BucsGameday Staff Score Predictions: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers return home after a fruitless road trip to take on the reeling Carolina Panthers on Sunday afternoon. The Buccaneers are on a two-game losing streak and have dropped six of their last seven entering an important NFC South matchup. Somehow, the team only remains a win away from tying Atlanta for the division lead.

The Panthers are 1-10 overall and have lost four consecutive games ahead of their trip to Raymond James Stadium. With the franchise holding the second-worst point differential in the NFL (-119), owner David Tepper elected to fire first-year head coach Frank Reich rather than wait until the end of the year. It remains to be seen if that will spark Carolina and No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young.

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The Buccaneers will be shorthanded on both sides of the ball in this contest with defensive lineman Mike Greene, linebacker Devin White, linebacker Lavonte David, and cornerback Jamel Dean all out of the contest. Star wide receiver Chris Godwin is questionable due to a neck injury while rookie linebacker SirVocea Dennis is listed as doubtful.

Our staff provides their predictions and analysis as the Buccaneers and Panthers prepare to face off in Raymond James Stadium.

Dustin Lewis (@DustinLewisNG)

Week by week, the Buccaneers continue to crumble in the face of adversity. Long gone is the 3-1 start that had fans beginning to believe that this team could make an unlikely run to the postseason. Instead, it's been a disappointing run over the last two months with Tampa Bay only picking up one win in the last seven games.

Coming off a loss to a mediocre Colts team and with injuries continuing to pile up, this is a must-win for the Buccaneers if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive. Theoretically, the team is still alive in the division with the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints only one game ahead.

With that being said, I expect Carolina to come out with a little extra motivation after its head coach was fired. Bryce Young puts together a career game as the Panthers stun the Buccaneers. Maybe that'll be enough for the Panthers to return the favor and push Todd Bowles out the door.

2023 Season Prediction Record: 7-4

Panthers 17, Buccaneers 16

Logan Robinson (@LogansTwitty)

I’ve got the Buccaneers winning this one but the Panthers keep it close. Keep an eye on Dave Canales getting the ball on air to Rachaad White more. Buccaneers bounce back by bringing strong pressure in the trenches.

2023 Season Prediction Record: 6-5

Buccaneers 27, Panthers 21

David Harrison (@DHarrison82)

This isn’t a must-win - it’s a can’t lose. As in a loss in this game is a fireable offense.

2023 Season Prediction Record: 5-6

Buccaneers 24, Panthers 10

Collin Haalboom (@SI_Buccaneers)

The Panthers and Bucs have a combined record of 5-17. The fact that both teams still have a mathematical chance to win the NFC South speaks to the instability of the division. That being said, the Buccaneers -- despite their flaws -- are a far superior football team to the Panthers, who just fired their head coach 11 games into his tenure.

Although they've been brutal in this area, I think the Panthers are so bad at defending the run that even the Buccaneers will be able to find success running the ball in this matchup. In turn, this should open up more play-action opportunities for Tampa Bay, where I expect Mike Evans to add to his impressive receiving numbers this year.

The Buccaneers are only favored by 5 points, but I think they convincingly win this game.

2023 Season Prediction Record: 6-5

Buccaneers 31, Panthers 10

Caleb Skinner (@chsnole)

The Buccaneers still somehow and someway have a path to winning the NFC South, but is it worth it? This week they will play host to the Carolina Panthers who will be entering this one fresh off firing their HC Frank Reich.

Despite the challenges on the defensive side of the ball the offense has gotten going as of late and that should continue in this one against Carolina. If the defense can get back into the positive turnover margin this should be a cakewalk against a team that has only won a single game all season.

2023 Season Prediction Record: 4-6

Buccaneers 28, Panthers 17

JC Allen (@JCAllenNFL)

It's do-or-die time for the Bucs. Win this game and their playoff hopes stay alive. Drop it, and well. It's time to start making preparations for the draft and free agency and likely a head coaching search. The 1-10 Panthers just made a coaching change and while sometimes teams can rally around that, there is just not enough talent on this team. The Bucs might not run away with this one but should win this game to keep them in the running for the NFC South and final wildcard spot.

2023 Season Prediction Record: 8-3

Buccaneers 24, Panthers 16

Kade Kimble (@kadekimble)

The Panthers are 1-10 on the season and have undergone coaching changes. The Buccaneers should have the advantage on both sides of the ball as the overmatched opponent in this one. There are not many excuses for the Buccaneers to lose this one, and they should be able to come away with a victory, even if it’s a close one.

2023 Season Prediction Record: 7-4

Buccaneers 21, Panthers 18

Ben Meyerson (@ByBenMeyerson)

The Panthers are clearly the worst team in the NFL this year. Their offense has been the biggest problem, Bryce Young has not been good this year but his supporting cast is as bad as gets. As an offense, they rank 27th in both pass and run efficiency. On the defensive side of the ball, their pass defense ranks around average in the league. But their rushing unit is awful, they rank 32nd in rushing efficiency (EPA).

The difference between them and the 31st-ranked team is larger than the gap between the 31st team (Chiefs) and the 20th-ranked team (Packers). The Bucs should win this game handily if Baker Mayfield protects the ball and the defense does not make too many mistakes. That being said I expect it to be a close-fought win.

2023 Season Prediction Record: 6-5

Buccaneers 23, Panthers 17

Cody Haynes (@codyh33)

The Bucs have a favorable divisional matchup against the Panthers this week. I will say this, I’m not as confident as I should be with how this team has been playing lately. Last season the Panthers beat the Bucs with an interim head coach. Recently, teams with interim head coaches have found more success than before their coach was fired.

The NFC South is still wide open. If the Bucs want to make the playoffs, it seems like the only true path is to win the division. This is a must-win game, not only because it’s a divisional matchup, but the significance of the problems a loss would cause due to the Panthers having the worst record in football. It appears that Lavonte David and Jamel Dean will miss another game. These young players need to step up. If they can, Bucs should win and improve to 5-7 on the season.

2023 Season Prediction Record: 3-4 (joined in middle of season)

Buccaneers 24, Panthers 17

Matthew Hewitt (@BucsTrackerNFL)

Although the Buccaneers have struggled these past 7 weeks, there is no reason the Bucs should lose this game. If the Bucs lose to the Panthers, it’s time to pack it up for the season and focus on the offseason.

2023 Season Prediction Record: 3-4 (joined in middle of season)

Buccaneers 27, Panthers 14

CONSENSUS: Buccaneers (9-1)

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