Who wins between Panthers, Bucs in season finale? Observer experts pick the score

If it seems like Tampa Bay and Carolina just played, it’s because they basically did.

For the second time in a three-game span, the two teams face off Sunday — this time in Tampa, with playoff seeding for the Bucs at stake. If you’re watching, this game is on CBS at 4:25 p.m. — both an unusual network and an unusual time for the Panthers.

The first time these two teams met, on Dec. 26 in Charlotte, wasn’t pretty.

Tampa Bay walloped the Panthers, 32-6, in what was likely Cam Newton’s last start ever as a Panther. Carolina (5-11) limps into this game on a six-game losing streak, while Tampa Bay (12-4) has had to deal with the Antonio Brown fallout all week but still boasts Tom Brady at quarterback.

Carolina will start Sam Darnold in the season finale. The Panthers would at least like to get in the end zone once — they couldn’t manage that at all two weeks ago.

Our Observer panel went 4-0 last week, with all correctly forecasting the Panthers’ 18-10 loss to the Saints. This week’s picks:

Jonathan Alexander, Panthers beat writer: The Bucs showed two weeks ago just how much better they are than the Panthers. And if the Panthers don’t force a turnover or get pressure on Tom Brady again, it’ll get ugly. This game won’t be as close as my score suggests. The Panthers will likely get some points after the game is out of reach. Bucs 29, Panthers 21.

Ellis Williams, Panthers beat writer: The Bucs clinched the NFC South at Bank of America Stadium two weeks ago but are still competing for playoff seeding. A win could move Tampa Bay up to the No. 2 seed (two home games) while a Panthers’ loss combined with either New York team winning moves them up the 2022 draft board. Bucs 23, Panthers 10.

Matt Stephens, McClatchy Southeast senior sports editor: It’s been a miserable NFL season in the Carolinas and it’s time for it all to end. Bucs 38, Panthers 14.

Scott Fowler, sports columnist: Carolina finishes the season at 5-12 on a 7-game losing streak. New Year’s resolution? Totally revamp the offensive line and find the answer at quarterback. Bucs 31, Panthers 13.

This story was originally published January 7, 2022 at 11:30 AM.

Scott Fowler

The Charlotte Observer

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Columnist Scott Fowler has written for The Charlotte Observer since 1994 and has earned 26 APSE awards for his sportswriting. He hosted The Observer’s podcast “Carruth,” which Sports Illustrated once named “Podcast of the Year.” Fowler also conceived and hosted the online series and podcast “Sports Legends of the Carolinas,” which featured 1-on-1 interviews with NC and SC sports icons and was turned into a book. He occasionally writes about non-sports subjects, such as the 5-part series “9/11/74,” which chronicled the forgotten plane crash of Eastern Air Lines Flight 212 in Charlotte on Sept. 11, 1974. Support my work with a digital subscription