The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have an important matchup with huge playoff implications headed their way in Week 16. Over the last two weeks, the Panthers and Bucs have flipflopped as NFC South leaders multiple times, and the winner of this matchup will take control of the division.
For the first time all season, the Buccaneers are finally nearing full strength, with key pieces returning from injury in recent weeks in perfect time for the final playoff push. Unfortunately, that didn't matter in Week 15 when the Bucs lost a heartbreaker to the Falcons.
As much as that stunk, it’s in the rearview and all eyes are on the Panthers this upcoming Sunday. Baker Mayfield said it best, the playoffs start now for the Bucs and they can’t afford another slip up if they hope to salvage the season before it’s too late.
Week 16 predictions that Buccaneers' fans hope come true against Panthers
Panthers will have no sacks in Week 16
The Panthers have struggled to get to the quarterback all season, and I predict Week 16 will be no different. Carolina is 29th in the league with 1.6 sacks per game, while the Bucs are middle of the pack in defending the pass rush.
Tristan Wirfs put on a clinic, stopping the Falcons' elite pass rush in Week 15, and earned PFF's offensive player of the week honors in the process. Wirfs was the highest-rated pass-blocking offensive lineman by PFF in 2024 and 28th on the NFL top 100 players list. His elite performance has leaked into 2025, and he's among the best tackles in the league.
It will take the Buccaneers' whole offensive line's commitment to achieve this goal, but recent precedent is on our side.
Bucs will combine to rush for over 130 yards
This prediction is a bit ambitious, I won't lie, but I can't sit here and predict the obvious. Here are my thoughts: Carolina had far and away the worst run defense in 2024, allowing an average of 179.8 yards per game. In 2025, the script has flipped, and they are hovering around league average.
The Buccaneers' backfield has finally been healthy over the last three weeks and is striding down the stretch. Over the last five games, Tampa Bay has 175+ rushing yards twice (against Buffalo and New Orleans) and 123 against the Rams.
If Sean Tucker continues to out-touch Rachaad White, the Bucs will run all over Carolina. Bucky Irving has mainly been consistent since his return from injury, averaging 3.7 yards per attempt, but I'm willing to bet he blows this open on Sunday.