The connections are clear between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers, longtime NFC South rivals.
The teams will get together for a meeting on Sunday in Charlotte and have shown recent signs they can play with any team.
“It’s an NFC South battle,” Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said. “All of them are going to be hard, none of them (are) going to be easy. … They’re playing pretty good football. They missed some games here and there, but they’re playing very good football. It’s going to be a tough battle.”
Few introductions are needed on Sunday, as first-year Panthers coach Dave Canales came to Carolina after serving as Buccaneers offensive coordinator a season ago. Canales’ prized pupil last season, Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield, was with the Panthers for part of the 2022 campaign.
“There’s some familiarity,” Canales said of his connection to the Buccaneers. “Knowing Coach Bowles, he’s got a really sophisticated system and he attacks each team with a specific game plan. There’s some principles that carry over. I know that he’s going to have some things up his sleeve.”
The Buccaneers (5-6) are playing a division opponent for the first time since an Oct. 27 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The goal will be notching back-to-back wins for the first time since the first two weeks of the season.
Four different ball carriers, including Mayfield, ran for touchdowns during a 30-7 drubbing of the New York Giants last Sunday. Mayfield also completed 24 of 30 passes for 294 yards.
“For me, the biggest thing was blocking and tackling,” Bowles said of what his team did well last weekend. “We cleaned up the fundamental and technique part of it.”
Star wideout Mike Evans was back in action for Tampa Bay after a three-game absence due to a hamstring injury. He finished with five receptions for 68 yards against the Giants and now gets a crack at a Carolina team allowing a league-high 30.9 points per game this season.
However, the Panthers have tightened up their play as of late, winning two games in a row before hanging with the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs in a 30-27 setback last Sunday.
The outing against Kansas City might have been the most efficient performance of Panthers quarterback Bryce Young’s two-year career. Young completed 21 of 35 passes for 263 yards and one score without throwing a pick.
“It’s not all Bryce, it’s the whole unit,” Canales said. “It’s a collective effort, but he certainly needs to be the voice and driver of that.”
Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (quadriceps) and tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders (neck) did not practice all week and are out for Sunday’s game. Linebackers Jadeveon Clowney (knee) and Amare Barno (knee) are questionable, as are cornerback Caleb Farley (shoulder) and safety Nick Scott (hamstring).
Buccaneers safeties Tykee Smith (knee) and Jordan Whitehead (pectoral) did not practice all week and both have been ruled out. Linebacker Markees Watts (knee) is out and linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (ankle) is doubtful. Cornerback Troy Hill (ankle, foot), tackle Tristan Wirfs (knee, foot) and linebacker Anthony Nelson (personal) are all questionable.
Carolina and Tampa Bay might as well get used to each other, as the two teams will collide again in Week 17.
