The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have now left themselves with everything to do in the final two weeks of the 2025 NFL regular season, as they were unable to defeat the team they are competing with for the only playoff spot they are eligible for in the NFC. Having already lost to two easier rivals in the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons, the Buccaneers lost the first of two must win matchups against the Carolina Panthers, their direct competitors for the NFC South crown.
Despite the loss, the Buccaneers are not eliminated from the playoffs, but they can easily be if they lose these next two games. Of course, the Week 18 rematch with the Panthers at Raymond James Stadium is the decisive one, but after the Buccaneers lost to Atlanta and New Orleans and barely survived the Arizona Cardinals before that, they have learned not to take anything for granted.
The Miami Dolphins season is finished, and as dismal as Tua Tagovailoa has been in the 2025 season, there is not a single soul on this planet who can convincingly argue that the Fins are a better team with Quinn Ewers under center. Ewers is the opponent on the docket at quarterback for this embattled Buccaneers defense, and if they can not tee off him and set themselves up for positive momentum against David Canales, Bryce Young, and the Panthers in Week 18, then, well, what even are we doing here?
So the Bucs are heavy favorites this Sunday in Miami, and anything other than a victory could be a season killer, given the quality of the opponent. Then again, the Panthers are facing one of the best teams in the NFL in the Seattle Seahawks, so even if the Bucs lose, their 2026 playoff hopes are not necessarily dashed despite the optics of a loss to a team as putrid as Miami have been lately. This game will be important for both Baker Mayfield and the defense to assert themselves as playoff ready, because, goodness knows, this Buccaneers team is need of a real confidence boost.
What channel is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game on today? (December 28th)
Here's everything you need to know to catch today's game:
- Date: Sunday, December 28th
- Start Time: 1 pm ET
- Location: Hard Rock Stadium| Miami Gardens, FL
- TV Channel: FOX
- Announcers: Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma
- Radio: WXTB 97.9 FM
- Live Stream: NFL+ | Fubo