4 bold predictions for the Carolina Panthers against the Buccaneers in Week 13

It’s hard to remember a time in recent franchise history when the mood among fans was so high after a loss. That’s currently the case with the Carolina Panthers.

For the first time since the home game against the Green Bay Packers in 2023, Bryce Young appeared to be the No. 1 pick. This was arguably the former Alabama star’s best performance in the pros. Against Steve Spagnuolo and his top-10 Kansas City Chiefs defense, the Panthers’ passing offense moved up and down the field at will.

If the Panthers had been a little more relaxed in the red zone, we could be talking about one of the most impressive victories of the last decade. It wasn’t meant to be, but Dave Canales has a lot to build on when he takes on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this weekend.

The Buccaneers put an end to the hapless New York Giants. They are hoping for another win to defeat the Atlanta Falcons and win the NFC South again.

The Panthers still have a very slim chance of winning the division, but the margin for error has disappeared. More importantly, the type of competitiveness shown against the reigning Super Bowl champions will have to be shown to keep the momentum going.

Without further ado, here are four bold predictions for the Panthers in Week 13 at Bank of America Stadium.

The Carolina Panthers are holding Bucky Irving under 100 total yards

A real bright spot in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense this season was rookie Bucky Irving. The fourth-round pick from Oregon had his best performance in the pros in Week 12 against the Giants, totaling 152 yards and a touchdown. It’s fair to say he’s now the clear RB1.

Facing a running back who averaged 7.3 yards per carry a week ago is hardly a promising prospect for the league’s worst run defense. However, we saw the Carolina Panthers make small strides in this discipline against the Kansas City Chiefs.

While Kansas City had 165 rushing yards, Patrick Mahomes alone had 60. They held Kareem Hunt, who has shown impressive signings, to just over four yards per carry. While they’re not mind-blowing numbers, slight improvements should be highlighted for a unit that has been in action all season.

If the Panthers want to have a chance on Sunday, they’ll have to force quarterback Baker Mayfield to beat them through the air. Although he is a significantly better signal caller compared to whoever left Carolina in 2022, he is still prone to mistakes. Limiting the Buccaneers’ running game will exacerbate its weaknesses.