Buccaneers 2025 game preview: Week 18 against the Carolina Panthers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are coming off losses in seven of their last eight games, and yet they still can win their division in 2025. However, they do need to defeat the Panthers in Week 18 and rely on the Saints to defeat the Falcons.

Without both of those things happening, this Saturday will mark the final time anyone watches Bucs football for seven months.

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The team has the advantage, though, on two fronts, the first being that they are the home team this time around, and the crowd will be able to provide an added energy. The second is something that is often overlooked in that they lost the last meeting and have the most to improve upon. When watching film they see more holes and more things that need changing versus the team that won. Those two factors hope to create the perfect storm as Tampa Bay hopes to not be eliminated the day before the final Sunday of the season.

With the stage set, here is our preview of the Bucs and Panthers final matchup of the season.

Where to watch/listen to Bucs vs. Panthers

• Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST/6:00 p.m. CST

• TV Channel: ESPN

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2025 stats

• Offensive yards per game: 334.9

• Defensive yards allowed per game: 357.1

• Points scored per game: 22.8

• Points allowed per game: 24.8

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Carolina Panthers 2025 stats

• Offensive yards per game: 312.3

• Defensive yards allowed per game: 338.1

• Points scored per game: 18.6

• Points allowed per game: 22.8

Head coaching matchup

Bucs

• Todd Bowles (59-70, in his fourth season with the team)

Panthers

• Dave Canales (13-20, in his second season with the team)

Notable free agent signings

Notable Bucs free-agent signings

• Haason Reddick, edge rusher

• Riley Dixon, punter

• Charlie Heck, offensive tackle

• Kindle Vildor, cornerback

• Teddy Bridgewater, quarterback

Notable Panthers free-agent signings

• Trevon Moehrig, Defensive Back

• TerShawn Wharton, Defensive Lineman

• Rico Dowdle, Running Back

• Bobby Brown, Defensive Lineman

• Sam Martin, Punter

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookies to watch

• Tez Johnson, Wide Receiver

• Emeka Egbuka, Wide Receiver

• Benjamin Morrison, Cornerback

• Jacob Parrish, Cornerback

• Elijah Roberts, Defensive Line

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs 2025 game preview: Week 18 against the Panthers