Ranking the Buccaneers NFC South rivals heading into 2024 season
By Brad Smith
No. 2 Rivalry: Buccaneers vs Panthers
Historically, the Bucs' rivalry with the Panthers has been pretty well-balanced, with Carolina having the slight edge, winning 25 of 47 meetings with Tampa Bay. From 2003-2009, Carolina dominated the series early on, going 11-3 in 14 meetings during the seven-year stretch. The Panthers continued their success against the Bucs up to 2016, winning eight of the next 12 games.
Since 2017, Tampa Bay has taken control of their biannual meetings with Carolina, winning ten of the last 14 games, including seven of the last eight matchups. Part of that can be attributed to Carolina's steady downfall since losing in Super Bowl 50 back in 2015, as the Panthers have had one winning season in eight seasons since then.
The Panthers, who left the NFC West to join the NFC South in 2002 as the division's final team, actually lead the four teams in playoff appearances overall, at nine. Carolina and Tampa Bay are the only two teams that have reached the NFC Championship twice, and have five division titles, the third most.
Following the 2018 season, the Panthers have struggled at quarterback since the departure of franchise cornerstone Cam Newton. Over the past six seasons, Carolina has a combined 24-59 record, zero winning seasons or playoff appearances, while going through six different head coaches and five different quarterbacks.
Entering 2024, the Panthers are led by 2021 Heisman Award Winner Bryce Young, who will look to improve upon a disappointing rookie season. In 16 starts, Young posted a 2-14 record as the starter with 2,877 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and ten interceptions on 59.8% completion, anchoring a Panthers' offense that had the second-fewest points and fewest yards in the league.
Fortunately for Young, Carolina made several moves to set the second-year quarterback up for success. For starters, the Panthers hired former Bucs' offensive coordinator Dave Canales as head coach, who oversaw Mayfield's standout 2023 season and Geno Smith's Comeback Player of the Year season in 2022.
In addition, Young has a pretty solid receiving core, highlighted by 1,000-yard returning receiver Adam Thielen, along with incumbents Jonathan Mingo and Terrace Marshall Jr. During the offseason, Carolina managed to land former Pittsburgh wide receiver Diontae Johnson in a trade, and later added Xavier Leggette, Jonathon Brooks, and Ja'Tavion Sanders with their first, second, and fourth-round picks in the draft.
Coupled with the signings of stout guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis, and Young's situation in Carolina looks a lot better than it did in his rookie season. If Young meshes well with Canales' offensive scheme and isn't sacked 60+ times again, then Carolina could be one of the NFL's most improved teams in 2024.
That improvement would be good for the Bucs' and Panthers' historical rivalry, which will have two season matchups in 2024. The first game between the division foes is in week 13 on December 1 at 3:05 PM at Bank of America Stadium, well after Tampa Bay's and Carolina's bye weeks. Then in week 17, the Bucs will welcome the Panthers to Raymond James Stadium in a Sunday afternoon tilt at 12:00 PM on December 29.