Buccaneers vs Panthers Season Finale Flexed

The Buccaneers are gearing up for a must-win game! They’re hosting the Carolina Panthers in what could be a winner-take-all matchup for the NFC South title on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN. With everything on the line, Tampa Bay needs a win to secure a playoff spot and extend their division run.

Via the team’s website, 

“The NFL released the schedule for the final week of the 2025 season on Sunday evening, and it starts with the Panthers’ visit to Tampa on Saturday, January 3, with kickoff set for 4:30 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast by ESPN.”

Ok, technically not “flexed” but more so announced as the original time was “TBD”.

—

A win would secure their fifth consecutive NFC South title and a playoff spot, while a loss would end their season. The Buccaneers have the tiebreaker advantage against the Panthers, thanks to their stronger performance in common games. It’s not the most glamorous route to the playoffs, but desperate times call for desperate measures – style points are out the window.

There’s a twist: if the Falcons win their last two games (vs Rams and Saints), they’d be 8-9. If the Bucs beat the Panthers, they’d still lose the division in a three-way tie, and the Panthers would take the crown. It’s a long shot, but worth keeping an eye on.

The Buccaneers-Panthers showdown is fueled by both teams’ Week 17 losses, putting the NFC South title up for grabs. The Buccaneers still basically control their own destiny. Unless the Falcons win their last two games.