Biggest storylines for Panthers vs. Buccaneers in Week 18

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The Carolina Panthers will get to experience their "true championship moment" this weekend, when they travel to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But will they seize it?

Here are our biggest storylines for Week 18's important showdown at Raymond James Stadium . . .

Changing of the guard?

Saturday could be the end of the NFC South as we know it.

If the Panthers come out on top, or even lock in a tie, they'll lay claim to their first division title since 2015 and their first playoff berth since 2017. Both of those droughts are the longest in the franchise's history, and breaking them would provide a much-needed stamp of validation for their current direction.

A Carolina win would also halt the Bucs' reign over the South. Even while undergoing major transitions at head coach and at quarterback between 2021 and now, Tampa has captured the division in each of the previous four seasons.

But if the Bucs win, the focus shifts to Sunday's other intra-division battle—where the Atlanta Falcons play host to the New Orleans Saints. In that scenario, a Falcons victory would cause a three-way tie atop the NFC South—with Atlanta, Tampa and Carolina all at 8-9. And if that goes down, the division—because of their superior round-robin head-to-head record—belongs to the Panthers.

Plundered

The Panthers are currently sitting in this advantageous position due, in part, to the Bucs' collapse.

Tampa enters Week 18 having lost seven of their last eight games, including one to Carolina two weeks ago. They'll be limping in too, as they've had to deal with some recent injuries to the likes of quarterback Baker Mayfield, running back Bucky Irving, wide receiver Mike Evans and left tackle Tristan Wirfs as well as outside linebacker Anthony Nelson and starting cornerback Jamel Dean—both of whom have been ruled out for the contest.

After looking like a legitimate Super Bowl contender through the first half of the campaign, the Bucs have simply crumbled. Their offense has lost its identity, their defense has lost its edge and their head coach, Todd Bowles, may have lost the team.

So, can the Panthers pounce and finish them off?

Pack a punch

For Carolina to put an end to Tampa's rule, they'll have to come with a much harder punch than they did in Week 17—at least offensively.

Last Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks provided a grim glimpse into how feeble the Panthers offense can be. Quarterback Bryce Young completed just 14 passes for 54 yards, a career-low in a start, and an interception. As a whole, the unit netted all of 139 total yards while converting on just one of their 11 third-down tries and two of their five fourth-down attempts.

That can't be the case for the Panthers and head coach/offensive play-caller Dave Canales, who needs to mine for some of the same success they had in Week 16 versus the Buccaneers.

Can they get rookie wideout Tetairoa McMillan involved again?

How will Young answer the bell?

And could the Panthers get a huge return from a huge presence in Pro Bowl guard Robert Hunt?

Carolina will have to find a spark, wherever it may be.

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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers vs. Buccaneers 2025: Biggest storylines for Week 18

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