Bay Buccaneers take on the Carolina Panthers on New Year’s Day with the NFC South essentially at stake. Here’s how the game will go for the Buccaneers.
In a scenario that seemed beyond comprehension coming into the season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, perceived Super Bowl contenders that have played like anything but, will play the Carolina Panthers, a team perceived as one that was basically tanking, on the first day of 2023 for control of the NFC South. If the Buccaneers win, they clinch the division. If they lose, they can still backdoor their way into hosting a playoff game should the Panthers choke, but can’t control their own destiny.
On paper, this game shouldn’t’ even be close. However, games aren’t played on paper, they are played on the field. Here is how the game will go for the Bucs and Panthers when they take the field of Raymond James Stadium.
This is your official spoiler alert. Read on if you dare, but know you’ve been warned.
The one player the Buccaneers need to prepare for if they don’t want a nightmare scenario on their hands is Panthers pass-rusher Brian Burns. The Bucs will do all they can, but Burns will still get his. Fortunately, the Buccaneers defense will also rise to the challenge, as much as they can comparatively speaking, despite being banged up.
Even more fortunately, is the fact that the Buccaneers still have Tom Brady at quarterback, who will have a final Tampa Bay season’s worth of GOAT magic to propel the Bucs.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will defeat the Carolina Panthers by a score of 24-20, and in doing so, will clinch the NFC South to host a playoff game by some divine miracle. There is your spoiler alert, do with that what you will quantum leapers and Happy New Year.